Paktinat-Saeij, Saeid ¹ and Kazemi, Shahrooz ²

¹Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran & Zeraat Gostar Poursoleyman Company, Babol, Mazandaran province, Iran.
²✉ Department of Biodiversity, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran.

2022 - Volume: 62 Issue: 1 pages: 262-269

ZooBank LSID: 891A36CE-2BFC-4474-AC8D-95CA8AC0C673

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

Members of the family Teneriffiidae are red, yellow, or brownish long-legged predators that are fast-moving and medium-sized mites (Walter et al. 2009; Luxton 1993). Teneriffiids occupy many different habitats, ranging from the sea level to altitudes about 2,000 m in terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including intertidal sandbanks, undersides of rocks, caves, arid desert, plants, soil, and forest litter (Walter et al. 2009; Khanjani et al. 2011; Ueckermann and Durucan 2020).

The Teneriffiidae comprises about 27 species in the nine genera: Austroteneriffia Womersley, 1935 (9 or 10 species); Heteroteneriffia Hirst, 1925 (3 species); Himalteneriffia Schmölzer, 2002 (1 species); Mesoteneriffia Irk, 1939 (2 species); Mesoteneriffiola Schmölzer, 1956 (1 species); Neoteneriffiola Hirst, 1924 (5 species); Parateneriffia Thor, 1911 (1 species); Sinoteneriffia Yin et al., 1994 (1 species) and Teneriffia Thor, 1911 (4 species) (Schmölzer 2002; Ueckermann and Durucan 2020; Zmudzinski et al., 2021). The genus Teneriffia was erected by Thor (1911), with Teneriffia quadripapillata Thor, 1911, as the type species collected from Spain (Canary Islands). Until the present study, four species of this genus have been described from the world. The genus Teneriffia can be distinguished from other genera of the family by having a simultaneously prodorsal shield, coxae I–IV at least with five setae each and strongly bipectinated claws on tarsi I–II (Schmölzer 2002; Ueckermann and Durucan 2020).

During studies on mite fauna of the mangrove forests of southern Hormozgan province, a new species of Teneriffia was discovered. Herein, we describe T. hajiqanbari n. sp., the first species of Teneriffia recorded from Iran. Also, an updated key to the world species of Teneriffia is presented.

Material and methods

Mites were extracted from littoral and soil samples collected in mangrove forests in southern Iran using Berlese-Tullgren funnels, cleared in Nesbitt's fluid and mounted in Hoyer's medium. Morphological observations, measurements and illustrations were made using a compound microscope equipped with differential interference contrast and phase contrast optical systems and a drawing tube (Olympus BX51). Initial pencil line drawings were then scanned and cleaned using Adobe Illustrator CS6. Additional images were prepared using the automated Z-stacking feature of the Nikon NIS Elements package on a Nikon Eclipse 90i (Melville, NY) compound microscope with a PC controlled Ds-5M-U1 digital camera at the Acarology Laboratory of the Ohio State University (OSAL). Measurements are in micrometers (μm). The body length and width of the specimens were measured from the suture between the gnathosoma and idiosoma to the posterior margin of the idiosoma and at its broadest level, respectively. The length of the gnathosoma was taken from the base to the tip of the subcapitulum. The leg lengths were measured from the ventral insertion of the coxae to the base of the pretarsi. Measurements of the paratypes are given in brackets following that of the holotype. Terminology generally follows that of Ueckermann and Durucan (2020) and Kethley (1990).

Results

Family Teneriffiidae Thor, 1911

Genus Teneriffia Thor, 1911

Type species Teneriffia quadripapillata Thor, 1911

Teneriffia hajiqanbari n. sp.

ZOOBANK: BB4B55F2-503B-4B4F-AC96-25C3CC99F88D

(Figures 1–3)

Diagnosis

Gnathosoma without ''clasps'' ventrally; palpal oncophysis absent; venter with 17–20 pairs of setae; genital plates with seven pairs of setae (female); dorsal body setae minutely barbed; opisthosomal setae d₁ , e₁ and f₁ long and reaching or surpassing the base of next seta; solenidotaxy of tarsi I–IV: 3-3-0-1.

