Suctobelbella duplicondyla, Mahunka, 2009

Mahunka, S., 2009, Oribatid Mites From The Vohimana Reserve (Madagascar) (Acari: Oribatida) I., Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 55 (2), pp. 89-122 : 113-115

Suctobelbella duplicondyla sp. n.

( Figs 46–49 )

Material examined. Holotype: Malagasy Republic, Vohimana Reserve , primary forest. 17. 04. 2008. Leg. CS . CSUZDI (Afr–996) . Holotype (1776-HO-09) and paratype (1776-PO-09) deposited in HNHM .

Diagnosis. Rostrum wide medially, slightly convex. Tectopedial fields well framed, their inner margin conspicuously serrate, some distinct tubercles present between them. Lamellar knob triangular. Interbothridial field large, bothridial lobe distinct. Sensillus with large, asymmetrical barbed head. Two equal in length and wide notogastral condyles present. Nine pairs short and thick notogastral setae present. Epimeral region well sclerotised, epimeres well framed, not touching medially. Two or three large tubercles present on the posterior borders. Epimeral setal formula: 3–1–3–3, genito-anal setal formula: 5–1–2–3.

Measurements: Length of body: 181 µm, width of body: 98 µm.

Prodorsum. Rostral apex widely rounded, slightly convex. Rostral teeth large, triangular, their anterior margin concave. Rostral incisure wide, behind them two sharply pointed accessory teeth present. Rostral rib indistinct, some transversal ribs present in this position. Dorsal surface well sclerotised. Lateral margin of prodorsum smooth, lateroprodorsal pattern not observable. Lateral margin of tectopedial field distinct, wide, median ones narrower and conspicuously serrate. Lamellar knob triangular, wide, in front of it, some tubercles present between the tectopedial fields. Lamellar setae short, arising at its basis. Rostral setae geniculate, their basal part with 3, conspicuously large, spiniform bristles. Interbothridial field very large, bearing interlamellar setae. Bothridium also large with elongated bothridial lobe. Sensillus short, its head large, asymmetrically dilate, its dorsal surface distinctly aciculate ( Fig. 48 ).

Notogaster. Anterior margin of notogaster with two pairs of conspicuously large condyles, lateral and median ones connected with each other ( Fig. 46 ) and both pairs bearing two longitudinal ribs in their median and lateral margin, directed posteriorly. All condyles sharply pointed anteriorly. Median sigillum not observable. Nine pairs of notogastral setae, among them seven anterior pair much longer and stronger than the two posteromarginal ones.

Lateral part of podosoma ( Fig. 49 ). Lateral margin of prodorsum smooth, some polygonal fields on lateral part. Two large tubercles and a longitudinal crest also present.

Ventral parts. Epimeral region well sclerotised. Conspicuously wide, with some short ridges on sejugal borders, which are directed posteriorly. Epimeres partly touching medially, sternal apodemes absent. Epimeres I and II ending far from each other, sternal field wide. Epimeral borders of bo. 2 with transversal, bridge-like crests. Last epimeral borders (bo. 4) wide, with two to three of large, tubercles directed posteriorly. Surface of epimeres 3–4 ornamented with very fine polygonal pattern. Epimeral setae short, simple. Five pairs of genital setae present, anterior ones longest of all, others nearly equal in length. Aggenital setae longer than the anal and adanal ones, setae ad 1 arising at the posterior corner of the anal plates. Setae ad 3 located far anteriorly.

Remarks. The new species is primarily characterised by the form of the characteristically connected, equally large sejugal condyles with two marginal ribs directed posteriorly. It is also well characterised by the notogastral setae, the tubercles between the tectopedial fields and the shape of the sejugal and posterior borders of the epimeral region. These and some other characteristics are unique in the genus Suctobelbella and in the related genera.

Etymology. Named after it’s peculiarly, connected sejugal condyles.

Figures

Figs 46–49. Suctobelbella duplicondyla sp. n.: 46 = body in dorsal view, 47 = body in ventral view, 48 = lateral part of prodorsum, 49 = podosoma in lateral view