Multidentorhodacarus aegypticus Abo-Shnaf, Castilho & Moraes, 2013, n. sp.
Creators: name: Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A.
name: Castilho, Raphael C.
name: De Moraes, Gilberto J.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Mesostigmata
Rhodacaridae
Multidentorhodacarus
Multidentorhodacarus aegypticus

description: Multidentorhodacarus aegypticus n. sp.
Diagnosis (adult female). Epistome with an anteromedian extension, wider at the base and distally denticulate, flanked by a pair of shorter anterolateral extensions denticulate along their external margins; and a pair of indistinct lateral denticulate lobes. Podonotal shield with a pair of punctate lateral diagonal bands between s 1 and s 3, with 22 pairs of setae (including r 2, r 3, r 5 and r 6; r 1 absent; r 4 on unsclerotised cuticle); opisthonotum with 19 pairs of setae (including R 1 and R 3– R 5; R 2 on unsclerotised cuticle); anterior margin of opisthonotal shield with three punctate bands; Z 3 about as long as Z 4 and about as long as distance between its base and the base of Z 4; S 1, S 2 and S 4 about 0.8–1.0 times as long as distance between their bases and the bases of S 2, S 3 and S 5, respectively; Zv 1 on unsclerotised cuticle next to anterior margin of ventrianal shield.
Adult female (Figs 1–6)—Five specimens measured.
Gnathosoma. Fixed cheliceral digit 54 (51–58) long, with 10–12 teeth in addition to apical tooth and setiform pilus dentilis (Fig. 1); the two most basal teeth distinctly larger than others; movable cheliceral digit 53 (48–57) long, with five teeth in addition to apical tooth, the most basal of which distinctly larger than others; antiaxial and dorsal lyrifissures distinct; dorsal cheliceral seta short and capitate. Arthrodial process of chelicera a short coronetlike fringe. Numbers of setae on palp trochanter—tarsus: 2-5-6-14 -15; apotele 3-tined; palp setae aciculate and smooth. Epistome with an anteromedian extension, wider at the base and distally denticulate, flanked by a pair of shorter anterolateral extensions denticulate along their external margins; and a pair of indistinct lateral denticulate lobes (Fig. 2). Deutosternum with seven roughly transverse lines, delimited by lateral lines; the most anterior line smooth, others with 2–6 denticles each (Fig. 3). Internal malae totally separated from each other, each bifurcate; outer branches fimbriate and inner branches smooth. Corniculi about three times as long as their basal width, divergent. Setae h 1– h 3 and sc about in longitudinal line, as typical for the genus. Measurements of setae: h 1 16 (15–17), h 2 11 (9–13), h 3 14 (13–15), sc 13 (11–14); all aciculate and smooth.
Dorsal idiosoma (Fig. 4). Idiosoma 319 (309–331) long and 164 (154–176) wide at widest level. Podonotal and opisthonotal shields separate. Podonotal shield smooth, except for a pair of lateral punctate diagonal bands between s 1 and s 3, a punctate band along the posterior margin, and a very narrow punctate band along lateral margins between r 2 and r 3; with a V-shaped line posterior to j 4 and s 2; 140 (130–162) long and 152 (140–165) wide at widest level; with 22 pairs of setae (including r 2, r 3, r 5 and r 6; r 1 absent) and with four pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures (between z 1 and j 2, anteriad and slightly mesad of j 4, anteriad and slightly laterad of z 4, mesad of and about in transverse line with z 6); with three scleronodules between j 5 and j 6, lateral scleronodules crescent-shaped and the central one drop-shaped. Unsclerotised cuticle along lateral margins of podonotal shield with a pair of setae (r 4). Opisthonotal shield smooth, except for three punctate bands along anterior margin; 148 (141–154) long and 106 (102–111) wide at widest level; with 19 pairs of setae (including R 1 and R 3– R 5) and with 13 pairs of distinguishable lyrifissures (three pairs close together and anteromesad of S 1, mesad of and slightly posterior