Description

Female (n=4)

Body length 782 (728–748), width 534 (446–510); length of subcapitulum 168 (164–188).

Dorsal idiosoma — (Figures 1A, 1B). Color red in life, idiosoma oval. Integument striated. Dorsum with one clear propodosomal shield 314 (317–324) long, 178 (173–183) wide, with broken longitudinal striae and two pairs of minutely barbed setae (ve, sce) and two pairs of ciliated trichobothria (vi, sci), the bases of which have a rosette pattern, trichobothrium vi on naso and trichobothrium sci near seta ve (Figures 1A, 1B). Two pair of eyes presented anteriad setae c₂ . Stigmatic opening anterior to setae vi and near to base of chelicera.

Hysterosoma with seven pairs of setae (c₁ , c₂ , d₁ , e₁ , f₁ , h₁ and h₂ ); all setae minutely barbed (Figures 1A, 1B). Setae c₂ much longer than other dorsal setae. Three pairs of cupules (ia, im and ip) present. Lengths of dorsal setae: vi 84 (87–92), ve 114 (106–116), sci 124 (124–126), sce 124 (129–136), c₁ 67 (67–69), c₂ 178 (168–186), d₁ 111 (92–104), e₁ 101 (94–109), f₁ 126 (114–129), h₁ 126 (106–124), h₂ 69 (75–84). Distances between dorsal setae: ve–ve 153 (136–156), sci–sci 144 (126–144), sce–sce 149 (126–137), c₁ –c₁ 148 (119–139), c₁ –c₂ 64 (52–55), c₂ –c₂ 277 (235–248), c₁ –d₁ 106 (65–74), d₁ –d₁ 198 (158–198), d₁ –e₁ 99 (79–90), e₁ –e₁ 156 (125–134), e₁ –f₁ 104 (89–92), f₁ –f₁ 74 (69–77), f₁ –h₁ 104 (74–89), h₁ –h₁ 37 (42–63), h₁ –h₂ 38 (59–77), h₂ –h₂ 139 (141–186).

Ventral idiosoma — (Figures 1C). Ventral surface ornamented with striations. Coxae I–II separated from coxae III–IV. Genital plates with seven pairs of setiform genital setae (g_1–7 ), about 20–25 in length (measurement range in holotype and paratypes). Ventral region with 17–20 pairs of aggenital setae (ag) about 27–42 in length (measurement range in holotype and paratypes), all serrate. Three pairs of genital papillae present. Anal plates with four pairs of pseudoanal setae (ps_1–4 ). Lengths of setae: ps₁ 50 (45–57), ps₂ 42 (47–59), ps₃ 59 (50–52), ps₄ 50 (45–52).

Gnathosoma — (Figures 1D–1F). Subcapitulum finely lineated, bearing one pair of subcapitular setae m 67 (62–69) and three pairs of adoral setae (or_1–3 ), or₁ 35 (34–37), or₂ 12 (11–12), or₃ 15 (15–16) (Figure 1D). Peritreme located at cheliceral base (Figure 1E). Chelicera 198 (193–198) long; bearing two dorsal setae cha and chb (Figure 6). Palp (Figure 1F) 188 (198–202) long; five-segmented; trochanter short, without setae; femur and genu each with one seta; tibia with one robust terminal spur (o₁ ) 54 (53–56), two subterminal spurs (o_{2 –3}), 17 (15–16) and 15 (14–16) long, plus one serrated seta; tarsus with one solenidion and eight barbed or smooth setae. Oncophysis on genu absent.

