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New faunistic and taxonomic data on oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) from Ethiopia: results of the Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition in Bale Mountains National Park (2023)

Ermilov, Sergey G. ¹ and Rybalov, Leonid B. ²

¹✉ Tyumen State University, Institute of Environmental and Agricultural Biology (X-BIO), Tyumen, Russia.
²Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Soil Zoology and General Entomology, Moscow, Russia.

2024 - Volume: 64 Issue: 3 pages: 891-906

https://doi.org/10.24349/9pxq-zt3r
ZooBank LSID: 7AA67AA8-5584-4B54-90E8-65CC3415C83A

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Original research

Keywords

fauna new record taxonomy Brachioppiella Drymobatoides morphology Afrotropical region

Abstract

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Introduction

Oribatid mites (Acari, Oribatida) of the Ethiopian Bale Mountains National Park have been insufficiently studied (e.g, Ermilov et al. 2012). The present study is based on materials collected from this park at the end of 2023. The main goals of our paper are: to present a list of the identified taxa (including new records) and to describe two new species belonging to the genera Brachioppiella (Brachioppiella) Hammer, 1962 (family Oppiidae) and Drymobatoides Jacot, 1936 (family Mochlozetidae).

Brachioppiella was proposed by Hammer (1962), with Brachioppiella periculosa Hammer, 1962 as type species. The genus comprises 28 species and one subspecies belonging to two subgenera (B. (Brachioppiella) and B. (Gressittoppia) Balogh, 1983), which differ from each other mainly by the number of the genital setae (five pairs in B. (Brachioppiella) versus four pairs in B. (Gressittoppia)). Brachioppiella (Brachioppiella) comprises 14 species distributed in the Afrotropical, Australasian, Neotropical, and Sub-Antarctic regions (Subías 2022, online version 2024). The main subgeneric traits of B. (Brachioppiella) have been presented by Subías and Balogh (1989), and Hugo-Coetzee (2014). An identification key to some species of Brachioppiella (Brachioppiella) has been presented by Balogh and Balogh (2002).

Drymobatoides was proposed by Jacot (1936), with Drymobatoides mauritius Jacot, 1936 as type species. This genus comprises seven species distributed in the Afrotropical and Oriental regions (Ermilov and Corpuz-Raros 2017). The main generic traits and an identification key to the known species of Drymobatoides have been presented by Ermilov and Corpuz-Raros (2017).

Prior to this study, one species of Drymobatoides—D. elamellata (Berlese, 1916)—has been registered in the Ethiopian fauna (Ermilov et al. 2012); Brachioppiella has not yet been registered in Ethiopia.

Material and methods

Sampling

Materials were collected in Bale Mountains National Park (Fig. 1), Bale Zone, Oromia region, Southeastern Ethiopia. Substrate samples containing oribatid mites were collected by L.B. Rybalov during the second half of October–first half of November (end of wet season) using a stainless-steel frame (50 × 50 cm) with a sieve (mesh size 2 × 2 cm) in the following locations:

1: 6°44′35″N, 39°42′58″E, 2604 m a.s.l., Harenna Forest, forest with Hagenia abyssinica, litter, 19.X.2023.

2: 6°46′39.5″N, 39°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea, green mosses Hypnum cupressiforme, Bryum sp. on the tree trunks, 19.X.2023.

3: 6°46′39.5″N, 39°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea, litter, 26.X.2023.

4: 6°46′39.5″N, 39°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea, mosses on the soil, 26.X.2023.

5: 6°52′44″N, 39°54′14″E, 3993 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, Afroalpine community with Alchemilla haumannii as dominant, Helichrysum gofense, litter, 30.X.2023.

6: 7°5′52.5″N, 39°47′22″E, 3158 m a.s.l., Dinsho, Woodland with Juniperus procera, litter, 23.X.2023.

7: 7°5′52.5″N, 39°47′22″E, 3158 m a.s.l., Dinsho, Woodland with Juniperus procera, mosses Leptodontium capituligerum on the tree trunks, 23.X.2023.

8: 7°5′51″N, 39°47′26″E, 3165 m a.s.l., Dinsho, Woodland with Hagenia abyssinica and Juniperus procera, litter, 23.X.2023.

