# New species of Oripodoidea (Acari, Oribatidae) from Central Ethiopia

Sergey G Ermilov

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## To cite this version:

Sergey G Ermilov. New species of Oripodoidea (Acari, Oribatidae) from Central Ethiopia. Acarologia, 2025, 65 (2), pp.405-416. 10.24349/8znh-f82i. hal-05059220

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Acarologia

Open Science
in Acarology

# New species of Oripodoidea (Acari, Oribatidae) from Central Ethiopia

Sergey G. Ermilov<sup>a</sup>

## Original research

### ABSTRACT

Two new species of oribatid mites (Oribatida) of the superfamily Oripodoidea— *Zygoribatula birhanensis n. sp.* (Oribatulidae) and *Scheloribates (Scheloribates) debreensis n. sp.* (Scheloribatidae)—are described from moss and litter in forest with *Erica arborea* in the Amhara region, Central Ethiopia. The species *Annobonzetes hamatus* is combined in *Scheloribates (Scheloribates)*.

**Keywords** oribatid mites; taxonomy; morphology; *Oribatula*; *Scheloribates*; Afrotropical region

**Zoobank** http://zoobank.org/BAB4F75B-20E7-4AFF-8EFE-859F9A6AA121

## Introduction

The oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of the Amhara region in Central Ethiopia have been insufficiently studied (Bayartogtokh et al. 2021; Niedbała and Ermilov 2022; Ermilov and Rybalov 2024a). During taxonomic identification of new materials from this region, two new species of the superfamily Oripodoidea belonging to the genera *Zygoribatula* Berlese, 1916 (Oribatulidae) and *Scheloribates* Berlese, 1908 (Scheloribatidae) are found. The main objective of the paper is to describe new species under the names *Zygoribatula birhanensis n. sp.* and *Scheloribates (Scheloribates) debreensis n. sp.*

The genus *Zygoribatula* was proposed by Berlese (1916b) as a subgenus of the genus *Oribatula* Berlese 1896, with *Oribatula connexa* Berlese, 1904 as type species. I support the generic independence of this taxon, following Weigmann (2006), Bayartogtokh and Smelyansky (2008), Bayartogtokh (2010). The genus comprises about 100 species, which have a cosmopolitan distribution collectively (Subías 2022, online version 2024). The main generic characters can be found in: Bulanova-Zachvatkina (1975), Lee (1992), Grobler and Kok (1993), Pérez-Íñigo (1993), Weigmann (2006), Subías and Shtanchaeva (2023). The identification keys to selective species of *Zygoribatula* were given by: Bulanova-Zachvatkina (1975), Lee (1992), Pérez-Íñigo (1993), Balogh and Balogh (2002), Weigmann (2006), Franklin et al. (2008), Bayartogtokh (2010), Ermilov (2023).

The genus *Scheloribates* was proposed by Berlese (1908), with *Zetes latipes* Koch, 1844 as type species. The nominate subgenus comprises more than 210 species, which have a cosmopolitan distribution collectively (Subías 2022, online version 2024). The main subgeneric characters can be found in: Pletzen van (1963), Coetzer (1968), Corpuz-Raros (1980), Balogh and Balogh (1992), Weigmann (2006), Bayartogtokh (2010), Ermilov and Anichkin (2014). The identification keys to selective species of *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*) were given by: Shaldybina (1975), Balogh and Balogh (2002), Weigmann (2006), Bayartogtokh (2010), Ermilov *et al.* (2011), Ermilov and Starý (2017).

Prior to this study, four species of *Zygoribatula* and 22 species of *S. (Scheloribates)* have been recorded in the Ethiopian fauna (Ermilov and Rybalov 2013a, b, 2022, 2024b, c; Ermilov *et al.* 2024).

Received 29 December 2024

Accepted 25 April 2025

Published 05 May 2025

Corresponding author

Sergey G. Ermilov<sup>a</sup>: ermilovacari@yandex.ru

Academic editor

Pfingstl, Tobias

https://doi.org/10.24349/8znh-f82i

ISSN 0044-586X (print)

ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic)

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

Ermilov S. G.