Legs — (Figures 2A–2D). Leg IV much longer than body; each side of claws on tarsus I with 21–27 pectinations and tarsus II with 16–20 pectinations, tarsi III–IV with smooth tarsal claws and one median empodium. Measurements of leg segments as follows: Ta I 176 (183–189), Ti I 144 (131–141), Ge I 104 (101–105), TF I 99 (94–101), BF I 106 (99–104), Tr I 82 (74–77), Cx I 198 (171–193), leg I 909 (858–900); Ta II 173 (153–178), Ti II 129 (124–126), Ge II 97 (87–92), TF II 101 (87–89), BF II 99 (87–90), Tr II 84 (79–84), Cx II 181 (173–176), leg II 864 (809–825); Ta III 220 (228–230), Ti III 149 (131–141), Ge III 99 (97–99), TF III 104 (94–99), BF III 94 (87–92), Tr III 99 (94–104), Cx III 178 (170–186), leg III 943 (908–942); Ta IV 277 (255–278), Ti IV 176 (178–183), Ge IV 129 (124–127), TF IV 124 (116–126), BF IV 87 (89–94), Tr IV 104 (116–119), Cx IV 193 (173–188), leg IV 1090 (1064–1086).

Chaetotaxy of legs I–IV: coxae 6/7/8-6/7-6/7-5; trochanters 1-2-2-2; basifemora 5-6-4-4; telofemora 5-5-4-4; genua 8(+1σ)-8(+1σ)-7(+1σ)-6; tibiae 12(+1φ+1k)-12(+1φ)-12(+1φ)-11(+1φ); tarsi 27(+3ω)-27(+3ω)-22+1Tr-23(+1ω)+1Tr.

Male (n=4)

(Figures 3A–3D)

Body length 598–756, width 402–471; length of subcapitulum 164–168.

Dorsal idiosoma — Color red in life, idiosoma oval. Integument striated. Dorsum with one clear propodosomal shield 257–302 long, 149–173 wide, with broken longitudinal striae and two pairs of minutely barbed setae (ve, sce) and two pairs of slightly bipectinated trichobothria (vi, sci), trichobothrium vi on naso and trichobothrium sci near seta ve. Two pairs of eyes presented anteriad of setae c₂ . Stigmatic opening anterior to setae vi and near to base of chelicera.

Hysterosoma with seven pairs of setae (c₁ , c₂ , d₁ , e₁ , f₁ , h₁ and h₂ ); all setae minutely barbed. Setae c₂ much longer than other dorsal setae. Three pairs of cupules (ia, im and ip) present. Lengths of dorsal setae: vi 77–92, ve 82–107, sci 99–116, sce 99–124, c₁ 62–65, c₂ 141–173, d₁ 75–86, e₁ 77–104, f₁ 89–116, h₁ 99–128, h₂ 58–79. Distances between dorsal setae: ve–ve 114–129, sci–sci 109–124, sce–sce 92–125, c₁ –c₁ 104–125, c₁ –c₂ 50–52, c₂ –c₂ 203–265, c₁ –d₁ 50–84, d₁ –d₁ 116–158, d₁ –e₁ 69–98, e₁ –e₁ 104–122, e₁ –f₁ 74–94, f₁ –f₁ 57–75, f₁ –h₁ 54–87, h₁ –h₁ 32–40, h₁ –h₂ 54–69, h₂ –h₂ 124–156.

Ventral idiosoma — Ventral surface ornamented with striations. Coxae I–II separated from coxae III–IV. Genital plates with six to eight pairs of setiform genital setae (g), about 20–25 in length (measurement range in paratypes) and internal male genitalia. Ventral region with 17–20 pairs of aggenital setae (ag) about 25–41 in length (measurement range in paratypes), all serrate. Three pairs of genital papillae present. Anal plates with four pairs of pseudoanal setae (ps_1–4 ). Lengths of setae: ps₁ 52–59, ps₂ 42–54, ps₃ 40–45, ps₄ 42–52.

Gnathosoma — (Figures 3A–3B). Subcapitulum finely lineated, bearing one pair of subcapitular setae m 57–65 and three pairs of adoral setae (or_1–3 ), or₁ 32–35, or₂ 11–12, or₃ 12–15. Peritreme located at cheliceral base. Chelicera 173–181 long; bearing two dorsal setae cha and chb. Palp 159–198 long; five-segmented; trochanter short, without setae; femur and genu each with one seta; tibia with one robust terminal spur (o₁ ) 46–53, two subterminal spurs (o_{2 –3}), 15–16 and 14–15 long, plus one serrated seta; tarsus with one solenidion and eight barbed or smooth setae. Oncophysis on genu absent.