9: 6°46′17″N, 39°45′22″E, 3503 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, bushes of Erica arborea, litter and mosses Breutelia borbonica, 30.X.2023.

10: 6°46′39.5″N, 39°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea, litter, 23.X.2023.

11: 6°46′39.5″N, 39°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea, mosses on the soil, 8.XI.2023.

12: 6°46′39.5″N, 39°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea, green mosses Hypnum cupressiforme, Bryum sp. on the tree trunks, 8.XI.2023.

13: 6°46′39.5″N, 39°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea and Hagenia abyssinica, litter under H. abyssinica, 26.X.2023.

14: 6°53′14″N, 39°54′24″E, 3975 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, Afroalpine community with mosses Grimmia laevigata, Braunia secunda on the stones along spring, 6.XI.2023.

15: 6°53′14″N, 39°54′24″E, 3975 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, Afroalpine community with Aira caryophyllea, Alchemilla haumannii, Lobelia scebelii, Euryops prostratus, litter, 6.XI.2023.

16: 6°53′14″N, 39°54′24″E, 3975 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, Afroalpine community, swamp, mosses Braunia secunda, Campylopus sp. along spring, 6.XI.2023.

17: 7°5′52.5″N, 39°47′22″E, 3158 m a.s.l., Dinsho, Woodland with Juniperus procera, litter, 4.XI.2023.

18: 6°46′17″N, 39°45′22″E, 3503 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, bushes of Erica arborea, mosses Breutelia borbonica and litter, 30.X.2023.

19: 6°46′17.2″N, 39°45′22.1″E, 3503 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, bushes of Erica arborea, mosses Breutelia borbonica and litter, 6.XI.2023.

20: 7°6′81″N, 39°47′29″E, 3156 m a.s.l., Dinsho, Woodland with Hagenia abyssinica, suspended soil on the tree trunk, 11.XI.2023.

21: 6°46′20″N, 39°45′19″E, 3503 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, Hagenia abyssinica among bushes of Erica arborea, mosses Breutelia borbonica and litter, 6.XI.2023.

22: 6°49′19″N, 39°51′46″E, 4074 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, Afroalpine community with Alchemilla haumannii, Helichrysum citrispinum, H. gofense, H. forskahlii, H. splendidum, Senecio schultzii, litter, 08.XI.2023.

Mites were extracted into 75% ethanol using Berlese's funnels with electric lamps in laboratory conditions (locations 1–8: in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; locations 9–22: in Moscow, Russia).

Observation and documentation

For measurement and illustration, specimens were mounted in lactic acid on temporary cavity slides. All body measurements are presented in micrometers (µm); body length was measured in lateral view, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the notogaster; body width refers to the maximum width of the notogaster in dorsal view (for Brachioppiella (Brachioppiella) sanettiensis Ermilov n. sp.) and to the maximum width at pteromorph level in dorsal aspect and to the maximum width at ventral plate level in ventral view (for Drymobatoides harennaensis Ermilov n. sp.); the lengths of body setae were measured in lateral aspect. Formulas for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanter-femur-genu-tibia-tarsus (famulus included); formulas for leg solenidia are given in square brackets, according to the sequence genu-tibia-tarsus. Drawings were made with a camera lucida using a Leica DM 2500 light microscope.

Terminology

Morphological terminology used in this paper mostly follows that of papers on Brachioppiinae and Drymobatoides (e.g., Ermilov and Corpuz-Raros 2017; Ermilov et al. 2021); also, Norton (1977) for leg setal nomenclature and Norton and Behan-Pelletier (2009) for overview are used.

