Acarologia

Open Science
in Acarology

# First record of the mite family Teneriffiidae (Prostigmata: Anystoidea) from Saudi Arabia with the description of a new species

Jawwad Hassan Mirza IDª, Muhammad Kamran IDª, Fahad Jaber Alatawi IDª

## Original research

### ABSTRACT

The family Teneriffiidae Thor is reported for the first time from Saudi Arabia, with the description of a new species of the genus *Parateneriffia* Thor, *P. abhaensis* n. sp. The specimens of new species were found in soil litter and leaf debris collected from Southwestern Region (Abha) of Saudi Arabia.

**Keywords** diversity; morphology; predatory mites; soil litter; leaf debris

**Zoobank** http://zoobank.org/7A794B2D-18CC-4BF1-B2CC-ECE159D430D1

### Introduction

The mites of the family Teneriffiidae Thor (Acari: Prostigmata: Anystoidea) are moderately sized (about 800 ~ 1000 µm), fast moving predators (Walter *et al.* 2009; Zmudzinski *et al.* 2021; Beron 2022). The species have been reported to inhabit both the terrestrial (trees, rocks, caves, mountains, etc.) and marine habitats (Bernardi *et al.* 2012; Beron 2022). The biology and ecology of teneriffsids are poorly known, except for a single observation of an immobile pre larva enclosed in an eggshell (Otto 1997).

The taxonomy of the family Teneriffiidae has been recently revised where only two genera i.e., *Teneriffia* Thor (10 species) and *Parateneriffia* Thor (14 species) were recognized (Mirza *et al.* 2023). The species of both the genera have been reported from different countries over the globe including Austria, Australia, Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, India, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Namibia, Paraguay, Spain, Switzerland, Tadjikistan, Turkey, USA, and Yemen (Beron 2022).

Previously, from Saudi Arabia, the superfamily Anystoidea was represented by only the family Anystidae Oudemans, with three genera and four species (Alatawi and Kamran 2017). The present research reports the family Teneriffiidae Thor (Prostigmata: Anystoidea) for the first time from Saudi Arabia, with the genus, *Parateneriffia*, and a new species, *P. abhaensis* n. sp. The specimens of the new species were found in soil litter from Southwestern (Abha), Saudi Arabia.

### Material and Methods

The specimens were collected from soil debris and leaf litter through Berlese's funnel. The collected mite specimens were directly mounted on slides in Hoyer's medium under a stereomicroscope (SZX10, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), and identified under a phase contrast microscope (DM2500, Leica, Wetzlar, Germany). Different mite body parts were pictured using an

Received 08 September 2023

Accepted 09 February 2024

Published 20 February 2024

Corresponding author

Fahad Jaber Alatawi ID:
falatawi@ksu.edu.sa

Academic editor

Auger, Philippe

https://doi.org/10.24349/z9on-5s85

ISSN 0044-586X (print)

ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic)

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

Mirza J. H. et al.

Licensed under
Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0

OPEN ACCESS

<footnote>ªDepartment of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.</footnote>
auto-montage software system (Syncroscopy, Cambridge, UK) and then drawn with Adobe Il-
lustrator (Adobe System Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). The notation of the idiosomal setae follows
that of Kethley (1990) and the notation of the cupules and female and male genitalia that of
Judson (1995). All measurements of the holotype and paratypes (as ranges in parenthesis) are
given in micrometers (µm). All specimens of new species have been deposited in KSMA (King
Saud University Museum of Arthropods, Acarology section), Department of Plant Protection,
College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

**Results**

**Family Teneriffiidae Thor 1911**

**Genus *Parateneriffia* Thor 1911**

Type species — *Parateneriffia bipectinata* Thor 1911

**Genus Diagnosis** — As emended by Mirza *et al.* (2023)

*Parateneriffia abhaensis n. sp.*

Zoobank: 03B48185-6E45-492A-A856-322CB3552F9B

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 1** *Parateneriffia abhaensis* n. sp., female, dorsum.</figcaption></figure>

**Diagnosis**

Females with prodorsal shield, oncophysis on palpgenu present, dorsal setae c₂ setae reaching *f*₁, five setae on each telofemur III IV, genu II with 8 setae, a solenidion on each tibiae IV and tarsus III, subcapitular setae barbed, and number of setae on trochanter IV.
Female (n = 3)

Idiosoma oval. Body length (base of palp tibial claw to caudal margin) 882 (871–893), excluding gnathosoma 702 (695–712); width 435 (428–440) at level of seta $c_2$.