Licensed under
Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

OPEN ACCESS

<footnote><sup>a</sup>University of Tyumen, Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen, Russia.</footnote>
# Methods

## Observation and documentation

For measurement and illustration, specimens were mounted in lactic acid on temporary cavity slides. All body measurements are presented in micrometers (µm); body length was measured in lateral view, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the notogaster; body width refers to the maximum width of the notogaster in dorsal view in *Zygoribatula*, and to the maximum width at pteromorph level in dorsal aspect and to the maximum width at ventral plate level in ventral view in *Scheloribates*; the lengths of body setae were measured in lateral aspect. Formulas for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanter-femur-genu-tibia-tarsus (famulus included); formulas for leg solenidia are given in square brackets, according to the sequence genu-tibia-tarsus. Drawings were made with a camera lucida using a Leica DM 2500 light microscope.

## Terminology

Morphological terminology used in this paper mostly follows that of papers on *Zygoribatula* and *Scheloribates* (e.g. Ermilov 2023; Ermilov *et al.* 2024); also, Norton (1977) for leg setal nomenclature and Norton and Behan-Pelletier (2009) for overview are used.

## Abbreviations

*Prodorsum:* *lam* = lamella; *plam* = prolamella; *tlam* = translamella; *slam* = sublamella; *Al* = sublamellar porose area; *tu* = tutorium; *kf* = keel-shaped ridge; *ro, le, in, bs, ex* = rostral, lamellar, interlamellar, bothridial, and exobothridial setae, respectively; *Ad* = dorsosejugal porose area; *D* = dorsopragma; *P* = pleuropragma. *Notogaster:* *pcar* = pleural carina; *c, da, la, dm, lm, dp, lp, h, p* = setae; *Aa, A1, A2, A3, A4* = porose areas; *Sa, S1, S2, S3* = saccules; *ia, im, ip, ih, ips* = lyrifissures; *gla* = opisthonotal gland opening. *Gnathosoma:* *a, m, h* = subcapitular setae; *or* = adoral seta; *d, l, cm, acm, ul, su, lt, vt, inf, sup* = palp setae; *ω* = palp solenidion; *cha, chb* = cheliceral setae; *Tg* = Trägårdh's organ. *Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions:* *1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 4c* = epimeral setae; *z* = aperture of supracoxal gland; *Am* = humeral porose area; *PdI, PdII* = pedotecta I and II, respectively; *dis* = discidium; *cir* = circumpedal carina. *Anogenital region:* *g, ag, an, ad* = genital, aggenital, anal, and adanal setae, respectively; *iad* = adanal lyrifissure; *Ap* = postanal porose area; *Amar* = marginal porose area; *po* = preanal organ. *Legs:* *Tr, Fe, Ge, Ti, Ta* = trochanter, femur, genu, tibia, and tarsus, respectively; *pa* = porose area; *e* = famulus; *d, l, v, ev, bv, ft, tc, it, p, u, a, s, pv, pl* = setae; *ω, σ, φ* = solenidia.

# Taxonomy

## Zygoribatula birhanensis n. sp.

Zoobank: 3C994735-9F32-40CE-9150-D117BAB1470C

(Figures 1, 2)

**Type material** — Holotype (female) and eight paratypes (three males and five females): Central Ethiopia, Amhara Region, Semien Shewa Zone, 9°51'32.4"N, 39°43'51.2"E, 10 km NE of Debre Birhan, 2900 m a.s.l., forest with *Erica arborea*, sifted moss and litter, 24.V.2014 (L.B. Rybalov).

The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, Germany; eight paratypes are in the collection of the University of Tyumen, Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia. All specimens are preserved in 70% solution of ethanol with a drop of glycerol.