Abbreviations

Prodorsum: lam = lamella; Al = sublamellar porose area; tu = tutorium; ro, le, in, bs, ex = rostral, lamellar, interlamellar, bothridial, and exobothridial setae, respectively; exv = vestige of second exobothridial seta; D = dorsophragma; P = pleurophragma. Notogaster: c, la, lm, lp, h, p = setae; ia, im, ip, ih, ips = lyrifissures; gla = opisthonotal gland opening. Gnathosoma: a, m, h = subcapitular setae; sup, inf, d, l, cm, acm, ul, su, vt = palp setae; ω = palp solenidion; cha, chb = cheliceral setae; Tg = Trägårdh's organ. Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions: 1a–1c, 2a, 3a–3c, 4a–4c = epimeral setae; Am, Ah = humeral porose areas; PdI, PdII = pedotecta I and II, respectively; cus = custodium; dis = discidium; cir = circumpedal carina. Anogenital region: g, ag, an, ad = genital, aggenital, anal, and adanal setae, respectively; iad = adanal lyrifissure; Amar = marginal porose area; po = preanal organ. Legs: Tr, Fe, Ge, Ti, Ta = trochanter, femur, genu, tibia, and tarsus, respectively; pa = porose area; ω, φ, σ = solenidia; ɛ = famulus; d, l, v, bv, ev, ft, tc, it, p, u, a, s, pv, pl = setae.

Notes

References to the original descriptions of taxa are not included in the References section.

List of identified taxa

Distribution: mostly from Subías (2022, online version 2024). The unidentified species are not included. The number of the collected specimens is in parentheses.

Hypochthoniidae

• Hypochthonius rufulus Koch, 1835: location 19 (2 ex.). Distribution: Semicosmopolitan. New record of the family, genus and species in Ethiopia.

Nanhermanniidae

• Nanhermannia quadridentata Balogh, 1958: location 19 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Crotoniidae

• Camisia hamulifera Hammer, 1961: locations 15 (5 ex.), 22 (3 ex.). Distribution: Neotropical, Afrotropical, Sub-Antarctic, Taiwan.

• Heminothrus glaber Mahunka, 1984: location 4 (6 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical, Costa Rica.

Plasmobatidae

• Plasmobates foveolatus Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2010: locations 8 (8 ex.), 18 (8 ex.), 19 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Aleurodamaeidae

• Aleurodamaeus aethiopicus Ermilov, Hugo-Coetzee and Rybalov, 2023: locations 11 (27 ex.), 12 (36 ex.), 13 (1 ex.), 17 (5 ex.), 18 (29 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Aleurodamaeus africanus Mahunka, 1984: locations 2 (1 ex.), 11 (1 ex.), 12 (1 ex.), 13 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Damaeidae

• Coronabelba adiscidialis Ermilov and Kolesnikov, 2024: locations 11 (1 ex.), 15 (5 ex.), 21 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Coronabelba platynota (Grandjean, 1954): location 15 (12 ex.). Distribution: Southern Europe, Ethiopia.

• Metabelba (Pateribelba) ginchiensis Ermilov, 2014: locations 3 (2 ex.), 7 (10 ex.), 12 (2 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Metabelbella baleensis Ermilov and Kolesnikov, 2024: locations 5 (6 ex.), 15 (11 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Liacaridae

• Liacarus coracinus (Koch, 1841): locations 3 (1 ex.), 4 (4 ex.), 5 (1 ex.), 15 (3 ex.), 16 (3 ex.), 17 (1 ex.), 18 (2 ex.), 19 (14 ex.), 21 (7 ex.). Distribution: Palaearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental.

Heterobelbidae

• Heterobelba spumosa Mahunka, 1983: locations 1 (1 ex.), 4 (1 ex.), 8 (18 ex.), 18 (17 ex.), 19 (1 ex.), 21 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Machadobelbidae

• Machadobelba shtanchaevae Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2010: locations 15 (1 ex.), 21 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Oppiidae

• Arcoppia gezahegni Ermilov and Rybalov, 2022: locations 15 (8 ex.), 18 (1 ex.), 19 (14 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Arcoppia rugosa (Mahunka, 1974): locations 4 (5 ex.), 8 (2 ex.), 9 (4 ex.), 17 (4 ex.), 18 (29 ex.), 19 (17 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical, Hawaii.

• Brachioppiella sanettiensis Ermilov n. sp.: locations 9 (4 ex.), 19 (3 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia. New record of the genus in Ethiopia.

• Microppia minus (Paoli, 1908): location 10 (84 ex.). Distribution: Cosmopolitan. New record of the species in Ethiopia.

• Neoamerioppia africana (Kok, 1967): locations 2 (29 ex.), 7 (17 ex.), 11 (54 ex.), 12 (46 ex.), 17 (7 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical, Sub-Antarctic.

