The feather mites of the hoatzin Opisthocomus hoazin (Müller) (Aves: Opisthocomiformes), with the description of two new genera and six new species (Acari: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea)
Author
Hernandes, Fabio A.
Author
Mironov, Sergey V.
text
Zootaxa
2015
4034
3
401
444
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.4034.3.1
7c591ebc-507e-4ed0-9bfb-68c75dca4c30
1175-5326
242334
28877701-85F6-47B6-88DF-178E04AB16A6
Genus
Hoazinacarus
gen. nov.
Type
species:
Hoazinacarus anisosetus
sp. nov.
Diagnosis.
BOTH SEXES. Small-sized pterolichines. Idiosoma roughly ovate, egg-shaped, about 1.5 times longer than greatest width. Gnathosoma almost rectangular, slightly enlarged posteriorly. Prodorsal shield occupying mesal part of prodorsum and well developed posterior to scapular setae
se, si
. Two vertical setae
vi
present, long filiform, with bases close to each other. Scapular shields not developed dorsally. Humeral shields well developed, encompassing bases of setae
c2, c3
and
cp.
Hysterosoma with extensive hysteronotal shield. Lateral sclerotized bands of hysterosoma absent. Scapular setae
si
well developed, thick stake-shaped with numerous additional spines in apical half, situated close to bases of corresponding setae
se
; both pairs distant from body midline. Setae
c2
thick spiculiform with numerous spicules; setae
c3
thin spiculiform with smooth surface; humeral setae
cp
short filiform, much shorter than idiosoma width. Full set of hysteronotal setae occurring in pterolichids present. Cupules
ia
and
im
indistinct; hysteronotal gland openings
gl
well developed, situated posterior to setae
e2
. Epimerites I fused into a Y. Bases of epimerites I, II simple, bases not modified, without inflations and connecting bridges.
Legs I, II subequal. Tarsi I–IV without apicodorsal spines. Tarsi I, II without ventral extensions, subequal in length to corresponding tibiae. Tibiae, genua and femora of legs I–IV simple, without processes and extensions. Solenidia
ω1
approximately at midlevel of tarsi I, II; setae
ba
near bases of corresponding solenidia
ω1
. Solenidion
σ2
of genu I absent, solenidion
σ1
of genu I situated in basal part of segment. Condylophores normal (not strongly thickened in basal half). Ambulacral discs with smooth distal margin, with small apical extension on tarsi I, II.
MALE. Opisthosomal lobes not expressed, opisthosoma widely rounded. Setae
c2 d2, e2
thick stake-shape, with numerous additional denticles or spicules; setae
f2
and
ps1
short, with few branching spines; setae
ps2
spiculiform; setae
h1
minute filiform. Setae
e1
short filiform, situated posterior to level of setae
e2
and hysteronotal gland opening
gl
. Coxal fields I–IV open, without extensive sclerotized areas. Bases of trochanters I, II not flanked by narrow sclerotized bands connecting bases of epimerites. Genital apparatus between levels of trochanters III and IV. Genital papillae situated at level of genital arch apex. Paragenital apodemes absent. Adanal apodemes and shields absent. Anal discs present, circular; corolla smooth. Cupules
ih
absent.
Legs III and IV subequal, not hypertrophied. Tarsus IV elongated, similar in form and size to tarsus III; modified setae
d, e
reduced to small alveoles.
FEMALE. Hysteronotal shield split by narrow transverse band into two approximately equal pieces, covering almost entire dorsal surface of hysterosoma. Setae
d2
large stake-shaped with numerous small spines;
e2, f2, h1
short filiform; setae
ps1, ps2
thin spiculiform, with numerous branching spines. Supranal concavity present, ovate. Oviporus situated at level of sejugal furrow. Epigynum present, semicircular, close to posterior tips of epimerites I and II. Copulatory opening terminal.
Differential diagnosis.
The new genus
Hoazinacarus
gen. n.
has an unmistakable appearance within the family
Pterolichidae
and can be readily identified by the structure of scapular setae
si
, which in both sexes are stake-like with numerous spines branching out, and setae
d2, e
2
in males and setae
d
2
in females having the same structure. Within the family, this genus can be compared only with the genus
Stakyonemus
, having the same structure of scapular setae
si
and most lateral setae of the hysterosoma (
Figs. 21
A, 22A).
Remarks.
When mites were observed in ethanol before mounting in slides, the two pieces of the hysteronotal shield were often observed as articulated like a hinge, sometimes with an angle near 90 degrees. Observation of the live material is needed to clarify whether these mites actually can fold their dorsal shields and body in such a manner.