Torrenticolid water mites (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Torrenticolidae) from Ghana Author Pešić, Vladimir Author Smit, Harry text Zootaxa 2014 3820 1 1 80 journal article 36832 10.11646/zootaxa.3820.1.1 e3d7d016-1d73-438f-95e4-1b028b2b9627 1175-5326 286303 BBE4177B-5A2C-4911-987C-454BB8FA767C Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets, 1956 ( Figs. 7A–C , 8A–F , 9A–C , 10A–E , 13A–F , 15A–F , Tabs. 1–2) Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets 1956 : 9 . New records . Ghana : Laboun River, downstream, Kyabobo NP, 8º 19.931 N , 0º 34.476 E , 24.ii.2013 , Smit, 8/6/0 (2/ 1/0 mounted); Tagbo River, downstream of falls, 7º 00.708 N , 0º 34.326 E , alt. 394 m asl., 23.ii.2013 , Smit, 2/2/0 (1/ 1/0 mounted); stream downstream of Wanjakli Falls, Likpe Todome, 7º 09.976 N , 0º 36.456 E , alt. 478 m asl., 23.ii.2013 , Smit, 14/10/0 (2/0/0 mounted); Apkonu stream, downstream of falls, 6º 53.054 N , 0º 28.024 E , alt. 362 m asl., 21.ii.2013 , Smit, 7/5/0 (1/0/0 mounted); small rainforest stream upstream Sagyimase, Atewa Hills, 6º 13.964 N , 0º 33.116 W , alt. 654 m asl., 08.iii.2011 , Smit, 1[juvenile]/1[juvenile]/0. FIGURE 7A–C. Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets, 1956 , Form ''A'', Laboun River (A, C = male, B = female): A–B = idiosoma, ventral view; C = dorsal shield. Scale bar = 100 Μm. FIGURE 8A–F. Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets, 1956 , Form ''A'', Laboun River (A–B, D–F = male, C = female): A, C = palp, medial view; B = palp, lateral view; D = gnathosoma; E = ejaculatory complex; F = I-L-5 and -6. Scale bars = 100 Μm. Morphology. General features —Idiosoma roundish; Cxgl-4 far posterior at margin of Cx-I/II, between I-L and II-L insertions, but close to I-L insertion; excretory pore posterior to Vgl–2 ( Figs. 7A–B ); ventral margin of gnathosoma moderately curved, rostrum well developed and slender ( Fig. 8D ); P-2 shorter than P-4, P-2 ventral margin slightly S-shaped, P-2 and P-3 with a subrectangular, apically serrated distoventral projection ( Figs. 8A–C ), P-2 ventral seta very short (hardly visible), denticle-like, inserted close to distal margin of ventridistal protrusion, P-4 slender with well developed ventral protuberance in distal half of segment, bearing one long and 1–3 short setae. Male: medial suture line of Cx-II+III moderately long; suture line of Cx-IV distinct, medially starting from posterior margin of genital field in a right angle to the main idiosoma axis; genital field subrectangular in shape; ejaculatory complex with small proximal chamber; Vgl–2 close to the line of primary sclerotization, excretory pore near posterior end of idiosoma. Female: suture line of Cx-IV curved and extending further posterior to the genital field than in male; genital field pentagonal in shape; excretory pore and Vgl–2 away from the line of primary sclerotization. FIGURE 9A–C. Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets, 1956 , Form ''B'', Agumatsa River (A, C = male, B = female): A–B = idiosoma, ventral view; C = dorsal shield. Scale bar = 100 Μm. FIGURE 10A–E. Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets, 1956 , Form ''B'' (A–B, D–E = male, C = female; B = specimen from Plunge pool Agumatsa Falls, A, C–E = specimens from Agumatsa River): A, C = palp, medial view; B = palp, lateral view; D = I-L-5 and -6; E = gnathosoma. Scale bars = 100 Μm. Measurements. Male (from Laboun River, downstream, n = 2)—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 7A , 15A–C ) L 522–541, W 375–377; dorsal shield ( Figs. 5C , 11A–C ) L 422, W 324, L/W ratio 1.3; dorsal plate L 391–392; shoulder platelets L 119–120, W 38–44, L/W ratio 2.7–3.2; frontal platelets L 106–111, W 41–44, L/W ratio 2.4–2.7; shoulder/frontal platelets L ratio 1.07–1.11. Gnathosomal bay L 74–94, Cx-I total L 191–203, Cx-I mL 109–116, Cx-II+III mL 86–103; ratio Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL 2.0–2.2; Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 1.06–1.35. Genital field L/W 110–113/90–91, ratio 1.22–1.25; ejaculatory complex L 166; distance genital field-excretory pore 86–113, genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 103–153. Gnathosoma vL 213–229; chelicera total L 252–259; palp total L 227–229, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P- 1 21–22/20 –22, 1.0–1.03; P-2 66–69/36–37, 1.83–1.86; P-3 48–52/31–32, 1.51–1.62; P-4 72–79/17, 4.36–4.73); P- 5 13–14/11 , 1.25; P-2/P-4 ratio 0.84–0.95; dL of I-L-2–6: 48, 54, 69, 74–77, 74–78; I-L-6 H 29–31, dL/H I-L-6 ratio 2.4–2.7.

