Pterygosomatidae

Paredes-León, Ricardo, Klompen, Hans & Pérez, Tila M., 2012, Systematic revision of the genera Geckobiella Hirst, 1917 and Hirstiella Berlese, 1920 (Acari: Prostigmata: Pterygosomatidae) with description of a new genus for American species parasites on geckos formerly placed in Hirstiella, Zootaxa 3510, pp. 1-40 : 27

3. Chaetotaxy model propose for Pterygosomatidae

The first model of nomenclature of leg setation for the family Pterygosomatidae was developed by Jack (1964). Bochkov and OConnor (2006) adapted Grandjean’s nomenclature for leg, idiosomal and palpal setae ( Grandjean 1939; 1944; 1946) to Pterygosomatidae , and proposed homologies with the setal designations of Jack. This model was follow by Bochkov et al. (2008).

Chaetotaxy as used in this study shows some differences with the model presented by Bochkov et al. (2008). Notably, the Bochkov et al. study was aimed at elucidating the position of Myobiidae within the Raphignathae and not with intrafamilial variability in Pterygosomatidae . These authors therefore used only one representative of the Pterygosomatidae , Hirstiella spp. The current study allows considerable refinement of this aspect of the model by recognizing a sizable amount of intrafamilial variability ( Table 5 ). Second, one set of setal homologies proposed differs from those proposed by Bochkov et al. Those authors note the presence of setae l” on genua III–IV and absence of setae v” III–IV. In this study we consider the relevant setae on those podomers homologous with v” III–IV, not l”, for positional reasons.

Further observations on Pterygosomatinae sensu Cruz (1984) will complete the propose chaetotactic pattern in the family.