oribatid mites of the superfamilies gymnodamaeoidea and plateremaeoidea (acari, oribatida) from east...

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Zool. Reihe 78 (2002) 1, 71-86 15.05.2002

Oribatid mites of the superfamilies Gymnodamaeoidea and Plateremaeoidea (Acari, Oribatida) from East Kazakhstan

Badamdorj Bayartogtokh' & Ilya E. Smelyansky2

With 8 plates

Abstract

Oribatid mites belonging to the superfamilies Gymnodamaeoidea and Plateremaeoidea collected from East Kazakhstan are studied. Two new species, Pedrocortesella rarisetosa sp. n. and Pleodamaeus kazakhstanicus sp. n. are described. In addition, three known species, Pedrocortesella inaequalis (Balogh & Mahunka), P fusca (Ryabinin) and Nortonella mongolica Bayartog- tokh & Aoki are redescribed, with notes on their distributions. The latter two species are recorded here for the first time from Kazakhstan. The following new combinations are proposed: Pedrocortesella fusca (Ryabinin) comb. n., Pedrocortesella stellata (Ryabinin) comb. n. and Pedrocortesella reticulata (Ryabinin) comb. n.

Key words: Acari, Gymnodamaeoidea, Plateremaeoidea, new species, Kazakhstan.

Introduction

The oribatid mite superfamilies Plateremaeoidea and Gymnodarnaeoidea are known to be rather diverse in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Most species of these groups are inhabitants of the litter of forests, decaying wood, mosses and lichens as well as arboreal habitats, but some of them are frequent in the soils of arid habitats.

The superfamily Gymnodamaeoidea was proposed by Grandjean (1965) encompassing the following four families: Gymnodamaeidae Grandjean, Licnobelbidae Grandjean, Licnoda- maeidae Grandjean and Plateremaeidae Tra- girdh. More recently, however, Marshall et al. (1987) considered that the superfamily name Pla- teremaeoidea Tragirdh has a priority over the name of Gymnodamaeoidea Grandjean.

Subsequently, Paschoal (1989) reexamined the supraspecific classification of Gymnodamaeoi- dea, and elevated Plateremaeoidea as an independent superfamily, including several families such as Plateremaeidae TragArdh, Licnodamaei- dae Grandjean, Licnobelbidae Grandjean, Ham-

meriellidae Paschoal, Lyrifissellidae Paschoal, Nooliodidae Paschoal, Pheroliodidae Paschoal and Pedrocortesellidae Paschoal within Platere- maeoidea.

As for the superfamily Gymnodamaeoidea, Paschoal (1989) included the following three families in this group: Gymnodamaeidae Grand- jean, Aleurodamaeidae Paschoal & Johnston and Idiodamaeidae Paschoal.

In the recent review of oribatid mite genera, Balogh and Balogh (1992) followed the classification by Paschoal (1989) except only proposing a possible synonymy of Idiodamaeus Paschoal with Austrodamaeus Balogh & Mahunka. Woas (1992) did not accept the above classification and he also did not recognize the taxonomic status of some families and genera of Gymnoda- maeoidea and Plateremaeoidea. More recently, Hunt & Lee (1995) and Hunt (1996a, b, c, d) revised the Australian Plateremaeoidea sensu strict5 following the system proposed by Balogh & Balogh (1992).

In our opinion the supraspecific diagnoses of Gymnodamaeoidea and Plateremaeoidea sensu Paschoal (1989) are too restrictive and the differ-

Corresponding author: Department of Soil Zoology, Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Yokohama National University, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan. Fax: 81-45-339-4379, e-mail [email protected] Present address: Depart- ment of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 210646, Mongolia. Fax: 976-11-320-159, e-mail: [email protected]

Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk 630091, Russia. Present address: Siberian Environmental Centre, P.O. Box 547, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia. Received March 2001, accepted May 2001

12 Bayartogtokh, B. & Smelyansky, I. E., Oribatid mites from East Kazakhstan

ences between some of the families or genera are slight considered to be specific characters. Not only the familial and generic classification, but also the taxonomy of most species of these groups is very poorly known. Due to the presence of thick cerotegument covering the body, and difficulties in determining some morphologi- cal characters such as setation of legs, structure of ventral plate, the previous descriptions of nu- merous species were insufficient and many species even have never been illustrated. Further detailed studies are, therefore, necessary not only on the specific, but also on the generic and familial classifications of these groups.

We consider, however, that division of Platere- maeoidea sensu lato into two independent superfamilies by Paschoal (1989) is acceptable, be- cause these two groups, Gymnodamaeoidea and Plateremaeoidea, differ from each other in the presence or absence of pedotecta I, I1 and the insertion of trochanters I and 11.

Since there are no fully acceptable familial and generic classifications for these groups, in the present work we tentatively follow the most recent classification by Balogh & Balogh (1992), who followed the system proposed by Paschoal (1989). According to them, two genera studied here, Pleodamaeus Paschoal and Nortonella Paschoal belong to the family Gymnodamaeidae Grandjean and the other genus, Pedrocortesella Hammer belongs to Pedrocortesellidae Paschoal.