TABLE 1. Measurements of Torrenticola harrisoni	K. Viets, 1956 (form ''A'') from Ghana.
Tagbo River, ♂	Tagbo River, ♀ Wanjakli Falls, 2♂	Apkonu stream, ♂
Idiosoma L 577	600 494–550	538
Idiosoma W 384	395 345–366	353
Idiosoma L/W ratio 1.5	1.52 1.43–1.5	1.52
Ds L 441	463 381–420	409
Ds W 334	343 293–325	314
Ds L/W ratio 1.32	1.35 1.29–1.3	1.3
Dp L 409	428 353–391	380
Sh plate L 122–123	136 113–117	125
Sh plate W 44	44–45 38–44	38–39
Sh plate L/W 2.8	3.0–3.1 2.68–3.0	3.2–3.3
F plate L 109–111	116–119 100–111	108
F plate W 44	47–48 41–42	41
F plate L/W ratio 2.48–2.53	2.46–2.47 2.46–2.63	2.66
Sh pl L/f pl L ratio 1.1–1.13	1.14–1.18 1.06–1.14	1.16
Gnathosomal bay L 95	95 84–92	88
Cx-I L 206	216 191–213	200
Cx-I mL 111	119 106–120	113
Cx-II+III mL 101	77 91–92	89
Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL 2.04	2.81 2.08–2.34	2.25
Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL ratio 1.1	1.55 1.15–1.32	1.27
Genital field L 119	124 111–116	116
Genital field W 93	114 88–95	88
Gf L/W ratio 1.28	1.09 1.21–1.27	1.32
Dist gf—expo 114	153 78–103	94
Dist gf—cauda 147	184 97–130	131
Ec L 171	- 159–163	155
Gnathosoma vL 227	241 205–225	215
Chelicera L 261	282 235–261	252
Palp, total L 244	250 216–244	234
P-1 dL/H 22/22	24/23 20–22/19–22	22/22
P-2 dL/H 72/39	75/41 63–75/33–37	69/35
P-3 dL/H 52/33	54/34 48–54/29–34	50/31
P-4 dL/H 82/18	80/20 71–79/16–19	79/15
P-5 dL/H 16/11	17/11 14/9–11	14/9
P-1 dL/H ratio 1.04	1.07 1.0–1.04	1.0
P-2 dL/H ratio 1.88	1.81 1.91–2.02	2.0
P-3 dL/H ratio 1.59	1.59 1.59–1.63	1.62
P-4 dL/H ratio 4.6	4.0 4.28–4.43	5.1
P-5 dL/H ratio 1.48	1.54 1.3–1.51	1.51
dL P-2/P-4 ratio 0.88	0.93 0.89–0.94	0.88
I-L-4 L 70	74 63–72	66
I-L-5 L 79	80 72–83	72
I-L-6 L 82	81 74–85	76
I-L-6 H 29	32 28–31	29
I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.8	2.6 2.7–2.8	2.7

TABLE 2. Measurements of Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets, 1956 (form ''B'') from Ghana. Plunge pool, River Tordzi, Nubui River, Ankasa River, Ankasa River, Tagbo River, ♂ ♂ ♂ ♂ ♀ ♂ Female (from Laboun River, downstream, n = 1)—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 9B , 15B–C ) L 550, W 372; dorsal shield ( Fig. 13C ) L 409, W 327, L/W ratio 1.25; dorsal plate L 378; shoulder platelets L 115–116, W 44–47, L/W ratio 2.46–2.65; frontal platelets L 100–103, W 41–42, L/W ratio 2.46; shoulder/frontal platelets L ratio 1.12–1.16. Gnathosomal bay L 84, Cx-I total L 184, Cx-I mL 100, Cx-II+III mL 77; ratio Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL 2.4; Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 1.3. Genital field L/W 113/109, ratio 1.03; distance genital field-excretory pore 126, genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 172. Gnathosoma vL 219; chelicera total L 249; palp total L 227–228, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 21–22/22, 1.0; P-2, 69/35, 1.97; P-3, 49/32, 1.53; P-4, 74/17, 4.35; P-5, 14/11, 1.27; P-2/P-4 ratio 0.94; dL of I-L-3–6: 52, 65, 75, 75; I-L-6 H 29, dL/H I-L-6 ratio 2.6.

