Miracarus

Wauthy, Georges & Ducarme, Xavier, 2011, Description of a new species of cave mite, Miracarus grootaerti, and comparison with M. abeloosi, Lions, 1978 (Acari, Oribatida), Zootaxa 3111, pp. 1-36 : 32

Key to the species of Miracarus

The proposal of Subías (2004) to put into synonymy M. similis and M. abeloosi is questionable because, in addition to the size, the two species can be distinguished by comparing the distances separating the tops of the acetabular protrusions R and of the discidial protuberances dis from the plane of symmetry. Therefore, the two taxa are considered separately in the key below (however, a detailed study of M. similis is required to assess its status).

1 Adaxial borders of the lamellae diverging.................................................................. 2

- Adaxial borders of the lamellae parallel.................................................................... 4

2 Notogasteral setae h3 anterior to the lyrifissures im; adanal setae ad3 close to the lyrifissures iad; length = 284–296 µm...................................................................................... M. discrepans Mahunka

- Notogasteral setae h3 posterior to the lyrifissures im; adanal setae ad3 anterior to the lyrifissures iad .................. 3

3 Rostrum not incised; length = 295–320 µm.................................................. M. senensis Bernini

- Rostrum incised; length = 313–334 µm.......................................................... M. grootaerti

4 Lamellae anteriorly with a large ending cusp and an abaxial tooth; insertion of the lamellar setae le close to the abaxial tooth; free border of the pteromorphs angular; length = 245 µm......................................... M. hurkai Kunst

- Lamellae anteriorly with one or two small ending cusps; insertion of the setae le terminal; free border of the pteromorphs without angle........................................................................................ 5

5 Length = 255–275 µm...................................................... M. similis Subías & Iturrondobeitia

- Length = 291–318 µm.................................................................... M. abeloosi Lions