This is the first part of our studies on oribatid mites of non-forested areas of East Kazakhstan, and the description of the other species of these superfamilies and key to the Kazakhstanian species of Gymnodamaeoidea and Plateremaeoidea will be included in the second part.

Material and Methods

The species were collected in 1999 from soils and organic debris accumulated on the rocks and soils in arid habitats of eastern Kazakhstan. Descriptions or redescriptions of the species are based on adults. The type locality and habitat characteristics for each species are given in the respective “Material examined’ sections.

The taxonomic terminology used in this paper is based on that (with a few modifications) developed by Grandjean (1931, 1933, 1964), as summarized and applied by Covarrubias (1968), Fernandez (1987) and Paschoal (1982). Body length is measured in lateral view, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of notogaster. Notogastral length is measured in lateral aspect. from the anterior to the posterior edge. Notogastral width refers to the maximum width in dorsal aspect. Measurements are given in micrometres and the average values are given in parentheses after the ranges.

The line drawings were made with the aid of a camera lucida attached to a compound microscope “Olympus B E ” . Micrographs were taken with a SEM “JOEL JSM-T220A”.

Descriptions of species

Pedrocortesella rarisetosa sp. n.

Plates 1, 2 D i a g n o s i s : Relatively small species, with general characters of Pedrocortesella. Body and legs covered with reticulations of cerotegument with small granules; rostra1 seta smooth, situated on lateroventral side of prodorsum; lamellar seta smooth, inserted dorsally on rostrum; interlamellar seta mostly not evident, only few specimens have very minute and hardly visible setae; sensillus with a short stalk and a distinctly widened head with rough barbs; prodorsum with no ridge; notogaster with oval, slightly convex central plateau and concave intramarginal depression; posteroventral margin of notogaster with distinct triangular incision; five pairs of notogastral setae covered with cerotegument; six pairs of genital setae. Measurements: Body length 260-304 (286) pm, length of notogaster 204-220 (210) pm, width 134-154 (145) pm.

I n t e g u m e n t : Body colour yellowish-brown. Surface of body, leg segments, anal and genital plates covered with very thick reticulated cerotegument with small granules. Exuvial scalps absent (Plates 1, 2). P r o d o r s u m : Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, but slightly projected in lateral view. Rostra1 seta (ro) long, smooth, situated on lateroventral side of prodorsum, its alveolus well visible in ventral view (Plate 1B). Lamellar seta (Ze) smooth, slightly more than half of total length of ro, inserted on dorsal side of rostrum. Interlamellar seta (in) mostly not evident, only few specimens have very minute and hardly visible setae; setal insertion well observable. Exobothridial seta not evident. Sensillus (ss) with short stalk and a distinctly widened head with strong and dense barbs. Bothridium (bo) small, poorly developed, irregular funnel-shaped, its opening directed posteriorly (Plates lA, C). Prodorsum with no ridge or apophysis. N o t o g a s t e r : Elongate oval viewed perpendicu- lar to circumgastric scissure, about 1.4 times as long as wide; with oval, slightly convex central plateau and concave intramarginal depression (Plate 2A). Posteroventral margin of notogaster with distinct triangular incision (Plate 1B). Five pairs of notogastral setae covered with cerotegument; hl and h2 situated dorsally; p1, p2 and p3 on posteroventral side of notogaster. Lyrifissures ia,

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Zool. Reihe 78 (2002) 1 73

Plate 1. Pedrocortesella rarisetosa sp. n. A: Dorsal view; B: Ventral view; C: Prodorsum and anterior part of notogaster.


irn and ip medium in size, ips much smaller than others; irn and ip aligned almost transversely, ia and ips obliquely oriented (Plates lA, B, 2A, 2C). G n a t h o s o m a : Infracapitular mentum slightly longer than wide, with reticulated granular cerotegument. Hypostomal seta h short; setae a and rn long, all of them thin and smooth (Plates IB, 2D). Chelicera and palp typical for genus. Fixed

and movable digits of chelicera with a few blunt teeth; setae cha and chb minutely barbed. Palp slender, palpal setation: 0-2-1-3-9, including solenidion o on tarsus. E p i m e r a l r e g i o n : Sejugal and I1 apodemes well developed, but short. Apodeme I1 nearly obliquely situated, while sejugal apodeme almost transversely oriented. Discidium poorly devel-

Plate 2. Pedrocortesella rarisetosa sp. n. A: Dorsal view: B: Ventral view; C: Posterior view of notogaster; D: Epimeral and genital regions.

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Bed., Zool. Reihe 78 (2002) 1 75

oped, slightly rounded distally. Epimeral setae short, smooth, setal formula: 3-1-3-3 (Plates 1B, 2D).

A n o - g e n i t a l re .gion: Genital and anal openings well separated from each other; anal opening distinctly larger than genitals. Six pairs of genital, one pair of aggenital, two pairs of anal and three pairs of adanal setae (Plates lB, 2B, 2D). All ano-genital setae short, smooth. Adanal lyrifissure not evident.

