Haloaxonopsis salina, Pešić & Smit & Saboori, 2012

Pešić, Vladimir, Smit, Harry & Saboori, Alireza, 2012, 3330, Zootaxa 3330, pp. 1-67 : 54-55

Haloaxonopsis salina sp. nov.

( Figs. 39A – B, 40A – C, 41A – E, 42A – C, 43A – F)

Material examined. Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Iran, Hormozgan Province, IR15-2011, Khorgoo village before hot water spring, Bandar Abbass , saline stream, 27º 29.347 N, 56º 27.802 E, 125 m asl, 16.vii.2011 ( RMNH) . Paratypes: 31/47/1, same data as holotype, 1/2/0 mounted.

Further records. Iran, Hormozgan Province, IR15-2011, Khorgoo village before hot water spring, small pool near IR14-2011, N of Bandar Abbass, 27º 29.155 N, 56º 27.531 E, 113 m asl, 16.vii.2011 1/7/1; IR20-2011, Bandar Khamir to Bandar Lengeh road, ca 80 km from Bandar Abbass , saline stream near Dezhgas, 26º 52.873 N, 55º 16.354 E, 20 m asl, 20.vii.2011 6/5/0 (1/0/0 mounted) . Sistan va Baluchestan Province, IR11-2011, Hootgat Bala river near Dorgas village , NE of Chabahar, upstream, 25º 49.539 N, 61º 31.03 E, 65 m asl, 14.vii.2011 1/0/0 (mounted) .

Diagnosis. As for genus.

Description. Male (holotype; in parentheses paratype, n = 1; in square brackets specimen from IR20-2011, n = 1) — Dorsal and ventral shields anteriorly fused; dorsal shield ( Fig. 39A) L/W 513 (538) [470]/389 (322) [345], with seven pairs of glandularia (the seventh pair inconspicuous, flanking the excretory pore); postocularia well distanced from anterior margin; colour pattern indistinct; extending beyond posterior margin of the ventral shield; eye pigment well developed; excretory pore located at posterior end of dorsal shield. Ventral shield ( Fig. 39B) L/W 519 (503) [494]/459 (413) [469], slightly truncate at anterior end, lateral margins rounded. Gnathosomal bay L 134 (136) [125]. Venter without a ridge on each side extending posteriorly from the region of insertion of the IV-L. Three pairs of 'wheel-like' acetabula ( Figs. 43A – D), arranged in an arc; distance between most lateral pair of wheel-like Ac 107 (103) [113]. Gonopore extending beyond the anterior pair of weel-like acetabula, L/W 45 (44) [30]/34 (30) [26]; gonopore flanked by several small setae. Ejaculatory complex ( Fig. 41D) L 142 (143) [135]. Palp ( Figs. 41 A-B): total L 257 (256) [244], dL: P-1, 42 (42) [37]; P-2, 72 (69) [67]; P-3, 32 (32) [31]; P-4, 82 (83) [80]; P-5, 29 (30) [29]; L P-2/P-4 ratio, 0.88 (0.83) [0.84]; ventral margin of P-2 convex, middle of ventral side of P-4 expanded, bearing a hair-like seta lying on a small pointed tubercle. Gnathosoma vL 120 (122) [103]. Legs: dL of I-L-4-6 ( Fig. 41C): 72 [65], 88 (88) [84], 94 (96) [85]; dL of IV-L ( Fig. 41E): 85 [83], 112 (115) [104], 85 (90) [79], 104 (108) [98], 122 (119) [112], 115 (117) [110]; swimming setae numbers: II-L-5, 3; III-L-4, 2; III-L-5, 3; IV-L-4, 2; IV-L-5 3.

Female (paratypes, n = 2) — Similar to male except for the shape of the genital field ( Figs. 40A, C). Dorsal shield L/W 497 – 544/353 – 381; ventral shield L/W 525 – 528/438; gnathosomal bay L 130 – 133. Distance between most lateral pair of weel-like Ac 118 – 124. Gonopore W 69 – 72; maximum egg diameter 212; palp ( Fig. 42A): total L 244 – 256, dL: P-1, 39 – 43; P-2, 68 – 69; P-3, 31 – 33; P-4, 78 – 82; P-5, 28 – 29; L P-2/P-4 ratio, 0.84 – 0.87; gnathosoma ( Fig. 42C) vL 109 – 128, chelicera ( Fig. 42B) total L 179 – 200. Legs: dL of I-L-3–6: 57, 76 – 84, 82 – 86; dL of IV-L: 72 – 79, 88 – 97, 69 – 76, 89 – 95, 106 – 113, 93 – 112; palp chaetotaxy and swimming setae numbers as in male.

Etymology. The species is named for its occurrence in saline habitat.

Habitat. Apparently restricted to saline habitats. This is the only water mite and one of the most commonly collected invertebrate species in saline streams along the Persian Gulf. The associated fauna includes the snail species Cerithidaea cingulata (Gmelin) and Ecrobia sp. , which are characteristic for brackish waters (Glöer & Pešić in prep.). We did not measure the salinity during our field work but most probably this species has a high salinity tolerance, as it is able to inhabit saturated brine ( Fig. 44A). The weel-like acetabula should be considered as an adaptation to the salty environment.

Distribution. Iran; only known from saline streams along Persian Gulf and Oman Sea.