Legs — (Figures 3C–3D). Leg IV longer than body; each side of claws on tarsus I with 20–26 pectinations and tarsus II with 18–21 pectinations, tarsi III–IV with smooth tarsal claws and one median empodium. Measurements of leg segments as follows: Ta I 151–178, Ti I 106–134, Ge I 79–101, TF I 79–99, BF I 76–101, Tr I 70–74, Cx I 129–168, leg I 691–855; Ta II 151–193, Ti II 101–129, Ge II 76–92, TF II 64–87, BF II 69–89, Tr II 70–74, Cx II 151–178, leg II 692–840; Ta III 183–225, Ti III 106–126, Ge III 79–94, TF III 74–101, BF III 69–80, Tr III 74–87, Cx III 146–173, leg III 743–886; Ta IV 223–282, Ti IV 134–173, Ge IV 94–114, TF IV 76–111, BF IV 69–82, Tr IV 84–99, Cx IV 129–176, leg IV 819–1037.

Chaetotaxy of legs I–IV: coxae 6/7-6/7/8-5/6/7-5/6; trochanters 1-2-2-2; basifemora 5-6-4-4; telofemora 5-5-4-4; genua 8/10(+1σ)-8(+1σ)-7(+1σ)-6; tibiae 12/13/14(+1φ+1k)-12(+1φ)-11/12(+1φ)-11(+1φ); tarsi 27(+3ω)-27(+3ω)-22+1Tr-22/23(+1ω)+1Tr.

Deutonymph (n=1)

Body length 594, width 436; length of subcapitulum 164; palp 174; chelicera 172; propodosomal shield length 277, width 156. Lengths of dorsal setae: vi 77, ve 87, sci 94, sce 119, c₁ 59, c₂ 166, d₁ 101, e₁ 106, f₁ 129, h₁ 111, h₂ 74. Distances between dorsal setae: ve–ve 129, sci–sci 129, sce–sce 124, c₁ –c₁ 111, c₁ –c₂ 57, c₂ –c₂ 230, c₁ –d₁ 87, d₁ –d₁ 161, d₁ –e₁ 67, e₁ –e₁ 114, e₁ –f₁ 74, f₁ –f₁ 69, f₁ –h₁ 74, h₁ –h₁ 35, h₁ –h₂ 50, h₂ –h₂ 129. Lengths of setae: ps₁ 52, ps₂ 50, ps₃ 42, m 47; or₁ 27, or₂ 10, or₃ 11, o₁ 44, o₂ 14 and o₃ 13.

Deutonymph like female but differs in following characters: venter with two pairs of genital setae, about 18 in length and 11 pairs of aggenital setae about 25–32 in length. Anal plates with three pairs of pseudoanal setae (ps_1–3 ).

Measurements of leg segments as follows: Ta I 149, Ti I 114, Ge I 77, TF I 74, BF I 79, Tr I 74, Cx I 131, leg I 698; Ta II 139, Ti II 94, Ge II 74, TF II 69, BF II 77, Tr II 67, Cx II 129, leg II 649; Ta III 188, Ti III 111, Ge III 74, TF III 71, BF III 69, Tr III 74, Cx III 141, leg III 728; Ta IV 200, Ti IV 134, Ge IV 84, TF IV 82, BF IV 69, Tr IV 87, Cx IV 131, leg IV 787. Each side of claws on tarsus I with 28 pectinations and tarsus II with 23 pectinations.

Chaetotaxy of legs I–IV: coxae 6-6-5-4; trochanters 1-2-2-2; basifemora 5-6-4-3; telofemora 5-5-4-4; genua 8(+1σ)-7/8(+1σ)-7(+1σ)-6; tibiae 12(+1φ+1k)-12(+1φ)-11/12(+1φ)-11(+1φ); tarsi 25(+1ω)-25(+2ω)-19+1Tr-19(+1ω)+1Tr.