L e g s : Tarsi tridactylous, lateral claws much slender, but slightly longer than median claw. Most setae of trochanters, femora, genua and tibiae covered with cerotegument, but tarsi setae mostly smooth. Setation of legs typical for genus.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d : Holotype (male) and four paratypes (two males and two females): Mt. Kurenat, eastern slope, 9 km south-east from village Slavyanka, District Kurchum, East Ka- zakhstan Province, leaf litter accumulated on the rock and soils under Spiraea sp. + Ephedru sp., 07 May, 1999; four paratypes (two males and two females): Saddle among the hills, Kyrkkuduk site, 7 km south from village Slavyanka, District Kurchum, East Kazakhstan Province, dry shrub steppe (with Curuganu frutex and Spiraea hyperi- cifoZiu); in the litter under shrubs, 08May, 1999, Leg. I. E. Smelansky. The holotype and six paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Insti- tute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siber- ian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, and two paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Department of Zoology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

R e m a r k s : The new species, Pedrocortesellu rurisetosu sp. n. is easily distinguishable from other species of the genus Pedrocortesellu in the presence of six pairs of genital setae, distinctly (triangularly) incised posteroventral margin of notogaster and the reticulated cerotegument covering the body and legs.

Most of the known species of Pedrocortesellu have seven pairs of genital setae. Only a few species such as Z? inuequulis (Balogh & Mahunka), Z? semireticulutu Hunt & Lee, F! conundrum Hunt, Z? kunangru Hunt and Z? Zeei Hunt have six pairs of genital setae as in the new species. However, the Palaearctic species, l? inuequuh, described by Balogh & Mahunka (1965) differs from I? rurisetosu in the 1) long adanal and notogastral setae covered with thick cerotegument; 2) anteriorly narrowed, but posteriorly widened no-

togaster; 3) body cerotegument; 4) depressions on notogaster, and 5 ) much larger body size.

Two species from Australia, Z? semireticulutu described by Hunt & Lee (1995) and Z? leei described by Hunt (1996a) can be differentiated from l? rurisetosu in the 1) arrangement of genital setae, inserted along straight line close to the inner margin of genital plate; 2) strongly developed bothridia; 3) presence of well-developed interlamellar setae; 4) far posterior position of adanal setae ud3, and 5) much larger body size.

Two other Australian species, F! conundrum and l? kunungru, described by Hunt (1996a) are distinguishable from Z? rurisetosu by the 1) six pairs of notogastral setae; 2) rostral and lamellar setae, covered with thick cerotegument; 3) presence of well-developed interlamellar setae; 4) notogastral plateaus and depressions, and 5 ) much larger body size.

In respect to the incised posteroventral margin of notogaster, only P fiscu, described by Ryabi- nin (1986) has a similar structure as the new species, but the former species is easily distinguishable from I? rurisetosu sp. n. by the 1) punctate- foveate cerotegument of body; 2) presence of well-developed interlamellar setae and interlamellar ridge; 3) different arrangement of notogastral setae, and 4) much larger body size. E t y m o 1 o g y : The specific epithet, “rurisetosu” refers to the reduced number of genital setae.

Pedrocortesella fusca (Ryabinin), comb. n. Plates 3A, B, 4C, D

D i a g n o s i s : Medium in size, with general characters of Pedrocortesellu. Body and legs covered with punctate-foveate cerotegument with conical granules; rostral seta smooth, situated laterally; lamellar seta smooth, inserted dorsally on rostrum; interlamellar seta minute, but well observable; sensillus with a short stalk and a distinctly widened, nearly club-shaped head with rough barbs; prodorsum with conspicuously developed interlamellar ridge; notogaster with elongate oval, slightly convex central plateau and relatively narrow, concave intramarginal depression; five pairs of notogastral setae covered with cerotegument; seven pairs of genital setae. Me as ur e me n t s : Body length 376-380 (378) pm, length of notogaster 264-280 (272) pm, width 176-184 (180) pm. I n t e g u m e n t : Body colour deep reddish- brown. Surface of body, leg segments, anal and

Pedrocortesia fusca Ryabinin, 1986: 343, fig. 1.


I' \ I I

. . '\

\

Plate 3. Idiosoma of two Pedrocortesella species. A & B: Dorsal and ventral view of P fusca (Ryabinin), respectively; C & D: Dorsal and ventral view of F inaequalis (Balogh & Mahunka).

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl., Zool. Reihe 78 (2002’) 1 71

genital plates covered with punctate-foveate cerotegument with conical granules. Exuvial scalps absent.

P r o d o r s u m : Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, but slightly projected in lateral view. Rostra1 seta long, thin, situated on lateral side of prodorsum. Lamellar seta nearly half as long as YO, inserted dorsally on rostrum, both setae smooth. Interla-

mellar seta minute, but well observable, situated close to anteromedian margin of bothridium. Exobothridial seta not evident. Sensillus with short stalk and a distinctly widened, nearly club- shaped head with strong and dense barbs. Bo- thridium well developed, relatively larger than that of former species. Interlamellar ridge conspicuously developed and situated anteromediad of each interlamellar seta (Plates 3A, 4C).