Idiosoma L 575	544	556	528	550	567
Idiosoma W 406	381	377	355	373	388
Idiosoma L/W ratio 1.42	1.43	1.47	1.49	1.48	1.46
Ds L 455	431	444	403	434	459
Ds W 347	334	323	314	334	331
Ds L/W ratio 1.31	1.29	1.37	1.28	1.3	1.39
Dp L 420	403	417	369	403	428
Sh plate L 127	100–119	125	127–128	134	122–125
Sh plate W 41–42	34–39	41	47	44–47	38–41
Sh plate L/W 3.0–3.1	2.6–3.5	3.1	2.7–2.73	2.9–3.1	3.0–3.3
F plate L 119–125	116–119	116–122	100	109–110	113–116
F plate W 48	44–47	45	47	44–47	42–45
F plate L/W ratio 2.58	2.54–2.65	2.55–2.69	2.13	2.33–2.5	2.55–2.67
Sh pl L/f pl L ratio 1.02–1.06	0.86–1.0	1.03–1.08	1.28	1.22–1.23	1.06–1.1
Gnathosomal bay L 95	91	95	87	81	94
Cx-I L 203	198	205	200	195	209
Cx-I mL 108	106	109	113	114	115
Cx-II+III mL 104	109	103	100	58	100
Cx-1 L/Cx-II+III mL 1.95	1.8	2.0	2.0	1.71	2.1
Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL ratio 1.04	0.97	1.06	1.13	2.0	1.15
Genital field L 119	116	119	113	113	117
Genital field W 98	91	94	94	116	94
Gf L/W ratio 1.21	1.28	1.27	1.2	0.97	1.25
Dist gf—expo 116	102	97	91	141	119
Dist gf—cauda 147	120	125	116	184	141
Ec L 160	151	163	154	-	168
Gnathosoma vL 225	222	219	220	234	223
Chelicera L 262	262	250	268	290	260
Palp, total L 244	248	246	232	250–252	249
P-1 dL/H 23/23	25/25	23/23	22/22	23/23	23/22
P-2 dL/H 75/45	75/43	71/42	66/44	74/44	72/43
P-3 dL/H 52/39	53/39	52/37	51/37	57/40	57/39
P-4 dL/H 79/21	76/20	80/22	78/21	78–79/22	80/21–22
P-5 dL/H 15/11	19/11	20/10	15/9	18–19/11	17/12
P-1 dL/H ratio 1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.04
P-2 dL/H ratio 1.69	1.74	1.71	1.5	1.68	1.66
P-3 dL/H ratio 1.34	1.38	1.4	1.38	1.42	1.48
P-4 dL/H ratio 3.77	3.8	3.7	3.34	3.52	2.7
P-5 dL/H ratio 1.43	1.7	2.0	1.67	1.7	1.4
dL P-2/P-4 ratio 0.96	0.98	0.89	0.94	0.94	0.89
I-L-4 L 75	73	70	71	72	75
I-L-5 L 83	80	75	75	80	82
I-L-6 L 89	84	85	75	80	88
I-L-6 H 33	32	29	34	31	32
I-L-6 L/H ratio 2.7	2.6	2.9	2.3	2.6	2.7

In addition to the populations listed above (here assigned as form ''A'') we give locality records and measurements of the specimens (here assigned as form ''B'') differing in the larger dimensions of idiosoma, more stout palp segments, especially P-4, with the ventral protuberance just in the distal half (compare Figs. 13A–C with 13D–F). Furthermore, these specimens differ in having a somewhat banded colour pattern rather than the solid colour pattern on the dorsal plate of the dorsal shield in specimens listed above (compare Figs. 9 F–G with 9I –M). These differences could reflect some degree of genetical diferentiation between these populations. New records . Ghana : Agumatsa River at first bridge, Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary, 7º 06.830 N , 0º 35.760 E , alt. 253 m asl., 22.ii.2013 , Smit, 6/3/0 (2/1/0 mounted); Plunge pool, Agumatsa Falls, Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary, 7º 06.350 N , 0º 36.476 E , alt. 258 m asl., 22.ii.2013 , Smit, 1/0/0 (mounted); River Tordzi, 6º 32.819 N , 0º 41.445 E , alt. 79 m asl., 19.ii.2013 , Smit, 1/3[one specimen damaged, palps and gnathosoma lacking]/0 (1/0/0 mounted); Nubui River, Agumatsa Wildlife Sanctuary, 7º 06.986 N , 0º 35.548 E , alt. 254 m asl., 22.ii.2013 , Smit, 3/ 3/0 (1/0/0 mounted); Ankasa River, Ankasa NP, 5º 13.011 N , 2º 39.126 W , alt. 60 m asl., 13.ii.2013 , Smit, 1/5/0 (1/ 1/0 mounted); Tagbo River, downstream, 7º 00.974 N , 0º 33.471 E , alt. 255 m asl, 23.ii.2013 , Smit, 