• Neoamerioppia extrusa (Mahunka, 1983): locations 1 (14 ex.), 2 (15 ex.), 12 (29 ex.), 16 (22 ex.), 19 (31 ex.), 21 (6 ex.), 22 (78 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Neoamerioppia polygonata (Mahunka, 1982): locations 4 (3 ex.), 7 (1 ex.), 8 (2 ex.), 9 (17 ex.), 11 (27 ex.), 16 (43 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Oppia (Antennoppia) capilligera (Berlese, 1916): locations 1 (1 ex.), 13 (2 ex.), 21 (4 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Oxyoppia complicata Mahunka, 1986: location 20 (2 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Oxyoppia (Oxyoppiella) saskai (Balogh, 1961): locations 11 (4 ex.), 12 (2 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical. New record of the species in Ethiopia.

• Separatoppia horvathae Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2011: location 18 (9 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Separatoppia robusta Mahunka, 1997: locations 2 (30 ex.), 11 (30 ex.), 12 (32 ex.). Distribution: Kenya. New record of the species in Ethiopia.

• Wallworkoppia tetraciliata Ermilov, 2018: locations 3 (1 ex.), 18 (19 ex.), 19 (8 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Teratoppiidae

• Teratoppia ciliata Wallwork, 1961: locations 11 (17 ex.), 17 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Teratoppia (Teratoppiella) pectinata Balogh, 1961: locations 10 (12 ex.), 11 (18 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Quadroppiidae

• Quadroppia (Coronoquadroppia) circumita (Hammer, 1961): locations 5 (41 ex.), 15 (8 ex.), 18 (34 ex.). Distribution: Tropical, Subtropical. New record of the family, genus and species in Ethiopia.

Suctobelbidae

• Suctobelbella (Flagrosuctobelba) elegantula (Hammer, 1958): locations 8 (5 ex.), 18 (3 ex.). Distribution: Tropical, Subtropical.

• Suctobelbella (Ussuribata) spirochaeta Mahunka, 1983: locations 7 (1 ex.), 8 (22 ex.), 13 (1 ex.), 17 (25 ex.), 18 (7 ex.), 19 (3 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Dampfiellidae

• Dampfiella setosa Mahunka, 1984: locations 3 (5 ex.), 13 (2 ex.), 18 (2 ex.), 19 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Tectocepheidae

• Tectocepheus sarekensis Trägårdh, 1910: locations 3 (22 ex.), 5 (6 ex.), 8 (9 ex.), 9 (3 ex.), 10 (34 ex.), 13 (18 ex.), 14 (33 ex.), 18 (45 ex.), 19 (15 ex.). Distribution: Cosmopolitan.

Microtegeidae

• Microtegeus khaustovi Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2010: locations 3 (9 ex.), 4 (10 ex.), 5 (27 ex.), 8 (3 ex.), 10 (1 ex.), 11 (16 ex.), 12 (1 ex.), 15 (11 ex.), 19 (20 ex.), 21 (4 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Phenopelopidae

• Eupelops acromios (Hermann, 1804): locations 6 (1 ex.), 7 (6 ex.), 11 (1 ex.), 19 (3 ex.), 22 (7 ex.). Distribution: Semicosmopolitan.

• Eupelops cf. occultus (Koch, 1835): locations 4 (1 ex.), 6 (1 ex.), 15 (3 ex.), 19 (1 ex.). Distribution: Palaearctic, Ethiopia.

• Eupelops torulosus (Koch, 1839): locations 15 (3 ex.), 21 (1 ex.). Distribution: Palaearctic, Ethiopia.

Eremaeozetidae

• Mahunkaia gracilis (Mahunka, 1985): locations 1 (20 ex.), 4 (1 ex.). Distribution: South Africa. New record of the species in Ethiopia.

