Two new species of Haplozetidae (Acari: Oribatida) from Madagascar

ABSTRACT

Two new species of oribatid mites of the family Haplozetidae are described on the basis of adult specimens sampled from leaf forest litter in Montagne d’Ambre National Park of Madagascar. Peloribates (Peloribatodes) montagnensis sp. nov. differs from Peloribates (Peloribatodes) incompatibilis in the presence of bacilliform epimeral setae 4c, long notogastral setae and some foveolate leg segments, and the absence of notogastral setae p₂. Pilobates africanus sp. nov. differs from Pilobates incisura by the presence of monodactylous legs and short, setiform notogastral setae. The identification keys to known species of Peloribates (Peloribatodes) and Pilobates are presented. The taxonomic status of the genus Italobates is discussed, resulting in the following new taxonomic proposal: Pilobates (= Italobates syn. nov.).

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6D364BB3-A8A3-40B8-BE00-459C4884F6DF

KEYWORDS:

• Haplozetid mites
• morphology
• systematics
• identification key
• Ethiopian region

Acknowledgments

We thank R. Ravebolun and L. Rabotenoson who collected soil and litter samples in Madagascar; and the Moravian Museum in Brno, Czech Republic, which kindly provided material for our study. Also, we would like to thank Dr. Lala Harivelo Ravaomanarivo Raveloson (University of Antananarivo, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Entomology), Dr. Mamy A. Rakotoarijaona (Directeur des Opérations, Madagascar National Parks, Antananarivo) and Dr. Dimby Raharinjanahary (Chargé des Bases de données de suivibiodiversité et recherche, Madagascar National Parks, Antananarivo) for supporting joint Czech-Madagascan research project (2009–2014); and two anonymous reviewers for valuable comments. Samples collected in Madagascar were based on collection permit no. 314/13/MEF/SG/DGF/DCB.SAP/SCB by the Moravian Museum in Brno, Czech Republic; sample exportation to Czech Republic was based on permit no. 028N-EA02/MG14.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The presented research was supported by the Czech Academy of Sciences [Research Plan No. RVO: 60077344].