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 2** *Parateneriffia abhaensis* n. sp., female, a – venter; b – gential region.</figcaption></figure>

**Dorsum** — (Figure 1) Prodorsal shield almost oval, 313 (310–318) long, 210 (210–217) wide at level of setae *sce*, apparently without pores and with weak regular longitudinal striations, two pairs of eyes adjacent to setae *sce* on body integument, anterior and posterior pairs 32 (30–31) and 41 (40–42) in diameter, respectively. Hysterosoma with three pairs of cupules (*ia*, *im* and *ip*) near setae *d*₁, *f*₁ and *h*₁. Prodorsal shield with four pairs of setae of which two pairs trichobothria (*sci* and *vi*); opisthosoma striated, bearing seven pairs of barbed setae (*c*₁, *c*₂, *d*₁, *e*₁, *f*₁, *h*₁, *h*₂). Stigmatic opening anterior to setae *vi* and near to base of chelicera, with about 13 rows of elongate alveoli at opening of peritremes. Lengths of dorsal setae as follows: *vi* 102 (103–105), *ve* 140 (138–141), *sci* 151 (150–153), *sce* 185 (180–197), *c*₁ 175 (172–179), *c*₂ 292 (288–298), *d*₁ 175 (168–177), *e*₁ 165 (162–167), *f*₁ 150 (148–156), *h*₁ 126 (124–128), *h*₂ 80 (75–86). Distances between dorsal setae: *vi–vi* 45 (40–45), *ve-ve* 162 (160–167), *sci-sci* 131 (129–132), *sce-sce* 203 (196–202), *vi-ve* 75 (72–74), *sci-ve* 19 (15–20), *sce-sci* 74 (70–73), *sce-c*₁ 175 (174–175), *c*₁-*c*₁ 125 (122–127), *c*₁-*c*₂ 55 (53–56), *c*₂-*c*₂ 232 (228–237), *c*₁-*d*₁ 73
(70–75), *d*<sub>1</sub>-*d*<sub>1</sub> 153 (150–152), *d*<sub>1</sub>*-e*<sub>1</sub> 65 (63–66), *e*<sub>1</sub>*-e*<sub>1</sub> 125 (120–124), *e*<sub>1</sub>*-f*<sub>1</sub> 80 (79–82), *f*<sub>1</sub>*-f*<sub>1</sub> 78 (75–76), *f*<sub>1</sub>*-*h*<sub>1</sub> 85 (82–85), *h*<sub>1</sub>*-*h*<sub>1</sub> 35 (32–34), *h*<sub>2</sub>*-*h*<sub>2</sub> 121 (118–123). Ratios between *vi/vivi* 2.26 (2.3–2.57); *ve/ve-ve* 0.86 (0.84–0.86), *sci/sci-sci* 1.15 (1.15–1.16), *c*<sub>1</sub>*/*c*<sub>1</sub>*-*c*<sub>1</sub> 1.4 (1.41); *c*<sub>2</sub>*/*c*<sub>2</sub>*c*<sub>2</sub> 1.26 (1.24–1.26); *d*<sub>1</sub>*/*d*<sub>1</sub>*-*d*<sub>1</sub> 1.14 (1.12–1.16); *e*<sub>1</sub>*/*e*<sub>1</sub>*-*e*<sub>1</sub> 1.32 (1.31–1.35); *f*<sub>1</sub>*/*f*<sub>1</sub>*-*f*<sub>1</sub> 1.92 (1.97–2.05); *h*<sub>1</sub>*/*h*<sub>1</sub>*-*h*<sub>1</sub> 3.65 (2.76–3.8); *h*<sub>2</sub>*/*h*<sub>2</sub>*-*h*<sub>2</sub> 0.66 (0.67).

