Phymatodiscidae, Kontschán & Ermilov, 2023

Kontschan, Jeno & Ermilov, Sergey G., 2023, Remarks on the genus Phymatodiscus Berlese, 1917, with the description of Phymatodiscidae fam. nov. and Bardizon eotvosi gen. nov., sp. nov. from Indonesia (Acari, Mesostigmata), ZooKeys 1182, pp. 223-235 : 223

Phymatodiscidae fam. nov.

Phymatodiscidae Hirschmann, 1979: 69 (nomen nudum).

Phymatodiscidae - Halliday 2016: 355.

Type genus.

Phymatodiscus Berlese, 1917.

Diagnosis.

Idiosoma oval, dorsal shield fused with marginal shield in anterior area. Central area of dorsal shield elevated from neighbouring regions and subdivided with a transversal furrow in longer apical and shorter caudal parts. Transversal furrow forms a pair of eye-like depressions in some species. Genital shield of female scutiform; genital shield of male rounded and situated between coxae IV. Prestigmatid part of peritreme hooked. Corniculi horn-like; internal malae longer than corniculi and densely pilose. Gnathosomal setae in one longitudinal row; h1 near anterior margin of gnathosoma; setae h2, h3, and h4 far from setae h1 and near each other. Setae h1 smooth and needle-like; h2 short and robust; h3 long and smooth or serrate; h4 divided into two or three short, serrate branches. Chelicerae with 1-3 teeth on both digits; internal sclerotized pore associated with levantor tendon present. Setae v1 on palp trochanter long, pilose.

Distribution.

All known phymatodiscid species occur in New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Remarks.

Hirschmann (1979) first introduced a family name, Phymatodiscidae , but it was simply listed and without formal description, diagnosis, or designation of a type genus. Following Halliday’s (2016) suggestion about Hirschmann’s family name, a nomen nudum, we maintain the original name but formally establish it here as a new family. Phymatodiscidae currently includes two genera.