Plate 4. Species of Nortonella and Pedrocortesella. A & B: Dorsal view and notogaster of Nortonella mongolica Bayartogtokh & Aoki; C & D. Dorsal view and posterior part of notogaster of Pedrocorteselh fusca (Ryabinin).


N o t o g a s t e r : Elongate oval, about 1.5 times as long as wide; with elongate oval, slightly convex central plateau and relatively narrow, concave depression (Plate 4C). Lateral and posterior margins look like undulated in dorsal view, be- cause of conical cerotegument covering its mar- ginal parts, but in ventral view they seem to be evenly rounded (Plates 3A, B). Five pairs of notogastral setae (hl, hz, p1, p2 and p3) covered with cerotegument; seta hl situated dorsally, other setae inserted on posteroventral side of notogaster. Lyrifissures ia, irn and ip medium in size, ia oriented longitudinally; irn and ip aligned obliquely (Plates 3A, 4D).

G n a t h o s o m a : Infracapitular mentum nearly as long as wide, covered with granular cerotegument. Hypostomal seta h, a and rn short, all thin and smooth (Plate 3B). Chelicera and palp typical for genus. Fixed and movable digits of chelicera with a few blunt teeth. Palp slender, palpal setation: 0-2-1-3-9, including solenidion w on tarsus. E p i m e r a 1 r e g i o n : Apodeme I1 relatively short, sejugal apodeme long, both aligned obliquely. Discidium well developed, slightly projected distally. Epimeral setae short, smooth; setal formula: 3-1-3-3 (Plate 3B). A n o - g e n i t a l r e g i o n : Structure normal for the genus; genital and anal openings well separated from each other; anal opening distinctly larger than genitals. Seven pairs of genital, one pair of aggenital, two pairs of anal and three pairs of adanal setae. All ano-genital setae short, smooth (Plate 3B). Adanal lyrifissure not evident.

L e g s : Tarsi tridactylous, lateral claws more slender, but slightly longer than median claw. Most setae of trochanters, femora, genua and tibiae covered with cerotegument, but tarsal setae mostly smooth. Setation of legs typical for genus.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d : Two specimens: Hills on the right bank of river Irtysh, 6 km south- west from village Slavyanka, District Kurchum, East Kazakhstan Province, dry steppe; in the turf of Artemisiu sublessingiana, 08 May, 1999; 24 specimens: Hills on the right bank of the river Irtysh (Buhtarminskoe reservoir), Mts. Kurenat, Kyrkkuduk site and valley of the river Kaindy; south-west and south from village Sla- vyanka, District Kurchum, East Kazakhstan Province; dry stony steppes, shrubs, sagebrush stony semi-deserts; 07-10 May, 1999; two specimens: Rocky ridge, vicinity of Berchogur railway station, Mts. Mugodjary, District Chelkar, Aktube Province, sagebrush stony steppe; in the

turf of Artemisiu lessingiana, 24 April, 1993, Leg. I. E. Smelansky.

D i s t r i b u t i o n : This species was known pre- viously only from type locality, Mts. Aruk-Tau, Tajikistan (Ryabinin 1986). New distribution records are: East Kazakhstan (present record); Russia: Scarp of Mt. Romanovskaya, south exposition, 7 km north-west from village Shapovalo- vo, District Akbulak, Orenburg Province (dry sage brush - fescue - feather grass steppe on stony soil, in the turf of Artemisia lessingiana and Festuca valesiaca); Valley of river Ushkatty, 7 km south-west from village Ushkatty, District Dombarovskiy, Orenburg Province (slope of the hill, south-west exposition, semi-desert, under cushion of Curnpharosrna sp.). Both sites are in the vicinity of Russian and Kazakhstanian borders. Mt. Onchalaan, District Erzin, Tuva Repub- lic (in the vicinity of Russian and Mongolian borders), petrophytic stony steppe.

R e m a r k s : Most characters of the present material are well accord with those of the type specimens given in the original description by Ryabinin (1986). When examining the holotype deposited in the Laboratory of Bioindication, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, we found five pairs of notogastral setae. Ryabinin (1986) ob- viously missed the setae p1 which are situated on the dorsal side of notogaster. The holotype is 427 pm in length, 218 ym in width and distinctly larger than the present material.

Pedrocortesella inaequalis (Balogh & Mahunka)

Plates 3C, D, 5

Pedrocortesia inaequalis Balogh & Mahunka, 1965: 455, figs 5,6. Pedrocortesella inaequalis: Bayartogtokh, 2001: 158, figs 3, 4.

D i a g n o s i s : Medium in size, with general characters of Pedrocortesella. Body and legs covered with thick cerotegument with large granules; rostral seta situated laterally; lamellar seta inserted dorsally, both setae covered with cerotegument; interlamellar seta minute, but well observable; sensillus with a short stalk and a nearly club- shaped head with rough barbs; notogaster with distinctly concave intramarginal depression and several convex plateaus; five pairs of notogastral setae covered with cerotegument; six pairs of genital setae.