**Diagnosis** — Body length: 420–480. Body surface densely microsculpturing tuberculate; anogenital region slightly foveolate. Rostrum with triangular medial mucro. Lamella with
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1** Zygoribatula birhanensis n. sp., adult (gnathosoma and legs omitted): a – dorsal view; b – ventral view; c – right lateral view. Scale bar 100 µm.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2** *Zygoribatula birhanensis* n. sp., adult: a – posterior view; b – subcapitulum, ventral view; c – palp, left, paraxial view; d – chelicera, left, paraxial view; e – leg I, right, antiaxial view; f – leg II (trochanter omitted), left, antiaxial view; g – leg III, left, antiaxial view; h – leg IV, left, antiaxial view. Scale bars 100 µm (a), 50 µm (e–h), 20 µm (b, d), 10 µm (c).</figcaption></figure>
small trapezoid cusp; translamella thin, straight; tutorium present. Sublamellar porose area absent. Rostral, lamellar and interlamellar setae slightly differs in length, long, setiform, barbed; bothridial seta with short stalk and globose, roughened head. Fourteen pairs of short, slightly dilated in median part, barbed setae. Five pairs of rounded notogastral porose areas. Epimeral, aggenital, anal, and adanal setae short, setiform, slightly barbed; all genital setae short, setiform, nearly smooth; leg femora I, II with four setae (l' absent); genua I, II with two setae (v' absent).

**Description** — *Measurements*. Body length: 465 (holotype), 420–480 (paratypes); notogaster width: 270 (holotype), 255–300 (paratypes). No difference between males and females in body size.

*Integument* — Body light brown to brown. Surface densely microsculpturing tuberculate (well observable under low magnification, × 400); additionally, anogenital region with slight sparse foveolae (diameter up to 4).

*Prodorsum* (Figs 1(a, c)) — Rostrum with strongly projecting triangular medial mucro. Lamella about 1/3 length of prodorsum, narrow, with small trapezoid cusp; translamella thin, straight; tutorium developed, ridge-like. Sublamellar porose area absent. Rostral (67–71), lamellar (67–75), interlamellar (60–67), and exbothridial (30–34) setae setiform, barbed; ex thinnest; in erect; bothridial seta (26) with short (7), smooth stalk and globose, roughened head (19). Dorsosejugal porose area slightly observable, oval.

*Notogaster* (Figs 1(a, c), 2(a)) — Anterior margin distinctly convex and rounded medially. Fourteen pairs of setae (15–19) slightly dilated in median part, barbed. Five pairs of rounded porose areas (7–15; sizes vary in specimens, but *Aa* frequently largest). Opisthonotal gland opening and all lyrifissures well observable.

*Gnathosoma* (Figs 2(b–d)) — Subcapitulum size: 101–105 × 75–82; subcapitular (22–26) and adoral (13–15) setae setiform, barbed. Palp length: 64–67; setation: 0–2–1–3–9(+ω); postpalpal seta (7) spiniform, nearly smooth. Chelicera length: 116–120; setae (*cha*: 34; *chb*: 22) setiform, barbed.

*Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions* (Figs 1(b, c)) — Epimeral formula: 3–1–3–3; all setae (*1a*, *2a*, *3a*: 17–19; others: 22–26) setiform, slightly barbed. Humeral porose area *Am* slightly observable, oval. Discidium not developed. Circumpedal carina short.

*Anogenital region* (Figs 1(b, c), 2(a)) — Anogenital formula: 4–1–2–3; all genital setae (15) setiform, nearly smooth; aggenital (19), anal (15) and adanal (19) setae setiform, slightly barbed. Adanal lyrifissure close and anterior to anal plate. Postanal porose area band-like. Ovipositor typical for Oribatulidae (Ermilov 2010); length of blade: 71; length of distal section (beyond middle fold): 105; width of distal section: 52; each of the three blades with four smooth setae: ψ₁ ≈ τ₁ (37–41) setiform; ψ₂ ≈ τₐ ≈ τₑ ≈ τₑ (11–15) narrowly thorn-like; coronal setae absent.

