Dasythyreidae, new family, and Xanthodasythyreus n. g. (Acari: Prostigmata: Raphignathoidea) from Australia

Abstract

Xanthodasythyreus, n. g. is described based on the type species X. toohey n. sp. This mite lives in surface soil and litter in dry woodland habitats in subtropical Queensland, Australia. A phylogenetic analysis of Xanthodasythyreus and other similar raphignathoid mites suggests (1) that Dasythyreus Atyeo is the sister group of the new genus, (2) that these two genera form a sister group to Xenocaligonellidus DeLeon and Echinopsis Fan & Chen, and (3) that these two family level taxa are a sister group of the Camerobiidae. Therefore, we propose a new family, Dasythyreidae, to accommodate Xanthodasythyreus and Dasythyreus and redefine Xenocaligonellididae (=Xenocaligonellidae).

Key words :

• Australia
• Raphignathoidea
• Camerobiidae
• Das ythyreidae
• Xenocaligonellididae (=Xenocaligonellidae)
• Dasythyreus