Torrenticola miniforma Habeeb, 1974

Fisher, J. Ray, Fisher, Danielle M., Skvarla, Michael J., Nelson, Whitney A. & Dowling, Ashley P. G., 2017, Revision of torrent mites (Parasitengona, Torrenticolidae, Torrenticola) of the United States and Canada: 90 descriptions, molecular phylogenetics, and a key to species, ZooKeys 701, pp. 1-496 : 1

Torrenticola miniforma Habeeb, 1974

Torrenticola miniforma Habeeb, 1974: 1.

Material examined.

LECTOTYPE (1 ♀): from USA, California, Humboldt County, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek, 12 Jul 1964, by H Habeeb, HH640021.

PARALECTOTYPE (1 ♂): from USA, California, Humboldt County, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Prairie Creek, 12 Jul 1964, by H Habeeb, HH640021.

Type deposition.

Types (1 ♀; 1 ♂) deposited in the CNC.

Diagnosis.

Torrenticola miniforma are similar to members of the Miniforma group ( T. copipalpa , T. manni , T. pacificensis , T. rockyensis , T. oliveri , and T. pinocchio ) in having short, stocky pedipalps (except T. oliveri and T. pinocchio ); similar pedipalpal extensions (unique to members of this group); and being among the smallest Torrenticola in the west (dorsum 500-625 long) (except T. oliveri ). T. miniforma are best differentiated from T. rockyensis by being smaller (dorsum length ♀ = 545 in T. miniforma , 570-620 in T. rockyensis ; ♂ = 485 in T. miniforma , 525-545 in T. rockyensis ); having more elongate subcapitular rostra (length/width ♀ = 3.13 in T. miniforma , 2.72-2.91 in T. rockyensis ; ♂ = 3.19 in T. miniforma , 2.83-3.00 in T. rockyensis ); and by being only known from Humboldt County, California, whereas T. rockyensis is distributed in the Rocky Mountains (Idaho & Montana). T. miniforma are best differentiated from T. copipalpa by having tuberculate pedipalp femoral extensions (broad and flat in T. copipalpa ). T. miniforma are best differentiated from T. pacificensis by having more elongate anterio-medial platelets (length/width = 2.44-2.65 in T. miniforma , 2.00-2.16 in T. pacificensis ); more elongate subcapitular rostra (length/width = 3.13-3.19 in T. miniforma , 2.59-3.07 in T. pacificensis ); and by being only known from Humboldt County, California, whereas T. pacificensis is distributed in the Pacific Coast Ranges of Washington and Oregon. T. miniforma are best differentiated from T. manni by being smaller (dorsum length ♀ = 545 in T. miniforma , 565-620 in T. manni ; ♂ = 485 in T. miniforma , 535-550 in T. manni ); having stockier pedipalp tibiae (length/width = 2.38-2.88 in T. miniforma , 3.13-3.38 in T. manni ); and by being only known from Humboldt County, California, whereas T. manni is only known from Catron County, New Mexico. T. miniforma can be differentiated from T. oliveri by having a shorter anterior venter (172-200 in T. miniforma , 250-310 in T. oliveri ) and having less elongate pedipalpal tibiae (length/width = 2.3-2.9 in T. miniforma , 3.6-4.2 in T. oliveri ). T. miniforma can be differentiated from T. pinocchio by having a less elongate rostrum (length/width = 3.1-3.2 in T. miniforma , 4.5-4.9 in T. pinocchio ) and a more ovoid dorsum (length/width = 1.43-1.43 in T. miniforma , 1.53-1.64 in T. pinocchio ).

Re-description.

Female (Figure 147) (n = 1) (lectotype only) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (545 long; 380 wide) ovoid and colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (112.5 long; 42.5 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (152.5 long; 50 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 300). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.43; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.27; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.65; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 3.05; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.36.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (295 long (ventral); 225 long (dorsal); 112.5 tall) colorless. Rostrum (117.5 long; 37.5 wide). Chelicerae (290 long) with curved fangs (52.5 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.62; rostrum length/width 3.13. Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and dentate, flanged ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (32.5 long); femur (90 long); genu (62.5 long); tibia (57.5 long; 20 wide); tarsus (15 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.44; tibia/femur 0.64; tibia length/width 2.88.

Venter - (680 long; 420 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (145 long; 62.5 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (50 long). Genital plates (167.5 long; 165 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (260 long (total); 50 long (medial)); Cx-3 (280 wide); anterior venter (172.5 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 2.32; anterior venter/genital field length 1.03; anterior venter length/genital field width 1.05; anterior venter/medial suture 3.45.

Male (Figure 148) (n = 1) (paralectotype only) with characters of the genus with following specifications.

Dorsum - (485 long; 340 wide) ovoid and colorless. Anterio-medial platelets (97.5 long; 40 wide). Anterio-lateral platelets (145 long; 47.5 wide) free from dorsal plate. Dgl-4 much closer to the edge of the dorsum than to the muscle scars (distance between Dgl-4 270). Dorsal plate proportions: dorsum length/width 1.43; dorsal width/distance between Dgl-4 1.26; anterio-medial platelet length/width 2.44; anterio-lateral platelet length/width 3.05; anterio-lateral/anterio-medial length 1.49.

Gnathosoma - Subcapitulum (265 long (ventral); 200 long (dorsal); 95 tall) colorless. Rostrum (107.5 long; 33.75 wide). Chelicerae (265 long) with curved fangs (47.5 long). Subcapitular proportions: ventral length/height 2.79; rostrum length/width 3.19. Pedipalps short and stocky (especially tibiae) with tuberculate ventral extensions on femora and dentate, flanged ventral extensions on genua. Palpomeres: trochanter (30 long); femur (77.5 long); genu (52.5 long); tibia (47.5 long; 20 wide); tarsus (15 long). Palpomere proportions: femur/genu 1.48; tibia/femur 0.61; tibia length/width 2.38.

Venter - (610 long; 380 wide) colorless. Gnathosomal bay (125 long; 50 wide). Cxgl-4 subapical. Medial suture (87.5 long). Genital plates (125 long; 50 wide). Additional measurements: Cx-1 (227.5 long (total); 102.5 long (medial)); Cx-3 (250 wide); anterior venter (200 long). Ventral proportions: gnathosomal bay length/width 2.50; anterior venter/genital field length 1.54; anterior venter length/genital field width 1.86; anterior venter/medial suture 2.29.

Immatures unknown.

Etymology.

Habeeb (1974) did not specify an etymology for the specific epithet ( miniforma ). However, we suspect the specific epithet refers to the small body size of this species, as with others of the Miniforma Group (minor, L. small; forma, L. form), as Habeeb (1974) notes this species is "the smallest species that has come to the attention of the writer from the pacific area."

Distribution.

Known only from Prairie Creek, Humboldt County, California ( Habeeb 1974) (Figure 146).

Remarks.

Unfortunately, we were unable to acquire more specimens of Torrenticola miniforma and therefore this species is not included in our phylogenetic analyses. However, we were able to examine morphology with the type material. Based upon overall similarity, the pedipalp genu extensions, and western distribution, we were able to place this species in the Miniforma Complex and the Miniforma Identification Group.