Me as u r e m e n t s: Body length 344-360 (348) ym, length of notogaster 256-272 (266) pm, width of notogaster 168-184 (178) pm.

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl.. Zool. Reihe 78 (2002) 1 19

I n t e g u me n t : Body colour light yellowish- brown. Surface of body, legs, anal and genital plates covered with thick cerotegument with large granules. Exuvial scalps absent.

P r o d o r s u m : Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, but distinctly projected in lateral view. Rostra1 seta medium long, situated on lateral side of prodorsum. Lamellar seta nearly as long as ro, inserted on dorsal side of rostrum, both setae densely covered with cerotegument. Interlamellar seta minute, but well observable, situated adja- cent to median margin of bothridium. Exobothri- dial seta not evident. Sensillus with medium long stalk and a nearly club-shaped head with strong and dense barbs. Bothridium small, its opening directed posterolaterad. (Plate 3C).

N o t og a s t e r : Oval, about 1.4 times as long as wide; anterior part slightly narrowed, posterior part evenly rounded or in some specimens posterior margin slightly curved inward; with distinctly concave intramarginal depression and several convex plateaus (Plate 5A). Five pairs of notogastral setae (hl, hz, p1, p2 and p3,) covered with thick cerotegument; setae hl and h2 situated on dorsal side, other setae inserted on posteroventral side of notogaster. Lyrifissures ia, im and ip medium in size, ia oriented longitudinally; im and ip aligned obliquely (Plates 3C, 5A, D). G n a t h o s o m a : Infracapitular mentum slightly wider than long, covered with granular cerotegument. Hypostomal seta h and a short, seta m longer than two formers, all setae thin and smooth (Plates 3D, 5C). Chelicera and palp typical for genus. Fixed and movable digits of chelicera with a few blunt teeth. Palp slender, palpal setation: 0-2-1-3-9 including solenidion o on tarsus.

E p i m e r a 1 r e g i o n : Apodeme I1 short, sejugal apodeme relatively long, both aligned obliquely. Discidium well developed, rounded distally. Epimeral setae short, smooth, seta 3c not evident; setal formula: 3-1-2-3 (Plates 3D, 5C). A n o - g e n i t a l r e g i o n : Structure normal for the genus; genital and anal openings well separated from each other; anal opening distinctly larger than genitals. Six pairs of genital, one pair of aggenital, two pairs of anal and three pairs of adanal setae. Anal and adanal setae conspicuously longer than genital setae. Adanal setae covered with cerotegument, other setae smooth (Plates 3D, 5D). Adanal lyrifissure not evident.

L e g s : Tarsi tridactylous, lateral claws slender, slightly longer than median claw. Most setae of leg segments covered with dense cerotegument. Setation of legs typical for genus.

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d : Five specimens: Mt. Kurenat, eastern slope, 9 km south-east from village Slavyanka, District Kurchum, East Kazakh- stan Province, leaf litter accumulated on the rock and soils under Spiraea sp. + Ephedra sp., 07 May, 1999, Leg. I. E. Smelyansky.

D i s t r i b u t i o n : This species was recorded be- fore in central Mongolia (Balogh & Mahunka 1965), northern, central, and western Kazakhstan (Krivolusky 1971; Grishina & Andrievskiy 1985; Karppinen et al. 1986; Andrievskiy 1988; Rahim- baeva 1995), and in some regions of Russia such as Volgograd Province (Krivolusky 1971), Sa- mara Province (Smelansky 1995), Orenburg Pro- vince (Smelansky 1996), Tuva Republic (Karp- pinen et al. 1986). We found this species in the following sites in East Kazakhstan: Vicinity of Berchogur railway station, Mts. Mugodjary, Dis- trict Chelkar, Aktube Province; Kuludjun sands on the left bank of the river Irtysh, near the village Kaznakovka, District Kokpekty; hills on the right bank of the river Irtysh (Buhtarminskoe reservoir), valley of the River Kaindy, and Kyrk- kuduk site, south and south-east from village Slavyanka, District Kurchum. R e m a r k s : The character states of the present material are well accord with those of the type specimens given in the original description by Balogh & Mahunka (1966). Some characters such as shape of notogaster, presence or absence of prodorsal longitudinal ridges, orientation and size of notogastral lyrifissures were slightly variable.

Pleodamaeus kazakhstanicus sp. n. Plates 6. 7

D i a g n o s i s : Medium in size. Body and legs covered with thick cerotegument with round to conical granules; rostra1 seta smooth, situated posterior to lamellar seta, inserted lateroventrally; lamellar seta covered with cerotegument, situated dorsally on rostrum; sensillus with a medium long stalk and a densely barbed club- shaped head; a pair of nearly semicircular ridges present between interlamellar setae; notogaster with elongate oval, distinctly convex central plateau and concave intramarginal depression; five pairs of notogastral, seven pairs of genital and three pairs of adanal setae.