to J 1, posterior to and slightly laterad of S 1, posterior to and slightly mesad of J 2, posterolaterad of J 3, slightly posterior to and mesad of R 3, laterad of and about in transverse line with J 4, anterolaterad of Z 4, anterolaterad of S 5, anterior to and about in longitudinal line with R 5, anteromesad of Z 5). Unsclerotised integument along lateral margins of opisthonotal shield with a pair of setae (R 2) and two pairs of lyrifissures. Measurements of setae: j 1 15 (15–16), j 2 16 (15–17), j 3 17 (16–18), j 4 18 (17–20), j 5 17 (16–18), j 6 18 (16–20), z 1 10 (9–10), z 2 15 (13–20), z 3 18 (16–20), z 4 18 (17–20), z 5 18 (16–21), z 6 21 (20–23), s 1 7 (7–9), s 2 18 (17–20), s 3 13 (12–15), s 4 19 (18–21), s 5 21 (20–22), s 6 20 (19–21), r 2 19 (15–21), r 3 32 (31–33), r 4 15 (13–17), r 5 17 (15– 19), r 6 21 (20–22), J 1 19 (18–19), J 2 19 (17–20), J 3 18 (18–19), J 4 20 (19–21), J 5 17 (16–18), Z 1 20 (19–21), Z 2 20 (18–21), Z 3 22 (22–24), Z 4 21 (20–22), Z 5 39 (38–40), S 1 19 (18–19), S 2 18 (18–19), S 3 17 (17–19), S 4 18 (15– 20), S 5 24 (22–28), R 1 14 (12–18), R 2 12 (10–15), R 3 13 (12–18), R 4 16 (15–19), R 5 27 (26–28); all setae aciculate and smooth.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 5). Base of tritosternum 10 (9–11) long and 9 (9–10) wide proximally (Fig. 6); laciniae 53 (51–54), separated for about 90% of their total length, pilose. Sternal shield smooth and with anterior margin indistinct; region anterior to first pair of sternal setae (st 1) lightly sclerotised and punctate; posterior margin with short medial acuminate projection; approximately 104 (102–108) long from anterior margin of lightly sclerotised and punctate region to tip of medial projection of posterior margin and 71 (68–74) wide at level between coxae II and III; with four pairs of setae and four pairs of lyrifissures. Genital shield smooth, with a punctate band along convex posterior margin; extending posteriorly well behind level of coxa IV; distance between st 5– st 5 33 (31–35); lyrifissure iv 5 marginal, posteriad of and about in longitudinal line with st 5. Ventrianal shield smooth, with a punctate band along anterior margin; 112 (98–120) long and 80 (74–85) wide at widest level, not fused with dorsal shield; with four pairs of setae (Jv 1– Jv 3 and Zv 2) in addition to circumanal setae and a pair of lyrifissures (posterolaterad of Jv 1); post-anal seta about 1.9 times as long as para-anal seta. Unsclerotised cuticle along margins of ventrianal shield with three pairs of setae (Jv 5, Zv 1 and Zv 3) and a pair of lyrifissures (anterolaterad of Jv 5). Peritreme extending anteriorly almost to anterior margin of coxa III (level of s 5). Peritrematic shield narrow, fused anteriorly to dorsal shield at level of r 3 and extending posteriorly as a narrow and diagonal strip to level of posterior margin of coxa IV; with a single lyrifissure posterior and next to each stigma (no other poroid distinguishable). With an exopodal triangular platelet between coxae II and III. With a pair of elongate metapodal platelets well behind coxa IV, at level of anterolateral corners of ventrianal shield. Measurements of setae: st 1 17 (16–18), st 2 17 (16–18), st 3 17 (16–18), st 4 17 (16–18), st 5 14 (13–16), Jv 1 17 (16–18), Jv 2 17 (17–18), Jv 3 20 (20–21), Jv 5 17 (16–20), Zv 1 14 (13–16), Zv 2 17 (15–19), Zv 3 10, para-anal 24 (22–26), post-anal 46 (38–59); all setae aciculate and smooth.
Spermatheca. Not distinguishable.
Legs. Lengths: I: 269 (263–276); II: 200 (191–206); III: 188 (182–195); IV: 253 (233–269). Numbers of setae on legs I–IV: coxae: 2, 2, 2, 1; trochanters: 6, 5, 5, 5; femora: 13, 10, 6, 6; genua: 13, 11, 9, 10; tibiae: 14, 10, 8, 10; tarsi: (I not counted), 18, 18, 17 (pl 4 absent, typical for most Rhodacaridae). Pretarsus I absent; pretarsi II–IV similar in shape and length, each consisting of an elongate ambulacral stalk, a pair of strongly sclerotised claws and three rounded pulvillar lobes.
