Two new species of the family Nippobodidae (Acari, Oribatida), including a description of the leg-folding process
Abstract
Nippobodes panemorfis sp. n. and Leobodes trypasis sp. n. are described by means of optical and Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM) and compared to other congeners. The leg-folding process is described and illustrated.
Nippobodes panemorfis sp. n. is characterised by interlocking, double hook-shaped, posterior prodorsal
condyle and anterior zone humeral apophysis; posterior prodorsal depression present. Tutorium a large
lamina defining a pocket-shaped structure; bothridial opening ovoid, situated at the bottom of a U-shaped
structure; deep, rounded-ovoid anterior notogastral depression present; ten pairs of notogastral setae; c
setae looped, dentate, sharply tipped. Marginal setae h3, p3 on large promontories, followed by deep Vshaped
incision; notogaster completely surrounded by circumgastric depression; lateral genital zone with
locking structure constituted by longitudinal cuticular elevation, with promontories and a parallel furrow
involved in the leg-folding process; genital plate smaller than anal plate.
Leobodes trypasis sp. n. is characterised by: the presence of posterior prodorsal depression and anterior
notogastral depression; bridge-shaped anterior prodorsal condyles; heart-shaped frontal prodorsal orifice;
ten pairs of notogastral setae; posterior prodorsal condyle and humeral condyle interlocked, forming
double hook-like structure; circumgastric furrow surrounding entire notogaster; setae lp, h2, h1 situated on
shallow medial furrow; notogastral setae lm, lp, h1, h2 medially aligned; p1, p2, p3, h3 marginally situated.
Legs I-IV, tutorium, pedotectum I, and pedotectum II involved in leg folding which is inferred to be a
protection mechanism
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10394/30887https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.781.27389
https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/27389/download/pdf/