Torrenticola gorti Fisher & Dowling

Fisher, J. Ray, Fisher, Danielle M., Skvarla, Michael J., Nelson, Whitney A. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2017, Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species, ZooKeys 701, pp. 1-496 : 1

Torrenticola gorti Fisher & Dowling sp. n.

Material examined.

HOLOTYPE (♀): from Canada, New Brunswick, York County, Davis Brook, beside Hwy 3, 3.5 km south of Hwy 4 at Thomaston Corner, 11 Jun 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120017, DNA 2970.

PARATYPES (24 ♀; 22 ♂): Alabama, USA: 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Cleburne County, beside Route 431, 3.3 kilometers southeast of Calhoun, Jackson Creek (33°36'N, 85°42'W), 2 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900074 • 2 ♀ and 1 ♂ from DeKalb County, Desoto State Park, beside Trail Y, West Fork of Little River (34°29'N, 85°32'W), 26 Sep 1992, by IM Smith, IMS920053A • Georgia, USA: 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from Chattooga County, Cloudland, beside Route 48, East Fork of Little River (34°31'25"N, 85°30'23"W), 28 Sep 1992, by IM Smith, IMS920056A • 4 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Floyd County, Johns Creek, beside road from Everett Springs to Villanow, south of The Pocket campground, 4 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900076 & IMS900077 • Kentucky, USA: 3 ♀ and 2 ♂ from McCreary County, Rock Creek, White Oak Junction, beside Forest Route 556, south of Route 1363, 8 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900082A & IMS900082B • Maine, USA: 2 ♀ and 3 ♂ from Aroostook County, Ashland, beside Route 11 at bridge, Aroostook River (46°38'N, 68°24'W), 4 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890067 • New Brunswick, Canada: 1 ♂ (ALLOTYPE) from York County, Davis Brook, beside Hwy 3, 3.5 km south of Hwy 4 at Thomaston Corner, 11 Jun 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120017, DNA 2972 • 2 ♀ and 2 ♂ from York County, Davis Brook, beside Hwy 3, 3.5 km south of Hwy 4 at Thomaston Corner, 11 Jun 2012, by IM Smith, IMS120017 • 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ from York County, Magaguadavic River, beside Highway 3 just east of Thomaston Corners, 1 Jul 1989, by IM Smith, IMS890055A • South Carolina, USA: 1 ♂ from Greenville County, Matthews Creek, 24 Apr 2014, by D Eargle, JRF 14-0424-001 • Tennessee, USA: 4 ♀ and 1 ♂ from Monroe County, Tellico River (35°19'N, 84°10'W), 5 Jun 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900079 • 2 ♂ from Monroe County, Turkey Creek, beside Forest Route 35, northeast of road from Route 165 to Miller Chapel Church, 5 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900078 • 2 ♀ and 4 ♂ from Monroe County, Tellico River (35°20'27"N, 84°11'31"W), 12 Sep 2009, by IM Smith, IMS090111 • Virginia, USA: 1 ♀ from Scott County, beside Route 58/421,).9 kilometers east of Route 709, North Fork of Hoiston River (36°39'N, 82°28'W), 7 Jul 1990, by IM Smith, IMS900080.

Type deposition.

Holotype (♀), allotype (♂), and most paratypes (19 ♀; 16 ♂) deposited in the CNC; other paratypes (5 ♀; 5 ♂) deposited in the ACUA.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola gorti specimens from Tellico River system in Monroe County (Tennessee) can be differentiated from all other Torrenticola by the distinctively dark coloration with a red spot dorsally. Other color morphs are similar to species with similar dorsal patterning, such as the Rusetria “4-Plate” group ( T. dunni , T. glomerabilis , T. kittatinniana , T. pollani , T. rufoalba and T. shubini ), Neoanomala Group ( T. interiorensis and T. neoanomala ), and T. bondi , T. elongata , T. reduncarostra , T. erectirostra , T. robisoni , T. irapalpa , T. racupalpa , T. skvarlai , and T. arktonyx . They can be differentiated from Rusetria 4-Plates and T. skvarlai by having distinct hind coxal margins. T. gorti can be differentiated from T. erectirostra , T. robisoni , and T. reduncarostra by having a straight, anteriorly-directed rostrum (upturned in others). T. gorti can be differentiated from T. arktonyx by having an unmodified dorsal plate ( T. arktonyx has distinctive longitudinal dark markings on the anterior portion of the dorsal plate that fade posteriorly). T. gorti can be differentiated from T. racupalpa and T. irapalpa by being more elongate (dorsum length/width = 1.47-1.6 in T. gorti , 1.15-1.3 in others) and tibia/femur (0.65-0.73 in T. gorti , 0.77-0.91 in others). T. gorti can be differentiated from T. elongata by having a more ovoid dorsum (length/width = 1.47-1.58 in T. gorti , 1.7-2.1 in T. elongata ) and larger dorsum (length ♀ = 570-600 in T. gorti , 540-565 in T. elongata ; ♂ = 500-525 in T. gorti , 450-460 in T. elongata ). T. gorti can be differentiated from the Neoanomala Group by having a more elongate dorsum (length/width ♀ = 1.47-1.58 in T. gorti , 1.29-1.43 in Neoanomala Group; ♂ = 1.54-1.58 in T. gorti , 1.34-1.50 in Neoanomala Group) and having a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.29-3.73 in T. gorti , 2.59-2.90 in Neoanomala Group). T. gorti can be differentiated from T. bondi by having a more elongate dorsum (length/width = 1.47-1.58 in T. gorti , 1.32-1.45 in T. bondi ) and having a more elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.32-3.73 in T. gorti , 2.76-3.13 in T. bondi ).

Description.