Adult male (Figs 7–9)—Five specimens measured.
Gnathosoma. Fixed cheliceral digit 54 (50–56) long, with three similarly short teeth in addition to apical tooth and setiform pilus dentilis (Fig. 7); movable digit 48 (45–53) long, with two teeth in addition to apical tooth, the anterior short and the posterior much larger; spermatodactyl 99 (80–105) long, directed downward basally and then variously curved and distally oriented in different ways; apparently with an internal canal in proximal half and tapering slightly distally; antiaxial and dorsal lyrifissures distinct; dorsal cheliceral seta inflated, inserted immediately dorsad of antiaxial lyrifissure. Arthrodial process of chelicera, palp chaetotaxy, apotele, epistome, deutosternum and position of hypostomal setae as in adult female. Measurements of setae: h 1 17 (15–18), h 2 10 (9–12), h 3 13 (12–15), sc 12 (11–14); shape of setae as in adult female.
Dorsal idiosoma. Idiosoma 301 (287–329) long and 148 (145–150) wide at widest level. Podonotal shield 134 (129–146) long and 151 (144–164) wide at widest level; opisthonotal shield 112 (105–118) long and 100 (91–109) wide at widest level; other characteristics similar to those of adult female. Measurements of setae: j 1 14 (13–16), j 2 17 (13–19), j 3 17 (14–18), j 4 19 (17–20), j 5 16 (14–18), j 6 17 (17–18), z 1 9 (9–10), z 2 15 (13–16), z 3 18 (17–20), z 4 19 (18–21), z 5 18 (15–21), z 6 20 (16–23), s 1 8 (7–8), s 2 18 (13–22), s 3 16 (13–18), s 4 20 (17–23), s 5 19 (17– 22), s 6 19 (14–21), r 2 19 (15–22), r 3 30 (26–33), r 4 13 (12–15), r 5 15 (11–18), r 6 20 (16–22), J 1 17 (16–19), J 2 18 (17–19), J 3 18 (17–19), J 4 17 (14–20), J 5 15 (12–18), Z 1 19 (18–21), Z 2 19 (17–21), Z 3 20 (18–22), Z 4 20 (18– 23), Z 5 37 (37–38), S 1 18 (13–22), S 2 17 (16–18), S 3 16 (14–17), S 4 14 (11–17), S 5 22 (22–23), R 1 13 (9–15), R 2 11 (8–13), R 3 13 (12–17), R 4 16 (11–19), R 5 26 (25–28); shape of setae as in adult female.
Ventral idiosoma (Fig. 8). Base of tritosternum 10 (9–11) long and 10 (9–11) wide proximally; laciniae 50 (48–53), separated for about 90% of their total length, pilose. Sternogenital shield smooth and with anterior and posterior margins indistinct; region anterior to the first pair of sternal setae (st 1) and at posterior extreme lightly sclerotised and punctate; approximately 142 (139–147) long from anterior margin of lightly sclerotised and punctate region to punctate posterior extreme and 68 (67–70) wide between coxae II and III; with five pairs of setae and three pairs of lyrifissures; distance between st 5– st 5 26 (25–27). Lyrifissure iv 5 on unsclerotised cuticle, posterolaterad of st 5. Ventrianal shield smooth, roughly ovate, with a punctate band along anterior margin; 105 (100–112) long and 104 (86–125) wide at widest level, not fused with dorsal shield; with six pairs of setae (Jv 1– Jv 3 and Zv 1– Zv 3) in addition to circumanal setae and two pairs of lyrifissures (posterolaterad of Zv 1 and posteriad of and about in longitudinal line with Jv 2); post-anal seta about twice as long as para-anal seta. Other characteristics similar to those of adult female. Measurements of setae: st 1 18 (17–19), st 2 17 (16–18), st 3 16 (13– 17), st 4 14 (13–15), st 5 13 (11–14), Jv 1 15 (13–17), Jv 2 15 (14–17), Jv 3 17 (16–19), Jv 5 16 (15–17), Zv 1 13 (12– 15), Zv 2 16 (13–18), Zv 3 16 (15–17), para-anal 21 (19–25), post-anal 43 (40–45); shape of setae as in adult female.
