CeratozetesandCeratozetoides(Acari: Oribatida: Ceratozetidae) of North America

Abstract

AbstractThe oribatid mite genusCeratozetesBerlese is represented in America north of Mexico by 21 previously described species known from forest, grassland, subarctic and arctic soils and litter, and canopy habitats. The closely related genusCeratozetoidesShaldybina is represented in America north of Mexico only byC. cisalpinus(Berlese). Three new species ofCeratozetesfrom North America are described:C. biporosussp. nov.from forest habitats of southeastern North America,C. cyclopeasp. nov.from montane habitats in western North America, andC. pseudomediocrissp. nov.from forest habitats of western North America. A detailed revised diagnosis is given forCeratozetes,Ceratozetoides, all previously described species ofCeratozetes(C. angustus(Banks),C. borealisBehan-Pelletier,C. cuspidatusJacot,C. enodis(Ewing),C. fjellbergiBehan-Pelletier,C. gracilisMichael,C. kutchinBehan-Pelletier,C. longispinusJacot,C. mediocris(Berlese),C. oresbiosBehan-Pelletier,C. pacificusBehan-Pelletier,C. parvulusSellnick,C. spitsbergensisThor,C. subaquila(Ewing),C. subinconspicuus(Berlese),C. thienemanniWillmann,C. virginicus(Banks), andC. watertonensisBehan-Pelletier), andCeratozetoides cisalpinus.Ceratozetes figuratus(Ewing) andC. zeteki(Ewing) are considered junior subjective synonyms ofC. enodis(Ewing)syn. nov., andC. inupiaqBehan-Pelletier is transferred to Mycobatidae asCyrtozetes inupiaq(Behan-Pelletier)comb. nov. New distribution records are given forCeratozetoides cisalpinusandCeratozetes angustus,C. borealis,C. cuspidatus,C. gracilis,C. mediocris,C. longispinus,C. oresbios,C. pacificus,C. parvulus,C. thienemanni,C. virginicus, andC. watertonensis.A diagnostic key is provided to adults of theCeratozetesandCeratozetoidesspecies now known for America north of Mexico. An analysis of the systematic relationships of 23 of these species based on adult characters indicates thatCeratozetes, excludingCeratozetoides, is paraphyletic. The clade that includesCeratozetoides cisalpinusand 15 species ofCeratozetesincludes most species for which immatures are known. One sister clade includesCeratozetes cyclopea,C. enodis, andC. fjellbergiand another includesC. kutchin, C. parvulus, andC. thienemanni.The decision whether or not these 6 species should be retained inCeratozetessensu strictoawaits discovery of their immatures and molecular analysis.