*Legs* (Figs 2(e–h)) — Median claw thicker than lateral claws; all slightly barbed on dorsal side; each lateral claw with tubercle distoventrally. Proximoventral porose area on tarsi I–IV, distoventral porose area on tibiae I–IV and dorsoparaxial porose area on femora I–IV and on trochanters III, IV well observable. Formulas of leg setation and solenidia: I (1–4–2–4–19)

<table><caption>**Table 1** Leg setation and solenidia of *Zygoribatula birhanensis* n. sp.</caption><thead><tr><th>Leg</th><th>Tr</th><th>Fe</th><th>Ge</th><th>Ti</th><th>Ta</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>I</td><td>v'</td><td>d, l', bv'', v''</td><td>(l), σ</td><td>(l), (v), φ₁, φ₂</td><td>(ft), (tc), (it), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv), v', (pv), e, ω₁, ω₂</td></tr><tr><td>II</td><td>v'</td><td>d, l', bv'', v''</td><td>(l), σ</td><td>(l), (v), φ</td><td>(ft), (tc), (it), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv), ω₁, ω₂</td></tr><tr><td>III</td><td>l', v'</td><td>d, l', ev'</td><td>l', σ</td><td>l', (v), φ</td><td>(ft), (tc), (it), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv)</td></tr><tr><td>IV</td><td>v'</td><td>d, ev'</td><td>d, l'</td><td>l', (v), φ</td><td>fi'', (tc), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Note: Roman letters refer to normal setae; Greek letters to solenidia; single prime (') marks setae on the anterior and double prime (") setae on the posterior side of a given leg segment; parentheses refer to a pair of setae.
[1-2-2], II (1-4-2-4-15) [1-1-2], III (2-3-1-3-15) [1-1-0], IV (1-2-2-3-12) [0-1-0];
homology of setae and solenidia indicated in Table 1; seta *s* eupathidial on tarsus I.

**Remarks** — In having medium-sized body (about 450), pointed rostrum, short cusp on the lamella, short and globose bothridial seta, rounded notogastral porose areas, and 14 pairs of short, barbed notogastral setae, *Z. birhanensis n. sp.* is similar to *Z. josefstaryi* Ermilov and Rybalov, 2013 from Ethiopia. The new species can be distinguished from the latter by the morphology of the rostrum (with triangular medial mucro versus mucro absent), the length of the interlamellar seta (distinctly shorter than prodorsum, and not longer than rostral and lamellar setae versus as long as prodorsum or longer, and distinctly longer than rostral and lamellar setae), the presence of five pairs (versus four pairs) of notogastral porose areas, the morphology and lengths of notogastral setae (slightly dilated in median part, similar in length versus setiform, *c*₁, *c*₂, *da*, *la* distinctly longer than others), and the leg setation (femora I, II with four setae, *l''* absent; genu I with two setae, *v'* absent versus femora I, II with five setae, *l''* present; genu I with three setae, *v'* present).

**Etymology** — The species name *birhanensis* refers to vicinities of the place of origin, Debre Birhan.

**Scheloribates (Scheloribates) debreensis n. sp.**

Zoobank: 1B3957F5-249E-42A9-AC65-A69D55CBB280

(Figures 3, 4)

**Type material** — Holotype (male) and eight paratypes (five males and three females): Central Ethiopia, Amhara Region, Semien Shewa Zone, 9°51'32.4"N, 39°43'51.2"E, 10 km NE of Debre Birhan, 2900 m a.s.l., forest with *Erica arborea*, sifted moss and litter, 24.V.2014 (L.B. Rybalov).

The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, Germany; eight paratypes are in the collection of the University of Tyumen, Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia. All specimens are preserved in 70% solution of ethanol with a drop of glycerol.

**Diagnosis** — Body length: 480–525. Rostrum rounded. Translamella represented by two short indistinct lines near lamellae; prolamella complete (reaching insertion of rostral seta); lateral keel-shaped ridge slightly arch-like. Rostral, lamellar and interlamellar setae long, setiform, barbed; *ro* shortest; *in* longest; bothridial seta long, lanceolate, barbed. Pteromorph large, rounded laterally, its anterior margin slightly oblique. All notogastral setae short, setiform, with flexible tip, smooth. Epimeral, aggenital, anal, and adanal setae short, setiform, slightly barbed; three pairs of genital setae short, setiform, nearly smooth. Leg tarsi I and II with two longitudinal ridges and two teeth distodorsally; femora I and II large.