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 3** *Parateneriffia abhaensis* n. sp., female, a – palp; b – palp tarsus enlarged; c – chelicerae.</figcaption></figure>

**Venter** — (Figure 2) Ventral cuticle striated. Coxisternal shields smooth, bearing 14 pairs of setae (*la*, *1b*, *1c*, *1d*, *2a*, *2b*, *2c*, *3a*, *3b*, *3c*, *3d*, *4a*, *4b* and *4c*); coxisternal shields of legs I and II is fused, separated from those of legs III and IV. Aggential area with six pairs of setae (*ag*<sub>1-6</sub>), genital valves with six pairs of genital setae (*g*<sub>1-6</sub>), four pairs of eugenital setae (*eug*<sub>1-4</sub>), three pairs of papillae associated setae (*k*<sub>1-3</sub>), and three pairs of genital papillae; anal valves with three pairs of pseudanal setae (*ps*<sub>1-3</sub>). Measurements of setae: *g*<sub>1</sub> 18 (16–20), *g*<sub>2</sub> 17 (16–18), *g*<sub>3</sub> 18 (17–18), *g*<sub>4</sub> 19 (17–19), *g*<sub>5</sub> 15 (14–16), *g*<sub>6</sub> 21 (20–21); *ag*<sub>1</sub> 42 (41–44), *ag*<sub>2</sub> 41 (38–40), *ag*<sub>3</sub> 38 (36–37), *ag*<sub>4</sub> 48 (47–49), *ag*<sub>5</sub> 53 (52–55), *ag*<sub>6</sub> 46 (44–45), *k*<sub>1</sub> 6 (5–7), *k*<sub>2</sub> 8 (7–8), *k*<sub>3</sub> 7 (8), *eug*<sub>1</sub> 18 (17–20), *eug*<sub>2</sub> 22 (21–22), *eug*<sub>3</sub> 15 (14–15), *eug*<sub>4</sub> 11 (10–11), *ps*<sub>1</sub> 42 (40–44), *ps*<sub>2</sub> 40 (38–40), *ps*<sub>3</sub> 42 (41–42). Distances between setae: *g*<sub>1</sub>*-*g*<sub>1</sub> 15 (11–14), *g*<sub>2</sub>*-*g*<sub>2</sub> 20 (17–19), *g*<sub>3</sub>*-*g*<sub>3</sub> 28 (27–29), *g*<sub>4</sub>*-*g*<sub>4</sub> 33 (32–33), *g*<sub>5</sub>*-*g*<sub>5</sub> 29 (28–30), *g*<sub>6</sub>*-*g*<sub>6</sub> 23 (21–22); *g*<sub>1</sub>*-*g*<sub>2</sub> 8 (7–8), *g*<sub>2</sub>*-*g*<sub>3</sub> 10 (9–10), *g*<sub>3</sub>*-*g*<sub>4</sub> 15 (13–15), *g*<sub>4</sub>*-*g*<sub>5</sub> 13 (12–13), *g*<sub>5</sub>*-*g*<sub>6</sub> 16 (15–17); *ag*<sub>1</sub>*-*ag*<sub>1</sub> 95 (93–96), *ag*<sub>2</sub>*-*ag*<sub>2</sub> 95 (94–95), *ag*<sub>3</sub>*-*ag*<sub>3</sub> 121 (120–122), *ag*<sub>4</sub>*-*ag*<sub>4</sub> 190 (188–190), *ag*<sub>5</sub>*-*ag*<sub>5</sub> 170 (165–168), *ag*<sub>6</sub>*-*ag*<sub>6</sub> 65 (62–65), *ag*<sub>1</sub>*-*ag*<sub>2</sub> 31 (29–33), *ag*<sub>2</sub>*-*ag*<sub>3</sub> 38 (37–38), *ag*<sub>3</sub>*-*ag*<sub>4</sub> 33 (31–33), *ag*<sub>4</sub>*-*ag*<sub>5</sub> 77 (75–77), *ag*<sub>5</sub>*-*ag*<sub>6</sub> 62 (62–64), *ps*<sub>1</sub>*-*ps*<sub>1</sub> 50 (49–50), *ps*<sub>2</sub>*-*ps*<sub>2</sub> 65 (65–68), *ps*<sub>3</sub>*-*ps*<sub>3</sub> 63 (62–64). Setae *ps*<sub>1-3</sub> fine and barbed.

