Diplobodes africanus, Mahunka, S., 1987

Mahunka, S., 1987, A survey of the family Carabodidae C. L. Koch, 1836 (Acari: Oribatida), II, Acta Zoologica Hungarica 33, pp. 399-434 : 428-429

Diplobodes africanus sp. n.

Measurements. - Length: 777-822 µm, width: 510-563 µm.

Prodorsum: Rostrum very wide, its outline undulate. Rostral setae small, weakly dilated, arising far from each other. Lamellae gradually narrowed basally, wide and angular anteriorly (Fig. 91) with sharp cuspis. Lamellar setae phylliform, serrate; completely covered by lamellae in dorsal view. Interlamellar setae simple, setiform. Surface of interlamellar region smooth. Sensillus (Fig. 93) uncate. Sack of bothridium very long, arched, like a cornu (Fig. 93).

Notogaster: Dorsosejugal suture undulate. Seven pairs of rounded elevations on the median part of notogaster (Fig. 88) present, this part also is completely elevated from the marginal part. Posterior part concave. Lateral margin of notogaster with transverse rugae, rest of surface, excepting 7 pairs of elevations, foveolate. Fourteen pairs of very thin, fine notogastral setae present, five pairs of them in postero-marginal and no seta in humeral position. Lyrifissures im opening marginally, near to the first pairs of lateral elevations.

Gnathosoma: Mentum very large, nearly twice longer than rutellum, its surface smooth.

Lateral part of prodorsum: Tutorium well developed, its cuspis observable.

Coxisternal region: Epimeral setal formula: 3 —1—3— 3. Apodemes 2, ap. sej., ap. 3 and 4 nearly equal in length. No sternal apodeme or border present, a wide median, unpaired field present. Epimeral surface ornamented by some weak alveoli. Setae 1a, 1c, 2a reduced, all represented only by their alveoli, rest of setae fine and thin (Fig. 89).

Anogenital region: The surface divided by strong chitinous laths, some weak foveolae also visible. Anogenital setal formula: 4 —1—2— 3.*

All setae thin and simple. Setae ad1 and ad2 in postanal, ad3 in para-anal position. Surface of genital plates smooth, that of anal plates foveolate. Inner margin of anal plates ending in sharply pointed spines (Fig. 92). Lyrifissures iad well visible.

Legs: Setae u of all tarsi simple, setiform. All femora foveolate, other joints of legs smooth.

* In one case three pairs of genital setae were observable.

Type-material: Holotype (1182-HO-87): Kenya No. 74: Tsavo National Park, Ngulia Lodge, 28. IX. 1985. - Sifted material from litter and dry decaying stumps; leg. S. Mahunka and L. Mahunka-Papp. 10 paratypes: from the same sample; 1 paratype: Kenya No. 1. Ukunda, sea shore. 16. IX. 1985. - Berlese-, Nematoda- and Tardigrada-samples from decaying debris and litter, accumulated at base of baobab trees. Sandy soil. Leg. S. Mahunka and L. Mahunka-Papp; 1 paratype: Kenya: No. 11. Ukunda, between the shore and main road. 17. IX. 1985. - Berlese-, Nematoda- and Tardigrada-samples from thin litter and humus of bushes. Stony soil. Leg. S. Mahunka and L. Mahunka-Papp. Holotype and 10 paratypes (1182-PO-87) deposited in the HNHM, 1 paratype in MHNG and 1 paratype in NHMN.

Remarks: The new species is well comparable with the type of the genus Diplobodes Aoki, 1958. The new species is a good example to prove the distinction of the genus from the other genera of the family Carabodidae Mahunka, 1986). The new taxon is near to the type of the genus ( D. kanekoi Aoki , 1958), however, its lamellae are without ornamentation and no anterior median elevations are present which well characterizes the type species.