**Description** — *Measurements*. Body length: 525 (holotype), 480–525 (paratypes); body width (level of pteromorph): 285 (holotype), 240–285; width of ventral plate: 240 (holotype), 210–240 (paratypes). No difference between males and females in body size.

**Integument** — Body color brown. Body surface partially microfoveolate (foveolae sparsely located, slightly observable).

*Prodorsum* (Figs 3(a, c)) — Rostrum rounded. Lamella about 1/2 length of prodorsum; translamella represented by two short indistinct lines near lamellae; prolamella complete (reaching insertion of rostral seta); lateral keel-shaped ridge slightly arch-like, located above acetabulum I. Sublamellar porose area nearly rounded (9–11). Rostral (37–49), lamellar (52–64), interlamellar (71–79), and exobothridial (30–34) setae setiform, barbed; *ex* thinnest; *in* erect; bothridial seta (86–101) lanceolate, barbed, directed posterolaterad; stalk longer than head. Dorsosejugal porose area not observable.

*Notogaster* (Figs 3(a, c), 4(a)) — Anterior margin distinctly convex and rounded medially. Pteromorph large, rounded laterally, its anterior margin slightly oblique (not perpendicular to longitudinal axis of body in dorsal aspect). Ten pairs of setae (19–22) setiform, with flexible tip, smooth. Four pairs of saccules with small opening and drop-like channel. Opisthonotal gland opening and all lyrifissures well observable.
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3** *Scheloribates (Scheloribates) debreensis* n. sp., adult (gnathosoma and legs omitted): a – dorsal view; b – ventral view; c – right lateral view. Scale bar 100 µm.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 4** *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*) *debreensis* n. sp., adult: a – posterior view; b – subcapitulum, ventral view; c – palp, right, antiaxial view; d – chelicera, left, paraxial view; e – leg I (trochanter omitted), left, paraxial view; f – leg II (trochanter omitted), left, antiaxial view; g – leg III, left, antiaxial view; h – leg IV, left, antiaxial view. Scale bars 100 µm (a), 50 µm (b, d–h), 10 µm (c).</figcaption></figure>
*Gnathosoma* (Figs 4(b–d)) — Subcapitulum size: 112–120 × 79–86; subcapitular (a: 22–26; m: 11; h: 26) and adoral (13–15) setae setiform, slightly barbed. Palp length: 67–75; setation: 0–2–1–3–9(+ω); postpalpal seta (7) spiniform, truncated; roughened. Chelicera length: 120–124; setae (*cha*: 37–41; *chb*: 26) setiform, barbed.

*Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions* (Figs 3(b, c)) — Epimeral formula: 3–1–3–3; all setae (1a, 2a, 3a: 15; 4a, 4b: 19; others: 19–22) setiform, slightly barbed. Humeral porose areas *Am* and *Ah* not observable. Pedotectum II quadrangular distally in ventral view, with posterolateral tooth. Circumpedal carina short. Discidium slightly developed, broadly rounded.

*Anogenital region* (Figs 3(b, c), 4(a)) — Anogenital formula: 3–1–2–3; genital (11–13) and aggenital (15) setae setiform, nearly smooth; anal and adanal setae (19–22) setiform, slightly barbed. Adanal lyrifissure close and parallel to anterior half of anal plate. Marginal porose area complete, band-like. Ovipositor typical for Scheloribatidae (Ermilov 2010); length of blade: 75; length of distal section (beyond middle fold): 90; width of distal section: 37; each of the three blades with four smooth setae: ψ₁ ≈ τ₁ (30–34) setiform; ψ₂ ≈ τₐ ≈ τₑ ≈ τₑ (11–13) and six coronal setae (7) narrowly thorn-like.