Microzetidae

• Microzetes (Megazetes) eckeri (Mahunka, 1982): locations 8 (5 ex.), 9 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Licneremaeidae

• Licneremaeus cf. costulatus Mahunka, 1982: location 11 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Scutoverticidae

• Ethiovertex africanus (Evans, 1953): location 14 (72 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Scutovertex evansi Mahunka, 1984: locations 16 (1 ex.), 18 (1 ex.), 19 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Ceratozetidae

• Melanozetes paramollicomus Bayartogtokh, Ermilov, Shtanchaeva and Subías, 2021: locations 1 (1 ex.), 3 (2 ex.), 4 (4 ex.), 11 (1 ex.), 13 (12 ex.), 14 (11 ex.), 16 (1 ex.), 18 (7 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Chamobatidae

• Ocesobates schatzi Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2011: locations 2 (1 ex.), 7 (4 ex.), 11 (23 ex.), 12 (38 ex.), 21 (11 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Humerobatidae

• Humerobates africanus (Mahunka, 1984): locations 2 (44 ex.), 3 (56 ex.), 4 (17 ex.), 9 (16 ex.), 11 (28 ex.), 12 (27 ex.), 13 (1 ex.), 21 (36 ex.), 22 (12 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Punctoribatidae

• Africoribates ornatus Evans, 1953: location 5 (6 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Antarctozetes behanpelletierae Ermilov, 2024: 4 (9 ex.), 7 (1 ex.), 9 (6 ex.), 16 (1 ex.), 18 (17 ex.), 19 (13 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Antarctozetes subiasi Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2011: locations 2 (1 ex.), 15 (3 ex.), 22 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Mochlozetidae

• Drymobatoides harennaensis Ermilov n. sp.: locations 4 (1 ex.), 13 (4 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Unguizetes atypicus (Mahunka, 1982): locations 2 (1 ex.), 12 (4 ex.), 21 (46 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Scheloribatidae

• Scheloribates acutirostrum Ermilov, Rybalov and Franke, 2011: location 1 (11 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Scheloribates aethiopicus Mahunka, 1982: locations 14 (7 ex.), 16 (46 ex.), 18 (30 ex.), 20 (25 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical, Canary Islands.

• Scheloribates arsizonensis Ermilov and Rybalov, 2022: location 14 (11 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Scheloribates concentricus Balogh, 1962: locations 3 (9 ex.), 6 (16 ex.), 7 (9 ex.), 8 (10 ex.), 11 (25 ex.), 12 (40 ex.), 13 (11 ex.), 17 (4 ex.). Distribution: Tanzania. New record of the species in Ethiopia.

• Scheloribates discifer Balogh, 1959: locations 2 (16 ex.), 5 (3 ex.), 6 (34 ex.), 7 (1 ex.), 21 (8 ex.), 22 (60 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Scheloribates elsi Pletzen, 1965: location 6 (8 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical. New record of the species in Ethiopia.

• Scheloribates cf. laevigatus (Koch, 1835): locations 9 (25 ex.), 13 (48 ex.), 15 (8 ex.), 17 (32 ex.), 18 (14 ex.), 19 (37 ex.). Distribution: Semicosmopolitan.

• Scheloribates maximus Balogh, 1962: locations 2 (7 ex.), 11 (32 ex.), 12 (36 ex.), 13 (16 ex.), 15 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Scheloribates pallidulus (Koch, 1841): locations 1 (45 ex.), 2 (42 ex.), 3 (52 ex.), 4 (29 ex.), 7 (22 ex.), 9 (67 ex.), 12 (9 ex.), 17 (14 ex.), 18 (18 ex.), 19 (34 ex.). Distribution: Cosmopolitan.

• Scheloribates cf. rugiceps Balogh, 1962: locations 5 (11 ex.), 8 (31 ex.), 13 (1 ex.), 17 (12 ex.), 21 (18 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Scheloribates tricarinus Coetzer, 1968: locations 9 (10 ex.), 10 (11 ex.), 11 (17 ex.). Distribution: South Africa. New record of the species in Ethiopia.

• Scheloribates (Bischeloribates) lizelhugoae Ermilov and Rybalov, 2013: locations 1 (28 ex.), 12 (13 ex.), 13 (29 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

• Scheloribates (Perscheloribates) luminosus Hammer, 1961: locations 4 (14 ex.), 11 (42 ex.), 12 (17 ex.), 21 (6 ex.). Distribution: Tropical, Subtropical.