80 Bavartogtokh. B. & Smelvanskv, I. E.. Oribatid mites from East Kazakhstan

Me as u r e m e n t s : Body length 464-504 (474) pm; length of notogaster 320-360 (337) pm, width 216-240 (229) pm.

I n t e g u m e n t : Body colour yellowish to reddish-brown. Body, anal and genital plates and legs yielding relatively thick cerotegument with round to conical granules. Exuvial scalps absent.

P r o d o r s u m : Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, but slightly projected in lateral view. Rostra1 seta moderately long, smooth, situated posterior to level of lamellar seta and inserted lateroventrally of prodorsum. Lamellar seta covered with cerotegument, shorter than TO, situated dorsally on prodorsum and inserted on distinctly developed apophysis. Intdamellar sets minute, but well ob-

Plate 5. Pedrocortesella inaequalis (Balogh & Mahunka). A: Dorsal view; B: Ventral view (slightly damaged specimen); C: Gnathosomal and epimeral regions: D: Anal and adanal regions.


servable. Exobothridial seta smooth, nearly half as long as lamellar seta. Sensillus with a medium long stalk and a club shaped head with dense barbs. Bothridium relatively large, directed posterolaterad. A faint transverse rostrolamellar ridge situated just posterior to insertion of lamellar seta. A pair of nearly semicircular ridge present between interlamellar setae (Plates 6A, 7A).

sion (Plate 7A). Five pairs of notogastral setae inserted on distinctly developed apophysis and covered with thick cerotegument. Setae hl and hz situated on dorsal side, p1, p2 and p3 situated on posteroventral side of notogaster. Lyrifissures iu, im, and ip medium in size, im longitudinally, ia and ip obliquely oriented (Plates 6A, 7A, D). G n a t h o s o m a : Infracapitular mentum wider than long, without noticeable microtubercles. Hy-

N o t o g a s t e r : Oval, about 1.5 times as long as wide; with elongate oval, distinctly convex central plateau and concave intramarginal depres-

postomal setae a, h and m short, smooth (Plate 6B). Chelicera and palp normal, typical for family. Fixed and movable digits of chelicera with

Plate 6. Pleodamaeus kazakhstanicus sp. n. A Dorsal view; B: Ventral view.

82 Bavartogtokh. B. & Smelvanskv. I. E.. Oribatid mites from East Kazakhstan

a few blunt teeth. Tragirdh’s organ narrow; setae cha and chb conspicuously barbed. Palp slender, palpal setation: 0-2-1-3-9, including solenidion o on tarsus. E p i m e r a l r e g i o n : Sejugal and I1 apodemes short, aligned obliquely. A pair of distinctly developed tubercles present posterolaterad of sejugal apodeme and close to insertion of seta 3c

(Plate 6B). Epimeral setae short, smooth; setal formula: 3-1-3-3. Discidium poorly developed. A n o - g e n i t a l r e g i o n : Genital and anal apertures well separated from each other, anal aper- ture larger than genitals. Seven pairs of genital, one pair of aggenital, two pairs of anal and three pairs of adanal setae. Genital and aggenital setae short, smooth; anal setae moderately long,

Plate 7. Pleodumaeus kazakhstunicus sp. n. A: Dorsal view; B: Posterior view of notogaster; C: Genital region (reversed); D: Anal and adanal regions.


smooth; adanal setae much thicker and longer than others and covered with cerotegument (Plates 6B, 7C, D). Adanal lyrifissure not evident. Legs : Articulation of leg segments not in sock- ets. Ventrodistal tectum poorly developed on trochanters I11 and IV. Most setae of trochanters, femora, genua and tibiae covered with cerotegument, but tarsal setae mostly smooth. Setation of legs typical for genus. M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d : Holotype (female) and eight paratypes (five females and three males): Mt. Kurenat, eastern slope, 9 km south-east from village Slavyanka, District Kurchum, East Ka- zakhstan Province, leaf litter accumulated on the rock and soils under Spiraea sp. and Ephedra sp., 07May, 1999, Leg. I. E. Smelyansky. The holotype and six paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Division of Russian Acad- emy of Sciences, Novosibirck, Russia, and two paratypes are deposited in the collection of the Department of Zoology, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. R e m a r k s : The genus Pleodamaeus Paschoal is monotypic, and the type species is known from Colorado, USA. Pleodamaeus kazakhstanicus sp. n. is easily distinguishable from R plokosus described by Woolley & Higgins (1973) by the 1) presence of seven pairs of genital setae in contrast to the six pairs in R plokosus; 2) presence of well developed epimeral tubercles; 3) latero- posterior situation of interlamellar setae in contrast to the anterocentral situation in f? plokosus; 4) presence of a pair of semicircular ridges between interlamellar setae in contrast to the single reverse U-shaped ridge in R plokosus; 5 ) longer anal setae and lateral placement of adanal setae, and 6) relatively narrow, but much longer body. E t y m o 1 o g y : The specific name “kazakhstanicus” refers to the name of country, which encompassing the type locality of this species.