**Gnathosoma** — (Figure 3) Palp five segmented, palptarsus reduced, with eight setae including a solenidion 3 (4) long; palptibia with one robust terminal spur (*o*1) 50 (50–51), two subterminal spurs (*o*2–3), 17 (16–18) and 14 (15) long, respectively, plus one serrated seta; palpfemur and genu each with one seta, 123 (121–122) and 70 (70–71) long, respectively; oncophysis on distal end of genu 11 (11–12) long. Chelicerae 175 (176), movable digit 30 (29–31), with setae *cha* 38 (38–39) and *chb* 72 (71–72); with one pair serrated subcapitular setae (*m*) and three pairs of adoral setae: *m* 65 (62–65); *or1* 46 (45–46), *or2* 10 (9–10) and *or3* 13 (12–13), *or3* distinctly forked; distances between setae: *m-m* 44 (43–43), *or1-or1* 80 (80–81), *or2-or2* 32 (30–32), *or3-or3* 30 (29–30).
<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 4** *Parateneriffia abhaensis* n. sp., female, a – trochanter-tibia I; b – trochanter-tibia II; c – trochanter-tibia III; d – trochanter-tibia IV.</figcaption></figure>

**Legs** — (Figures 4-5) Leg IV much longer than total length of body; each side of claws on tarsi I II with 12 strong pectinations without empodial claw; tarsi III IV claws with weak pectinations and each with one median pectinate empodium. Measurements of legs from trochanter to tip of true claws as follows: leg I 775 (770–776); leg II 780 (775–779); leg III 875 (869–873); leg IV 1075 (1072–1081). Setal formulae of leg (I IV) segments as follows (solenidia in parenthesis): coxae 4 3 4 3; trochanters 1 2 2 2; basifemora 5 6 4 4; telofemora 5 5 5 5, genua 8(1σ) 8(1σ) 7(1σ) 7; tibiae 12(1φ)(1κ) 12(1φ) 12(1φ) 12(1φ); tarsi 27(3ω) 27(3ω) 23(1ω)+1tric 23(2ω)+1tric; ωII 16(16), ω2I 20 (18–19), ω3I 10 (9–10), ω1II 20 (19–20), ω2II 17 (16), ω3II 10 (11), ω1III 15 (16), ω1IV 18 (17–18), ω2IV 17 (16–17), κTiI 7 (8), φI 21 (19–20), φII 22 (22–24), φIII 23 (22–23), φIV 21 (20–21); σI 31 (30–31), σII 28 (27–29), σIII 33 (32–33). Tarsi III IV with one long bothridial seta each, 118 (115–120) and 135 (135–136) long, respectively.

**Etymology**

The specific epithet (*abhaensis*) is derived from the name of region, Abha, where the type specimens of the new species were collected.

**Type Material**

One holotype (KSMAAS-19-Ten-Par-01) and two paratype females (KSMAAS-19-Ten-Par-02, KSMAAS-19-Ten-Par-03), soil litter and leaf debris, Wadi Al Gharr, Abha, 19.02250°N, 42.12192°E, October 29, 2019, coll. M. Kamran & H.M.S. Mushtaq.

**Remarks**

The new species, *P. abhaensis* n. sp., is morphologically close to *P. khorramabadiensis*
(Khanjani *et al.* 2014) and *P. shiraziensis* (Khanjani *et al.* 2013) based on the presence of
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>**Figure 5** *Parateneriffia abhaensis* n. sp., female, a – tarsus I; b – tarsus II; c – basi and telotarsus III; d – basi and telotarsus IV.</figcaption></figure>

prodorsal shield, oncophysis on palpgenu, leg genu IV without solenidion and number of setae on leg basifemora I-IV. However, *P. abhaensis n. sp.* is distinct from both of the species based on number of setae on telofemora III-IV (5-5 in new species vs 4-4 in both species), genu II excluding solenidion (8 in new species vs 7 in both species) and number of solenidion on tibiae IV (one in new species vs three in both species), tarsus III (one in new species vs two in *P. shiraziensis* and absent in *P. khorramabadiensis*). Further, *P. abhaensis n. sp.*, can be differentiated from *P. khorramabadiensis* due to subcapitular setae barbed vs simple; *Parateneriffia abhaensis n. sp.*, can also be distinguished from *P. shiraziensis* based on length of setae c2 setae (reaching *f*₁ vs reaching *h*₁) and number of setae on trochanter IV (2 vs 3).

## Funding

The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the researchers supporting project number (RSPD2024R807), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

## Acknowledgment

The authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the researchers supporting project King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for funding the research work. The authors are also thankful to Hafiz Muhammad Sajid Ali, Nasreldeen Ahmed Elgoni and Muhammad Waleed Shakoor (Acarology Research Laboratory) for their technical support.

## ORCID

Jawwad Hassan Mirza ID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1726-4331
Muhammad Kamran ID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6084-203X
Fahad Jaber Alatawi ID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6824-2650
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