• Scheloribates (Perscheloribates) oromiaensis Ermilov and Rybalov, 2023: locations 14 (6 ex.), 15 (20 ex.), 16 (3 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Scheloribates (Perscheloribates) cf. paratranslamellatus (Ermilov and Rybalov, 2014): locations 4 (2 ex.), 8 (2 ex.), 11 (31 ex.), 13 (19 ex.), 15 (6 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Similobates demetororum Mahunka, 1982: location 21 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

Oribatulidae

• Zygoribatula josefstaryi Ermilov and Rybalov, 2013: location 4 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Zygoribatula setosa (Evans, 1953): location 15 (1 ex.). Distribution: Afrotropical.

Galumnidae

• Pergalumna makarovae Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2010: locations 1 (1 ex.), 18 (38 ex.), 19 (67 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

• Taeniogalumna behanae Ermilov, Sidorchuk and Rybalov, 2010: location 15 (1 ex.). Distribution: Ethiopia.

The list includes 71 species belonging to 44 genera and 29 families. Nine species (Hypochthonius rufulus, Microppia minus, Oxyoppia (Oxyoppiella) saskai, Separatoppia robusta, Quadroppia (Coronoquadroppia) circumita, Mahunkaia gracilis, Scheloribates concentricus, S. elsi, S. tricarinus), three genera (Hypochthonius, Brachioppiella, Quadroppia) and two families (Hypochthoniidae, Quadroppiidae) are reported in Ethiopia for the first time. Twenty-three species are known only from Ethiopia, 30 are Afrotropical, 18 (including 6 Cosmopolitan/Semicosmopolitan) have broad distributions (more than one geographical region).

Taxonomy

Family Oppiidae Sellnick, 1937

Genus Brachioppiella Hammer, 1962

Subgenus Brachioppiella Hammer, 1962

Brachioppiella (Brachioppiella) sanettiensis Ermilov n. sp.

ZOOBANK: A4524778-4801-4B0C-8C6C-F478BF96415E

(Figures 2, 3)

Type material — Holotype (male) and two paratypes (two males): Ethiopia, Oromia region, Bale Zone, Bale Mountains National Park, 06°46′17.2″N, 039°45′22.1″E, 3503 m a.s.l., Sanetti Plateau, bushes of Erica arborea, mosses Breutelia borbonica and litter, 6.XI.2023 (L.B. Rybalov).

The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, Germany; two paratypes are in the collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia. All specimens are preserved in 70% solution of ethanol with a drop of glycerol.

Diagnosis — Body length: 405–420. Costular-transcostular complex absent. Rostral, lamellar and interlamellar setae setiform, slightly barbed; ro medium-sized, le and in short; bothridial seta long, with elongate, slightly unilaterally dilated head having five or six dorsal tines. Interbothridial region with two pairs of muscle sigillae. Notogastral seta c represented by microseta; other setae medium-sized, setiform, shortly and sparsely ciliate; la located posterolateral to lm. Subcapitular setae a, m as well as all genital, aggenital, anal setae and epimeral setae 1a, 1c, 2a, 3a, 4b roughened; subcapitular seta h as well as all adanal setae and epimeral setae 1b, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4c shortly and sparsely ciliate. Discidium rounded distally. Leg tarsus II with 17 setae including l″, v′.

Description — Measurements. Body length: 405 (holotype), 405, 420 (paratypes); body width: 195 (holotype), 195, 210 (paratypes).

Integument — Body color light brown. Body surface mostly indistinctly microfoveolate (visible under high magnification, × 1000); lateral side of body between bothridium and acetabula I–III densely tuberculate (diameter of tubercle up to 2).

Prodorsum (Figs 2(a, d)) — Rostrum rounded. Costular-transcostular complex absent but two thin lineate longitudinal structures indistinctly observable instead costulae. Rostral (37–41), lamellar (15–19) and interlamellar (15–19) setae setiform, slightly barbed; exobothridial seta (9–11) setiform, roughened, inserted on small tubercle; bothridial seta (56–60) with long stalk and elongate, slightly unilaterally dilated head having five or six outer tines. Interbothridial tubercle absent; postbothridial tubercle slightly developed. Interbothridial region with two pairs of large muscle sigillae.

Notogaster (Figs 2(a, c, d)) — Anterior notogastral margin convex medially. Notogastral seta c represented by microseta; other setae setae (30–34) setiform, shortly and sparsely ciliate; la located posterolateral to lm. Opisthonotal gland opening and all lyrifissures distinct.

