Water mites of the family Hygrobatidae Koch from southern Africa (Acari: Hydrachnidia)
Author
Smit, Harry
text
Journal of Natural History
2005
2005-12-23
39
38
3369
3405
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222930500256284
journal article
10.1080/00222930500256284
1464-5262
5220482
Hygrobates (Hygrobates) sigthori
K.
Viets, 1914
(
Figures 19–22
)
Material examined
South Africa
,
Gauteng Province
:
one male
,
two females
, head waters of
Vaal River
where crossed by the road from
Breyten
to
Lake Chrissie
,
22 July 1959
, leg.
Chutter
(slides 2076, 2073, 2077,
SMF
)
;
two females
, same data,
19 November 1958
(slides 2008, 2009,
SMF
)
;
one female
,
Vaal River
source, swamp
between Breyten and Lake Chrissie
,
22 July 1959
, leg.
Chutter
(slide 3209,
SMF
)
.
Remarks
Thus far, few illustrations have been published. Only K.
Viets (1914)
published an illustration of the female palp in his original description. Later on, K. O.
Viets (1963)
published more records of the species with more measurements, however, without illustrations. Therefore, more illustrations are provided here, as well as more measurements, especially of the legs (see Table II). For differences with
H. (Inflatibates) inflatipes
see under the latter. K.
Viets (1956)
described
H. sigthori rubicundus
, based on a different genital skeleton of the male. In the slide with the
holotype
male (7779, SMF),
two males
are present. The genital skeleton of the male which probably represents the
holotype
is lying free in the slide. This genital skeleton is similar to the nominate form. The other male has a genital skeleton as described by K.
Viets (1956)
, with a vesicular part between the arms of the genital skeleton.The females are in my opinion similar.More material is needed before the separate taxonomical status of
H. sigthori rubicundus
can be confirmed.