Female (Figure 91) (n = 5) (holotype measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (570-600 (600) long; 380-390 (380) wide) ovoid and elongate with three distinct color morphs: 1) navy blue coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions that meet or nearly meet laterally, and with bold orange coloration in between, from Tellico River, Monroe County, Tennessee; 2) purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions; 3) purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions with a strip of bold orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (117.5-137.5 (130) long; 52.5-57.5 (57.5) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (162.5-172.5 (172.5) long; 55-60 (60) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 approaching midway between muscle scars and dorsum edge (distance between Dgl-4 220-260 (260)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.47-1.58 (1.58); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.46-1.73 (1.46); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.24-2.45 (2.26); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.75-3.09 (2.88); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.20-1.45 (1.33).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (327.5-342.5 (337.5) long (ventral); 247.75-265 (252.5) long (dorsal); 122.5-127.5 (122.5) tall) colorless. Rostrum (137.5-142.5 (142.5) long; 37.5-42.5 (40) wide) elongate. Chelicerae 330-345 (340) long) with curved fangs (56-60 (60) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.59-2.76 (2.76); rostrum length/width 3.32-3.73 (3.56). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (37.5-45 (45) long); femur (117.5-123.75 (120) long); genu (62.5-67.5 (67.5) long); tibia (77.5-82.5 (80) long; 20-25 (25) wide); tarsus (17.5-20 (20) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.78-1.90 (1.78); tibia/femur 0.65-0.68 (0.67); tibia length/width 3.20-4.13 (3.20).

Venter (Figure 57) - (695-750 (750) long; 410-494 (430) wide) with three distinct color morphs: 1) navy-blue coloration; 2) colorless; 3) purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (142.5-172.5 (172.5) long; 65-77.5 (70) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (25-37.5 (27.5) long). Genital plates (160-167.5 (167.5) long; 135-140 (137.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (285-300 (300) long (total); 107-140 (130) long (medial)); Cx-3 (290-353 (300) wide); anterior venter (187.5-195 (187.5) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.90-2.46 (2.46); anterior venter/genital field length 1.12-1.22 (1.12); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.36-1.44 (1.36); anterior venter/medial suture 5.20-7.80 (6.82).

Male (Figure 92) (n = 6) (allotypic measurements in parentheses when available) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (500-525 (520) long; 320-340 (330) wide) ovoid and elongate with three distinct color morphs: 1) navy blue coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions that meet or nearly meet laterally, and with bold orange coloration in between; 2) purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions; 3) purple coloration separated into anterior and posterior portions with a strip of bold orange medially. Anterio-medial platelets (108.75-117.5 (115) long; 47.5-57.5 (50) wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (156.25-165 (157.5) long; 52.5-57.5 (53.75) wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 approaching midway between muscle scars and dorsum edge (distance between Dgl-4 210-230 (230)). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.54-1.58 (1.58); dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.43-1.58 (1.43); anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.04-2.35 (2.30); anterio-lateral platelet length/width 2.78-2.98 (2.93); anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.36-1.44 (1.37).

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (280-292.5 (282.5) long (ventral); 211-231 (215) long (dorsal); 92.5-1.5 (95) tall) colorless. Rostrum (115-127.5 (122.5) long; 33.75-37.5 (35) wide) elongate. Chelicerae (275-302 (280) long) with curved fangs (36-50 (50) long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.76-3.16 (2.97); rostrum length/width 3.29-3.50 (3.50). Pedipalps with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (35-37.5 (35) long); femur (87.5-105 (95) long); genu (52.5-58.75 (56.25) long); tibia (62.5-72.5 (67.5) long; 18.75-22.5 (18.75) wide); tarsus (15-17.5 (15) long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.67-1.79 (1.69); tibia/femur 0.67-0.73 (0.71); tibia length/width 3.13-3.63 (3.60).

Venter - (630-680 (640) long; 380-438 (380) wide) with three distinct color morphs: 1) navy-blue coloration; 2) colorless; 3) purple coloration. Gnathosomal bay (122.5-142.5 (142.5) long; 60-67.5 (60) wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (62.5-87.5 (65) long). Genital plates (125-135 (135) long; 102.5-111.25 (102.5) wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (255-280 (280) long (total); 100-140 (140) long (medial)); Cx-3 (285-304 (290) wide); anterior venter (215-250 (215) long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 1.89-2.38 (2.38); anterior venter/genital field length 1.59-1.89 (1.59); anterior venter length/genital field width 1.96-2.27 (2.10); anterior venter/medial suture 2.86-3.48 (3.31).

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Specific epithet ( gorti ) refers to Gort, the fictional giant robot of The Day the Earth Stood Still. In the 2008 film, Gort was depicted with a dark body and a single red eye that shot a destructive beam. This species is named for the resemblance that the distinctive specimens from Tennessee have to Gort’s red eye.

Distribution.

Appalachians (Figure 90).

Remarks.

Torrenticola gorti groups with other members of the Raptor Complex with high support and specimens of this species were less than 1% different in COI sequence from each other. In all analyses, T. elongata groups with two other species ( T. elongata and T. bondi ) which are 4% different from each other and have non-overlapping ranges.

T. elongata to form the Elongata Group in all analyses with high support.

Based upon overall similarity, an elongate body, and distribution, we place this species in the Elongata Identification Group.

This species hypothesis is supported by low COI divergence within the species (0-2%) and high divergence between species (3-15%), and by the morphological characters outlined in the diagnosis.

Members of this species can be highly variable in color. Some members have reddish-purple or purple dorsal coloration that is separated into anterior and posterior portions. Ventral coloration can be bold, faint, or absent. Members from Tellico River, Monroe County (Tennessee), can be readily differentiated from all other Torrenticola by being dark navy blue with a red dorsal oval.