Geayia tanaru, 2022

K, Harry Smit, Pešić, Vladimir, K & K, Simon Clavier, 2022, Water mites from French Guiana, with the description of 14 new species (Acari: Hydrachnidia), Acarologia 62 (4), pp. 1119-1153 : 1141-1143

Geayia (?) tanaru Smit & Pešić sp. nov.

Zoobank: 18B8DB84-962A-4517-AF46-F325A017355F

( Figures 14 A-E, 20A-C, 21A-B)

Material examined — Holotype female, Crique Baboune , National Reserve La Trinité, French Guiana, 4.590557°N, 53.413572°W, 3 Nov. 2018, leg. S. Clavier, dissected (gnathosoma, palps and legs mounted on slide, dorsal and ventral shield in Koenike fluid) ( MNHN) . Paratypes: one female, Crique Aya, National Reserve La Trinité, French Guiana, 4.590557°N, 53.413572°W, 11 Nov. 2018, leg. S. Clavier ( RMNH).

Diagnosis (Male unknown) — Dorsum and venter with a colour pattern as given in Figure 20 B-C; gnathosoma elongated, L/W ratio> 4.0, posterior margin with a V-shaped cleft flanked by a pair of angular flange-like extensions, rostrum triangular-conical, ending in a pointed tip in a lateral view.

Description — Female – Dorsal and ventral shield present; dorsal shield complete, 834 long and 781 wide, L/W ratio 1.07; dorsum and venter with a colour pattern as photographed in figures 20B-C, colour pattern of dorsal shield consisting of anteromedial and posteromedial patches and a pair of lateral patches, encompassing a central H-shaped yellow patch ( Figure 20A). Ventral shield 1230 long and 1163 wide; dorsal portion of gnathosomal bluntly pointed and projecting well forward; one row of body pores on each side between Cx-II and Cx-II ( Figure 14A). Genital field 388 long and 363 wide, with three pairs of acetabula, gonopore 288 long and 188 wide. Egg maximum diameter (n = 2) 153-159.

Palp: dL/H, dL/H ratio: P1, 23/56, 0.4; P2, 86/63, 1.37; P3, 44/61, 0.72; P4, 63/53, 1.19;

P5, 44/22, 2.0; two long setae of medial surface of P2 inserted near middle of the segment, antagonistic bristle of P4 slender and relatively short; P5 inserted dorsally at distal end of P5 ( Figure 14D). Gnathosoma attached to a protrusible tube of soft integument, relatively long,

414 long and 105 wide, L/W ratio 3.95, gnathosomal rostrum triangular-conical, ending in a pointed tip in a lateral view, posterior margin with a V-shaped cleft flanked by a pair of angular flange-like extensions ( Figure 14B). Chelicera (14C) 281 long.

Dorsal length of I-leg ( Figure 14E): 75, 97, 144, 194, 209, 228; dorsal length of IV-leg: 161,

180, 209, 259, 272, 259; swimming setae: II-leg-4, 5-6; II-leg-5, 4; III-leg-3, 6-7; III-leg-4,

13-14; III-leg-5, 9-10; IV-leg-3, 6; IV-leg-4, 13; IV-leg-5, 12.

Etymology — Named after the Tanaru Indian or the Man of the Hole, the last member of an uncontacted indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest. The name is a noun in apposition. Discussion — With regard to shape of gnathosoma (relatively long, gnathosomal rostrum triangular-conical, posterior margin with a cleft) Geayia tanaru sp. nov. resembles G. major

sp. nov. (see below). The latter species can be separated in a major dimensions, dorsum and venter without a distinctive colour pattern and posterior margin of gnathosoma with a U-shaped cleft, not flanked by a pair of lateral angular flange-like extensions as in G. tanaru sp. nov. Distribution — French Guiana.