Ciganalichus, Hernandes, Fabio A. & Mironov, Sergey V., 2015

Hernandes, Fabio A. & Mironov, Sergey V., 2015, The feather mites of the hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin (Müller) (Aves: Opisthocomiformes), with the description of two new genera and six new species (Acari: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea), Zootaxa 4034 (3), pp. 401-444 : 424-425

Genus Ciganalichus gen. n.

Type species: Ciganalichus boasfilhoi sp. n.

Diagnosis. BOTH SEXES. Small-sized pterolichines. Gnathosoma almost rectangular, slightly enlarged posteriorly. Idiosoma elongated, about two times longer than greatest width. Prodorsal shield occupying mesal part of prodorsum and extending beyond scapular setae se, si. Two vertical setae vi present, long filiform, their bases close to each other. Scapular shields as narrow oblique bands. Humeral shields well developed, encompassing bases of setae c2, c3 and cp. Hysterosoma with extensive hysteronotal shield. Lateral sclerotized bands of hysterosoma absent. Full set of hysteronotal setae occurring in pterolichids present. Scapular setae si well developed, spiculiform, close to bases of corresponding se; both pairs distant from body midline. Setae c2 spiculiform, setae c3 lanceolate; humeral setae cp short filiform, much shorter than idiosoma width. Cupules ia and im indistinct. Hysteronotal gland openings gl well developed, situated anterior to level of setae e2. Epimerites I fused into Y. Bases of epimerites I, II simple (= not modified), without inflations or connecting bridges.

Legs I, II subequal. Tarsi I–IV without apicodorsal spines. Tarsi I, II without ventral expansions, subequal in length to corresponding tibiae. Tibiae, genua and femora of legs I–IV simple, without processes and extensions. Solenidia ω1 approximately at midlevel of tarsi I, II. Setae ba near bases of corresponding solenidia ω1 of tarsi I, II. Solenidion σ2 of genu I absent, solenidion σ1 of genu I situated in basal part of segment. Setae cG of genua I, II short filiform. Condylophores normal, not strongly thickened in basal half. Ambulacral discs with smooth distal margin, without extensions or minute spines.

MALE. Opisthosomal lobes short, represented by rounded extensions. Terminal cleft present, small. Interlobar, terminal, and lateral membranes on opisthosomal lobes absent. Hysteronotal setae d2, e2 short filiform; setae f2 and ps2 as long curved spicules, setae ps2 much longer than f2; Setae e1 short filiform, situated anterior to level of setae e2.

Coxal fields I–IV open, without extensive sclerotized areas. Bases of trochanters I, II not flanked by narrow sclerotized bands connecting bases of corresponding epimerites. Genital apparatus situated between levels of trochanters III and IV. Genital papillae anterior to genital apparatus. Paragenital apodemes absent. Adanal apodemes and shields absent. Adanal suckers present, circular; corolla smooth. Cupules ih absent. Legs III and IV subequal, not hypertrophied.

Tarsus IV elongated, similar in form and size to tarsus III; modified setae d button-like, seta e shaped as small spine.

FEMALE. Spiculiform setae si with several additional subapical spines. Hysteronotal shield entire, covering almost entire dorsal surface of hysterosoma. Setae d2 filiform minute; e2 spiculiform; setae f2, ps1, ps2 filiform minute; setae h1 spiculiform. Supranal concavity present. Oviporus situated at level of humeral shields and epimerites III. Epigynum present, horseshoe-shaped. Copulatory opening subterminal.

Differential diagnosis. The new genus Ciganalichus gen. n. resembles Coccylichus Gaud, 1966 associated with African cuckoos in general appearance and several other morphological features. In both sexes of these genera, the idiosoma is distinctly elongated (2–2.5 times longer than wide), epimerites I are fused into a Y, epimerites I, II are simple and lack basal inflations, subhumeral setae c3 are lanceolate; segments of legs I–IV are not modified, tarsi of all legs are longer than corresponding tibiae; in males, the opisthosomal lobes are small and without any membranous structures, legs III and IV are not modified, and the paragenital apodemes are absent. Ciganalichus can be readily differentiated from Coccylichus by the following characters: in both sexes, setae si are thick spiculiform, the humeral shields are well developed, and the humeral setae cp are extremely short (not exceeding half the greatest width of hysterosoma); in males, the genital papillae are anterior to the genital organ, and setae f2 are anterior to the bases of setae ps2; in females, the hysteronotal shield is entire, and setae e2 are spiculiform. In both sexes of Coccylichus , setae si are minute filiform, the humeral shields are absent, and the humeral setae cp are normally developed, about half the greatest width of hysterosoma; in males, the genital papillae are situated lateral to the genital apparatus, bases of setae f2 and ps2 adjacent in females, the hysteronotal shield is split transversely at the level of setae e1, and setae e2 are minute filiform.

Remark. The genus Ciganalichus gen. n., in spite of a number of superficial similarities to Coccylichus , is most closely related to the genera Opisthocomacarus , Stakyonemus and a new genus Hoazinacarus gen. n. described below from the hoatzin . Adults of all four genera from this bird, except males of Ciganalichus , have one or more pairs of modified idiosomal setae with spines and barbs, while in Coccylichus all idiosomal setae are smooth and setiform. Within this group of genera, Ciganalichus is apparently the least morphologically derived genus, because the females have only one pair of setae with barbs (si), while six modified setae are spine-shaped; in males, six modified idiosomal setae, including setae si, are also spine-shaped ( Figs 18 A, 19A).

Etymology. Combination of cigana (Portuguese, a common Brazilian name of the hoatzin ) and Pterolichus Robin, 1877 .

Figures

FIGURE 18. Ciganalichus boasfilhoi gen. n., sp. n., male. A—dorsal view, B—ventral view.