*Legs* (Figs 4(e–h)) — Median claw thick, with small tubercle ventrobasally; both lateral claws thin, with tubercle distoventrally; all claws slightly barbed on dorsal side. Tarsi I and II with two longitudinal ridges and two teeth distodorsally; tarsus III with slight longitudinal ridges, without teeth. Femora I and II large. Proximoventral porose area on tarsi I–IV, distoventral porose area on tibiae I–IV and dorsoparaxial porose area on femora I–IV and on trochanters III, IV well observable. Formulas of leg setation and solenidia: I (1–5–2–4–19) [1–2–2], II (1–5–2–4–15) [1–1–2], III (2–3–1–3–15) [1–1–0], IV (1–2–2–3–12) [0–1–0]; homology of setae and solenidia indicated in Table 2; seta s setiform, barbed on tarsus I.

**Remarks** — In having medium-sized body (about 500) and strong teeth on the leg tarsi I, II, S. (S.) *debreensis n. sp.* is similar to S. (S.) *diversidactylus* (Hammer, 1961) from the Neotropical region and India, S. (S.) *potchefstroomensis* Ermilov, Hugo-Coetzee, Khaustov and Theron, 2017 from South Africa, S. (S.) *sudafricanus* Subías, 2018 (=*Urubambates calcaratus* Mahunka, 1984) from South Africa, and S. (S.) *tricarinus* Coetzer, 1968 from the Afrotropical region. The new species can be clearly distinguished from S. (S.) *diversidactylus*, S. (S.) *sudafricanus*, and S. (S.) *tricarinus* by the morphology of the bothridial seta (lanceolate versus setiform), and the presence of three pairs of the genital setae (versus four pairs). The new species can be distinguished from S. (S.) *potchefstroomensis* by the length of the lanceolate bothridial head (long versus short), the direction of the prolamella (directed to insertion of rostral seta versus directed to lateral side of prodorsum), the morphology of the notogastral, anal and adanal setae (with flexible mediodistal part versus setiform), the presence of three pairs of genital setae (versus four pairs), and longer anal and adanal setae.

The representatives of *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*) and *Hammerabates* Balogh, 1970 are similar, but differs from each other mainly by the number of genital setae (four pairs versus three pairs). The new species has three pairs of genital setae (as species of *Hammerabates*), however, it is placed in *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*) based on its morphological similarities with group of the *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*) species (see above) having strong teeth on the leg tarsi I, II, as well as on the location of the genital setae (one seta in anterior part of plate,

<table><caption>**Table 2** Leg setation and solenidia of *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*) *debreensis* n. sp.</caption><thead><tr><th>Leg</th><th><i>Tr</i></th><th><i>Fe</i></th><th><i>Ge</i></th><th><i>Ti</i></th><th><i>Ta</i></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>I</td><td><i>v'</i></td><td><i>d</i>, (l), <i>bv''</i>, <i>v''</i></td><td>(l), σ</td><td>(l), (v), φ₁, φ₂</td><td>(ft), (tc), (it), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv), <i>v'</i>, (pv), e, ω₁, ω₂</td></tr><tr><td>II</td><td><i>v'</i></td><td><i>d</i>, (l), <i>bv''</i>, <i>v''</i></td><td>(l), σ</td><td>(l), (v), φ</td><td>(ft), (tc), (it), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv), ω₁, ω₂</td></tr><tr><td>III</td><td><i>l'</i>, <i>v'</i></td><td><i>d</i>, <i>l'</i>, <i>ev'</i></td><td><i>l'</i>, σ</td><td><i>l'</i>, (v), φ</td><td>(ft), (tc), (it), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv)</td></tr><tr><td>IV</td><td><i>v'</i></td><td><i>d</i>, <i>ev'</i></td><td><i>d</i>, <i>l'</i></td><td><i>l'</i>, (v), φ</td><td><i>fi''</i>, (tc), (p), (u), (a), s, (pv)</td></tr></tbody></table>

Note: See Table 1 for explanations.
two setae in posterior part of plate in *S. (S.) debreensis* versus two setae in anterior part of plate, one seta in posterior part of plate in *Hammerabates*). Thus, this unique case should be taken into account in the future when updating the diagnosis of *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*).