Larvae, Protonymph and Tritonymph: Unknown.

Remarks

At first glance, the new species closely resembles Teneriffia sebahatae Ucekerman & Durucan, 2020 in having gnathosoma without ''clasps'' ventrally, palpal oncophysis absent, and solenidotaxy on legs. However, T. hajiqanbari n. sp. can be easily distinguished from T. sebahatae by the following characters: (1) ventral idiosoma with 17–20 pairs of setae (vs. 23 pairs in T. sebahatae); (2) genital plates (female) with seven pairs of setae (vs. six pairs in T. sebahatae); and (3) opisthosomal setae d₁ , e₁ and f₁ long and reaching or surpassing the base of next seta (vs. short and not reaching in T. sebahatae). Also, length of setae ve 114 (106–116), d₁ 111 (92–104), e₁ 101 (94–109), f₁ 126 (114–129) and h₁ 126 (106–124) instead of length of setae ve, d₁ , e₁ , f₁ and h₁ = 58–78 in T. sebahatae.

Etymology

The species is named in honor of Dr. Hamidreza Hajiqanbar (17 August 1973–18 Oct 2021), a distinguished and well-known Iranian Acarologist who has made outstanding contributions to Acarology, especially Heterostigmatina.

Type materials

Type material was collected in mangrove forests in Qeshm Island, in the eastern part of the Persian Gulf, southern Hormozgan province, Iran, collected by S. Saberi.

Holotype: female, from soil and broken cockleshells in littoral zone (26°53ʹ25″ N, 55°42ʹ57″ E), 07 March 2020, will be deposited in the Acarology Collection, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran (ACISTE). Paratypes: two females and one deutonymph, from soil in littoral zone (26°54ʹ58″ N, 55°35ʹ33″ E), 03 March 2020, will be deposited in ACISTE; one female, from soil and broken cockleshells in littoral zone (26°52ʹ36″ N, 55°35ʹ06″ E), 03 March 2020, will be deposited in the Acarological Collection of the Jalal Afshar Zoological Museum, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran (JAZM); four males, from soil in littoral zone (26°53ʹ37″ N, 55°35ʹ26″ E), 02 May 2020, will be deposited in ACISTE; one male, from soil in littoral zone (26°53ʹ37″ N, 55°35ʹ26″ E), 02 May 2020, deposited in Ohio State University Acarology Collection (OSAL: 156027); two males, from soil and broken cockleshells in littoral zone (26°55ʹ27″ N, 55°43ʹ42″ E), 29 December 2019, will be deposited in ACISTE; one male and one deutonymph, from soil and broken cockleshells in littoral zone (26°49ʹ50″ N, 55°43ʹ40″ E), 07 March 2020, will be deposited in ACISTE; one male, from littoral soil (26°51ʹ01″ N, 55°44ʹ27″ E), 11 January 2020, deposited in JAZM.

Key to the females of Teneriffia (After Ueckermnn and Durcan, 2020)

1. Gnathosoma with ''clasps'' ventrally
...... T. quadripapillata Thor, 1911

— Gnathosoma without ''clasps''
...... 2

2. Palpal oncophysis present; venter with seven pairs of setae
...... T. aethiopica Zmudzinski et al., 2021

— Palpal oncophysis absent; venter at least with 17 pairs of setae
...... 3

3. Venter with more than 30 pairs of setae; tarsi III and IV with 1–2 and 2–3 solenidia, respectively
...... T. mexicana McDaniel et al. 1976

— Venter with 17–23 pairs of setae; tarsi III and IV with 0 and 1 solenidion, respectively
...... 4

4. Venter with 17–20 pairs of setae; seven pairs of genital setae present
...... T. hajiqanbari n. sp.

— Venter with 23 pairs of setae; six pairs of genital setae present
...... T. sebahatae Ucekerman & Durucan, 2020

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Sepideh Saberi for her valuable help with this project, especially in sampling the material used in this study. We also thank Hans Klompen for use of the equipment/facilities at the Ohio State University. This work was supported by INSF, under grant number 98015867.

References

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instructions