Nortonella mongolica Bayartogtokh & Aoki Plates 4A, B, 8 Nortonella rnongolica Bayartogtokh & Aoki, 1997: 129, figs 19-21.

D iagnos i s : Medium in size. Body, legs, anal and genital plates covered with relatively thin cerotegument with small granules; lamellar seta inserted a little anterior to rostra1 seta; sensillus

with a moderately long stalk and a leaf-shaped head; prodorsum with two ridges; notogaster with elongate, slightly convex central plateau and relatively wide, concave intramarginal depression; five pairs of notogastral setae; two pairs of adanal setae, ad1 absent.

M e as u r e me n t s : Body length 464-472 (468) pm; length of notogaster 324-328 (326) pm, width 252-256 (254) pm.

I n t e g u m e n t : Body colour yellowish-brown. Body, legs, anal and genital plates yielding relatively thin cerotegument with round granules. Exuvial scalps absent.

P r o d o r s u m : Rostrum rounded in dorsal view, but distinctly projecting in lateral view. Rostra1 seta inserted laterally, situated a little posterior to le. Lamellar seta slightly shorter than ro, situated dorsally and inserted on distinctly developed apophysis. Interlamellar seta short, but well visible. Exobothridial seta about twice or three times as long as in. Setae ro, le and ex covered with cerotegument. Rostrolamellar ridge situated just posterior to insertion of lamellar seta. Exo- bothridial ridge weakly developed, slightly arched and situated between exobothridial setae and curved posterolaterad connecting bothridia. A pair of short, slightly arched bothridial ridges situated between insertion of interlamellar setae and bothridium (Plates 4A, 8A).

N o t o g a s t e r : Oval, about 1.2 times as long as wide; with elongate, slightly convex central plateau and relatively wide, concave intramarginal depression (Plates 4A, B). Posterolateral margin conspicuously undulated as seen in dorsal view. Five pairs of long notogastral setae covered with dense cerotegument. Setae hl, h2 and p1 situated dorsally, p1 and p2 on posteroventral side of notogaster. Lyrifissures im and ip medium in size, other lyrifissures not evident (Plates 4B, 8A).

G n a t h o s o m a : Infracapitular mentum slightly wider than long. Hypostomal setae a, h and m medium long, smooth (Plate 8B). Chelicera and palp typical for genus. Fixed and movable digits of chelicera with a few blunt teeth. TragArdh’s organ well visible; setae cha and chb conspicuously barbed. Palp slender, palpal setation: 0-2-1- 3-9, including solenidion w on tarsus.

E p i m e r a l r e g i o n : Sejugal and I1 apodemes well developed, but short, other apodemes not evident. Epimeral setae moderately long, smooth, setal formula 3-1-3-3. Discidium very poorly developed, rounded distally (Plate 8B).

84 Bayartogtokh. B. & Smelyansky, I. E., Oribatid mites from East Kazakhstan

Plate 8. Nortonella mongolica Bayartogtokh & Aoki. A: Dorsal view; B: Ventral view.

A n o - g e n i t a l r e g i o n : Anal and genital apertures well separated. Seven pairs of genital, one pair of aggenital, two pairs each of anal and adanal setae. Genital and aggenital setae short, smooth, but seta ag distinctly thicker than former setae. Anal setae thin, covered with cerotegument, about twice as long as genitals. Adanal setae longer and thicker than anal setae, covered with cerotegument; seta ad1 absent (Plate 4B). Lyrifissure iad not evident.

L e g s : Articulation of leg segments not in sock- ets. Ventrodistal tectum very poorly developed on trochanters I11 and IV. Setation of legs typical for genus.

and soils under Spiraea sp. and Ephedra sp., 07 May, 1999, Leg. I. E. Smelyansky.

D i s t r i b u t i o n : The species was known only from the type locality, Mt. Zaan Terelj in Central Mongolia. In spite of the locality mentioned above, this species is also found in the following localities of Kazakhstan: Mts. Zailiyskii Alatau (subalpine zone, soils with litter under spruce); Aksu canyon, Jabagly-Tau edge, “Aksu-Jabagly” State Nature Reserve, District Tulkubass, South Kazakhstan Province (juniper woodland); Bol- dyrbek, Jabagly-Tau edge, “Aksu-Jabagly” State Nature Reserve, District Tulkubass, South Ka- zakhstan Province (juniper woodland). In Russia

M a t e r i a 1 e x a m i n e d : Two specimens: Mt. the species is recorded from Valley of river Ush- Kurenat, eastern slope, 9 km south-east from vil- katty, about 6 km south-west from village Ush- lage Slavyanka, District Kurchum, East Kazakh- katty, District Dombarovskiy, Orenburg Province stan Province, leaf litter accumulated on the rock (in vicinity of Russian and Kazakhstanian bor-

Mitt. Mus. Nat.kd. Berl.. Zool. Reihe 78 (2002) 1 85

ders, semi-desert, under cushion of Campharos- ma sp.). R e m a r k s : The interlamellar setae of the specimens studied here are distinctly longer than those of the type specimens. Except only for this single point, the character states of the specimens studied here are well accord with those of the type specimens.