**Etymology** — The species name *debreensis* refers to vicinities of the place of origin, Debre Birhan.

Discussion

Pérez-Íñigo (1983) proposed the new scheloribatid genus *Annobonzetes* Pérez-Íñigo, 1983, with *Annobonzetes sphaericus* Pérez-Íñigo, 1983 as type species. Later, Mahunka (1994) presented a supplementary description of *Podoribates latissimus* Berlese, 1916 (in 1916a) and included this species in *Annobonzetes*. The genera *Annobonzetes* and *Scheloribates* are generally similar morphologically, and based only on original generic diagnosis (Pérez-Íñigo 1983), there are difficulties in distinguishing them. However, additional data presented by Mahunka (1994) regarding *A. latissimus* allow to preliminarily support the generic status of *Annobonzetes* due mainly to the presence of a strong ridge-like translamella (complete or interrupted medially), which is absent or represented by a simple line in representatives of *Scheloribates*. The other morphological characters of *Annobonzetes* (e.g. large body size, spherical notogaster in dorsal aspect, presence of setal alveoli instead of setae etc.) appear to be species-level within Scheloribatidae, but may perhaps be considered in conjunction with the main generic character (presence of strong ridge-like translamella).

Subías (2004) included *Oribata lata* Warburton, 1912 in *Annobonzetes*. However, the description and the schematic figure in the original description (Warburton 1912) do not allow understanding the true generic and family placement of this species. For example, the presence of a strong translamella and two longitudinal ridges extending from it are a characteristic trait of some representatives of Mochlozetidae (e.g. *Unguizetes* Sellnick, 1925).

Wan *et al.* (2022) described *Annobonzetes hamatus* Wan, Tan, Yan and Xie, 2022. They excluded *A. latissimus* from *Annobonzetes* based on the original description only, and added *Scheloribates acutirostrum* Ermilov, Rybalov and Franke, 2011 and *S. helenensis* Wallwork, 1977 in *Annobonzetes* based on the presence of spherical notogaster, the absence of prolamella, and the presence of short notogastral setae or their alveoli. Also, they presented the new generic diagnosis of *Annobonzetes*. First, the morphological characters (e.g. notogaster form, presence/absence of prolamella and notogastral setae) that the authors used (Wan *et al.* 2022) for transfer of *S. acutirostrum* and *S. helenensis* are species-level characters within *Scheloribates* (see original descriptions and redescriptions of representatives of the genus). Second, they (Wan *et al.* 2022) omitted Mahunka’s paper (1994) with a supplementary description of *A. latissimus*, which did not allow them to combine the common morphological characters of *Annobonzetes* and understand the main differences between *Scheloribates* and *Annobonzetes*. Third, the generic diagnosis of *Annobonzetes* (Wan *et al.* 2022) includes a set of typical morphological characters that can be applied to several supraspecies taxa within *Oripodoidea* including *Scheloribates*. Fourth, *A. hamatus* has thin translamellar lines near lamellae (instead strong ridge-like translamella as in *Annobonzetes* species) which are typical for *Scheloribates* species.

Hence, based on above listed explanations, the following conclusions are proposed: *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates* *hamatus* (Wan, Tan, Yan and Xie, 2022) **n. comb.** (from *Annobonzetes*); initial generic placement of *S. acutirostrum* and *S. helenensis* in *Scheloribates* (*Scheloribates*) is supported; further morphological and taxonomic investigations on *Oribata* *lata* are needed; the generic diagnosis of *Annobonzetes* in Wan *et al.* (2022) is inapplicable.
Acknowledgements

I thank Dr. Gezahegn Degefe for supporting our field studies and organizing laboratory work, Dr. Leonid B. Rybalov for sampling assistance and two anonymous reviewers for valuable comments. The work was performed within the framework of the Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition, financially supported by the Russian Academy of Sciences. The collection of materials was conducted under the Agreement between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science and Technology (Ministry of Innovation and Technology) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

ORCID

Sergey G. Ermilov https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0913-131X

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