Neoscirula Den Heyer, 1977

Skvarla, M. J., Fisher, J. R. & Dowling, A. P. G., 2011, A New Species Of Neoscirula (Acari: Cunaxidae: Coleoscirinae) From The Ozark Highlands (Usa), With A Note On Biogeography, Acarologia 51 (3), pp. 283-293 : 284-285

Neoscirula Den Heyer, 1977

Den Heyer (1977) erected Neoscirula to accommodate three African cunaxids. The genus was subsequently placed into Coleoscirinae ( Den Heyer 1981). Smiley (1992) moved Neoscirula to Bonziinae based on seta hg1 being geniculate. Den Heyer and Castro (2008b) moved the genus back to Coleoscirinae , saying that hg1 is only bent and not truly geniculate. The authors agree with Den Heyer and Castro that Neoscirula should be placed in Coleoscirinae .

The palpi of Neoscirula are five-segmented and end in a strong claw, which is complemented with a tooth in some species; they extend to the tip of the hypognathum or slightly beyond. The palp tibiotarsus is short and cone-like. Four pairs of setae are present on the hypognathum (hg1-4); hg1 is longest and in some species bent at 90 degrees. Adoral setae present or absent.

A cheliceral seta is usually present near the digit, though may be absent. The propodosomal shield is weakly sclerotized and ill-defined. It is granulated or papillated; some species possess subcuticular reticulations. Coxal plates I and II may be separate or fused medially into a single sternal shield. Coxal plates III and IV contiguous on either side, restricted to area around trochanteral bases. Dorsal cupules im present laterad to e 1; ventral cupules ih present near h2, anal plates. All legs are shorter than body. The basifemur and telofemur are fused but retain the suture; each has a dorsolateral simple or spine-like seta. Ambulacral claws are smooth.