1/3/0 (1/0/0 mounted). Measurements. Male (from Agumatsa River at first bridge, n = 1)—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 9A , 15D ) L 569–578, W 400–403; dorsal shield ( Figs. 9C , 13D ) L 444–450, W 350–352, L/W ratio 1.26–1.29; dorsal plate L 409–411; shoulder platelets L 116–127), W 44–50), L/W ratio 2.4–2.7; frontal platelets L 122–128, W 45–50, L/W ratio 2.44–2.69; shoulder/frontal platelets L ratio 0.92–1.04. Gnathosomal bay L 91–94, Cx-I total L 200–203, Cx- I mL 109, Cx-II+III mL 94–109; ratio Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL (1.86–2.1); Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 1.0–1.16. Genital field L/W 117–123/95–97, ratio 1.23–1.27; ejaculatory complex L 162; distance genital field-excretory pore 106–119, genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 139–163. Gnathosoma vL 221–226; chelicera total L 260; palp total L 243–244, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 24–25/24–25, 1.0–1.02; P-2, 71–74/42–43, 1.64–1.75; P-3, 55/39–41, 1.36–1.44; P-4, 76–79/22, 3.4–3.65; P-5, 17–20/11–12, 1.4–1.85; P-2/P-4 ratio 0.93–0.94; dL of I-L-2–6: 51, 63, 75–77, 81–82, 83–89; I-L-6 H 32, dL/H I-L-6 ratio 2.6–2.8. Female (from Agumatsa River at first bridge, n = 1)—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 9B , 15F ) L 609, W 409; dorsal shield ( Fig. 13F ) L 481, W 350, L/W ratio 1.37; dorsal plate L 450; shoulder platelets L 122–127, W 42, L/ W ratio 2.9–3.0; frontal platelets L 116–123, W 45, L/W ratio 2.6–2.7; shoulder/frontal platelets L ratio 0.99–1.08. Gnathosomal bay L 106, Cx-I total L 209, Cx-I mL 103, Cx-II+III mL 69; ratio Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL 3.0; Cx-I mL/ Cx-II+III mL 1.5. Genital field L/W 128/117, ratio 1.09; distance genital field-excretory pore 141, genital fieldcaudal idiosoma margin 203. Gnathosoma vL 235; chelicera total L 273; palp total L 252, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 26/25, 1.03; P-2, 81/46, 1.75; P-3, 59/42, 1.41; P-4, 67/22, 3.89; P-5, 19/12, 1.54; P-2/P-4 ratio 0.93; dL of I-L-2–6: 53, 62, 75, 81, 86; I-L-6 H 31, dL/H I-L-6 ratio 2.8. Remarks . With respect to the general morphology of idiosoma and palp the specimens examined from Ghana agree well with Torrenticola harrisoni K. Viets, 1956 . This species was described by K. Viets (1956) based on a single male from Transvaal, South Africa . The female was described by K.O. Viets (1965) based on a juvenile specimen from Vaal River in South Africa . Later on, Motas & Tanasachi (1968) and Goldschmidt & Smit (2009) described and illustrated specimens from Ethiopia (see under Torrenticola calliope n. sp. for a discussion on these populations). Together with Torrenticola bomiensis (see above), T. binga K.O. Viets, 1971 ( Zimbabwe , K.O. Viets 1971 ), and T. calliope n. sp. (see below), T. harrisoni forms a group of similar species ( Goldschmidt and Smit 2009 ) characterized by the V-shaped gnathosomal bay and P-2 and P-3 ventrodistally with spatula-shaped, finely serrate protrusions. The position of the Cxgl-4 far posteriorly, at the margin of Cx-I/II, between I-L and II-L insertions, is a very characteristic feature of T. harrisoni and separates later species from T. binga and T. bomiensis . Distribution . South Africa ( K. Viets 1956 , K.O. Viets 1965 , 1971 ), Congo ( Zaire ) ( K.O. Viets & Böttger 1974 ), Ghana (first record).