Abstract
Two new species of oribatid mites of the monotypic genus Neophysobates (Oribatida, Tegoribatidae) from high alpine cushion fields in the Pisa Range, South Island, New Zealand are described. Neophysobates zealandicus n. sp. differs from N. monodactylus by the presence of bothridial seta with simple stalk and clavate, rounded distally head, a short adanal lyrifissure, and thickened seta pvo with attenuate tip on tarsus II. Neophysobates incrassatus n. sp. differs from N. monodactylus by the presence of bidactylous legs, three pairs of notogastral porose areas, thin rostral seta and tutorium without free tip. An identification key to the known species of Neophysobates is provided.
Highlights
Neophysobates is a monotypic oribatid mite genus (Acari, Oribatida, Tegoribatidae), which was proposed by Luxton (1985) under the name Paraphysobates, with Physobates monodactylus Hammer, 1966 as type species
Ever, these species have lamellae with anterior incision, three pairs of adanal setae, and very long bothridial setae with stalk not enclosed by bothridia (T. nuda has sacculi on notogaster), the inclusion of these species in Neophysobates seems to be problematic and their systematic position should be investigated further
The main generic characters of Neophysobates are (based on data from Luxton (1985) and including our additions): fused lamellae broadly rounded anteriorly, without anterior incision; interlamellar seta and its alveolus absent; bothridial seta clavate or fusiform, stalk enclosed in bothridium; anterior part of pteromorph at the same level as anterior notogastral margin; three or four pairs of porose areas on notogaster; ten pairs of minute notogastral setae; five or six pairs of genital setae; aggenital se
Summary
Neophysobates is a monotypic oribatid mite genus (Acari, Oribatida, Tegoribatidae), which was proposed by Luxton (1985) under the name Paraphysobates, with Physobates monodactylus Hammer, 1966 as type species. Luxton (1987) proposed the replacement name (Neophysobates), because the name Paraphysobates was preoccupied (see Mahunka 1985) Unaware of this action, Fujikawa (1991) proposed another replacement name – Pseudophysobates. ISSN 2107-7207 (electronic) ever, these species have lamellae with anterior incision, three pairs of adanal setae, and very long bothridial setae with stalk not enclosed by bothridia (T. nuda has sacculi on notogaster), the inclusion of these species in Neophysobates seems to be problematic and their systematic position should be investigated further. The main generic characters of Neophysobates are (based on data from Luxton (1985) and including our additions): fused lamellae broadly rounded anteriorly, without anterior incision; interlamellar seta and its alveolus absent; bothridial seta clavate or fusiform, stalk enclosed in bothridium; anterior part of pteromorph at the same level as anterior notogastral margin; three or four pairs of porose areas on notogaster; ten pairs of minute notogastral setae; five or six pairs of genital setae; aggenital se-. We provide an identification key for the three known species of Neophysobates
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