Legs. Lengths: I: 277 (260–302); II: 197 (193–203); III: 184 (178–189); IV: 249 (232–267). Numbers of setae of leg segments similar to those of adult female. Shape of setae as in adult female, except for a spur-like ventral process on each of femur and tibia II (Fig. 9). Pretarsus I absent; pretarsi II–IV similar to those of adult female.
Material examined. Holotype female from soil under mango tree (Mangifera indica L.; Anacardiaceae) at El- Ahram, Giza governorate, June 2000; one paratype female from soil under broad bean plant (Vicia faba L.; Fabaceae) at Dokii, Giza governorate, December 1997; two paratype females from soil under cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus L.; Cucurbitaceae) at Hlegham, Qanatir el-Qahiriya, Qualyubia governorate, July 2001; one paratype female from soil under cucumber plant at Shibin el-Qanatir, Qualyubia governorate, July 2000; one paratype female from soil under cucumber plant at Moshtohor Village, Tookh, Qualyubia governorate, August 2001; three paratype females from soil under egg-plant (Solanum melongena L.; Solanaceae) at El-Khasos, Qualyubia governorate, May–July 2000; two paratype females from soil under egg-plant at Seriaqos, Qualyubia governorate, June 2000; one paratype male from soil under egg-plant at Hleghan Village, Qanatir el-Qahiriya, Qualyubia governorate, August 2000; one paratype male from soil under egg-plant at 23 July Village, Khanka, Qualyubia governorate, September 2000; one paratype female from soil under egg-plant at Mansoria, Giza governorate, May 2000; one paratype male from soil under egg-plant at Demu Village, Senuris, Fayoum governorate, August 2000; two paratype males from soil under egg-plant at Beni Suef governorate, September- November 2000; three paratype females from soil under okra plant [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.); Malvaceae] at El-Khasos, Qualyubia governorate, August 2000; one paratype male from soil under okra plant at Seriaqos, Qualyubia governorate, September 2000; one paratype female from soil under okra plant at Demu Village, Senuris, Fayoum governorate, April 2000. The types collected by Mona M. Ghallab, Amal H.M. Romeih and Aziza M.M. Abou-Zaid. Holotype, one paratype female from Dokii and one paratype male from 23 July Village deposited at Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Dokii, Giza, Egypt; other paratypes deposited at Departamento de Entomologia e Acarologia, Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Etymology. The name aegypticus is derived from Egypt (the country where the type specimens were collected) + icus, a suffix denoting “belonging to”.
Remarks. Multidentorhodacarus aegypticus n. sp. is most similar to Multidentorhodacarus thysi (Jordaan, Loots & Theron, 1988) but females of the latter have fixed cheliceral digit with nine teeth in addition to apical tooth; S 1, S 2 and S 4 about 0.5–0.6 times as long as distance between their bases and the bases of S 2, S 3 and S 5, respectively; Z 3 about 0.6 times as long as distance between its base and the base of Z 4; setae j 1, r 3, J 5, Z 5 and R 5 30–45 % shorter than in M. aegypticus n. sp..
Protogamasellopsis Evans & Purvis, 1987
Protogamasellopsis Evans & Purvis, 1987: 855.
Protogamasellopsis.—Karg, 1994a: 123, 1994b: 207, 2007: 123; Halliday et al., 1998: 2; Castilho et al., 2012b: 17. Type species: Protogamasellopsis corticalis Evans & Purvis, 1987, by original designation. Rhodacarella Moraza, 2004: 2 [synonymy by Castilho et al. (2012b)].
Type species: Rhodacarella cavernicola Moraza, 2004, by original designation.
Note. The genus Protogamasellopsis was characterised by Castilho et al. (2012b).
description: Published as part of Abo-Shnaf, Reham I. A., Castilho, Raphael C. & De Moraes, Gilberto J., 2013, Two new species of Rhodacaridae (Acari: Mesostigmata) from Egypt and a key to the species of the family from the Mediterranean region in Zootaxa 3718 (1), DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3718.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/222300