Discussion

The generic placement of two new species described here can be questioned, considering the current diagnoses of the genera Pedrocortesella and Pleodamaeus.

Concerning the genus Pedrocortesella, Paschoal (1987b, 1989), Balogh & Balogh (1992) considered that members of this genus have seven pairs of genital setae. Indeed, most species of this genus have seven pairs of setae on genital plates. Recently, in the review of Australian plateremaeoid mites, Hunt & Lee (1995) and Hunt (1996a) rediagnosed the genus Pedrocortesella. They considered that the number of genital setae in Pedrocortesella species is either six or seven pairs, and they described and included several species in this genus which bear six pairs of genital setae. Thus, we consider the number of genital setae as a variable character within the genus Pedrocortesella and, therefore, include our new species.

Hammer (1958, 1961) proposed two closely re- lated genera, Pedrocortesia and Pedrocortesella, from South America. According to her description, both these genera have seven pairs of genital and two pairs of anal setae, else there is no significant differences between them. In her latter work, Hammer (1961) described four more species of Pedrocortesia from Peru, which have three pairs of anal setae. Subsequently, Grand- jean (1964) suggested that Pedrocortesia might be a junior synonym of the genus Pheroliodes Grandjean. Recently, Fernandez (1987) redescribed the type species of Pedrocortesia, l? mir- abilis Hammer, and found that this species bears three pairs of anal setae, a typical character of Pheroliodes. Thus, Pedrocortesia is considered as a junior synonym of Pheroliodes.

The other genus, Pedrocortesella described by Hammer (1961), remains as a valid taxon as it bears only two pairs of anal setae and thus clearly differs from Pheroliodes. Though Ryabi- nin (1986) synonymised Pedrocortesella with

Pedrocortesia, and Woas (1992) synonymised it with Pheroliodes. Paschoal (1987b, 1989), Eguaras et al. (1990), Fernandez (1990), Balogh & Balogh 1992), Hunt & Lee (1995) and Hunt (1996a) accepted the validity of Pedrocortesella and the difference between Pheroliodes and Ped- rocortesella.

Since Hammer (1958) problematically proposed Pedrocortesia, now considered as junior synonym of Pheroliodes, many species have been included in the former taxon. Some of these species were combined with Pheroliodes others with Pedrocortesella (Paschoal 1987a, b; Pkrez-Iiiigo & Baggio 1989). In our opinion, l? fusca (Rya- binin) comb. n., l? stelluta (Ryabinin) comb. n. and l? reticulata (Ryabinin) comb. n. should be included in Pedrocortesella.

Pedrocortesia vermicularis Balogh, l? humerata Mahunka, l? ufricanu Balogh and l? franzi Ba- logh are also likely to be members of Pedrocor- tesellu, though the original descriptions are insufficient. Other species such as Notaspis reticulata Warburton, Pedrocortesia stebaevae Grishina, l? rjabinini Golosova, may either be belong to Ped- rocortesella or to Pheroliodes. The descriptions and figures are too poor to allow any decision of their generic placement.

In a review of Gymnodamaeidae, Paschoal & Johnston (1982), Paschoal (1989), Balogh & Ba- logh (1992) considered that the posterior margin of notogaster of Pleodamaeus has prominent folds, on which notogastral setae are inserted. The new species, l? kazakhstanicus, does not show such structure, but the posterior margin of notogaster is slightly undulated. In our opinion, Paschoal’s “prominent fold” is neither a special structure nor a diagnostic character at the generic level. The fold seems to be the undulated of the posterior margin of notogaster, similar though somewhat stronger than in l? kazakhstanicus sp. n. An undulation is a rather common character in other gymnodamaeid genera too. As in other genera of Gymnodamaeidae, the number of genital setae is also variable in Pleoda- maeus. Both the undulation and the number of genital setae are considered not to be diagnostic characters at the generic level.

Woas (1992) considered Nortonella as a junior synonym of Gymnodamaeus. However, the genital and anal apertures are contiguous in Gymno- damaeus but well separated in Nortonella. In addition, the femur IV of Gymnodamaeus is provided with three setae compared with only two setae in Nortonella. Therefore, we consider Nortonella as a valid genus.


Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Prof. J. Aoki, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, Japan for his cri- tical reading of the manuscript with valuable comments. Thanks also due to Prof D. A. Krivolutsky, Institute of Eco- logy and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, for giving us the opportunity to examine the type material of Pedrocortesella fuscu and to Prof. I. M. Krasno- borov, Drs. G. G. Maistrenko, A. Ju. Korolyuk and A. Kras- nikov, Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia, for their unselfish assistance. Drs. V. S. Andrievskiy, S. N. Ior- dansky, and A. K. Rahimbaeva kindly donated their collection materials for examination. This study was partly sup- ported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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oribatid mites of the superfamilies gymnodamaeoidea and plateremaeoidea (acari, oribatida) from east...

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