Gnathosoma (Figs 3(a–c)) — Subcapitulum size: 94–101 × 71–79; subcapitular setae a (17–19) and m (17–19) setiform, roughened; subcapitular seta h (24–26) setiform, shortly and sparsely ciliate; both adoral setae (7) setiform, smooth. Palp length: 60–64; setation: 0–2–1–3–9(+ω); solenidion long (3/4 of tarsus), slightly thickened, rounded distally, pressed to surface; postpalpal seta (4) spiniform, smooth. Chelicera length: 94–101; seta cha (30–32) setiform, barbed; seta chb (13–15) setiform, slightly barbed.

Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions (Figs 2(b, d)) — Epimeral setal formula: 3–1–3–3; setae 1a, 1c, 2a, 3a, 4b (15) setiform, roughened; 3c (39–41), 1b, 3b, 4a, 4c (30–34) setiform, shortly and sparsely ciliate. Discidium broadly triangular, rounded distally.

Anogenital region (Figs 2(b–d)) — Anogenital formula: 5–1–2–3; genital (11), aggenital (15–19) and anal (15–19) setae setiform, roughened; adanal setae (30–34) setae setiform, shortly and sparsely ciliate. Adanal lyrifissure oblique (inverse apoanal).

Legs (Figs 3(d–g)) — Claw of each leg smooth. Dorsoparaxial porose area on trochanters III, IV and ventroparaxial porose area on femora I–IV present but slightly visible. Formulas of leg setation and solenidia: I (1–5–2–4–20) [1–2–2], II (1–5–2–4–17) [1–1–2], III (2–3–1–3–15) [1–1–0], IV (1–2–2–3–12) [0–1–0]; homology of setae and solenidia indicated in Table 1; setae p′ and p″ eupathidial on tarsus I versus spiniform (poorly observable) on tarsi II–IV; seta s eupathidial on tarsus I, located between paired setae u and a; solenidia ω₁, ω₂ on tarsi I, II and σ on genu III slightly thickened, rounded distally versus others solenidia rod-like.

Remarks — In having medium-sized body, slightly unilaterally dilated bothridial setal head bearing a few dorsal tines, the length of the prodorsal setae (ro medium-sized; le and in short; bs long) and in the absence of the costular-transcostular complex, B. (B.) sanettiensis Ermilov n. sp. is similar to B. (B.) biseriata (Balogh and Mahunka, 1975) from Australia and Vietnam. However, the new species can be distinguished from the latter by the location of the notogastral seta la (posterolateral to lm versus anterior to lm), the size and number of the interbothridial muscle sigillae (two pairs large versus three pairs small), and the morphology of the remaining notogastral setae (shortly and sparsely ciliate versus smooth).

Etymology — The species name sanettiensis refers to the place of origin, Sanetti Plateau.

Family Mochlozetidae Grandjean, 1960

Genus Drymobatoides Jacot, 1936

Drymobatoides harennaensis Ermilov n. sp.

ZOOBANK: EBEE2D4C-6A65-40E5-93E0-CBFA161CC94B

(Figures 4, 5)

Type material — Holotype (male) and three paratypes (one male and two females): Ethiopia, Oromia region, Bale Zone, Bale Mountains National Park, 06°46′39.5″N, 039°44′42″E, 3241 m a.s.l., slope to the Harenna Forest, forest with Erica arborea and Hagenia abyssinica, litter under H. abyssinica, 26.X.2023 (L.B. Rybalov).

The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Görlitz, Germany; three paratypes are in the collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia. All specimens are preserved in 70% solution of ethanol with a drop of glycerol.

Diagnosis — Body length: 975–1080. Lamella without cusp. Rostral, lamellar, interlamellar, and bothridial setae long, setiform, barbed; in˃bs˃le˃ro; le posteromedial to the lamella end. About 40 pairs of small porose areas. Custodium minute, triangular. Five pairs of genital setae. Marginal porose area represented by numerous porose areas. Leg femur IV with slight emarginate ventrodistal part.

Description — Measurements. Body length: 1065 (holotype), 975 (male paratype), 1065, 1080 (female paratypes); body width (level of pteromorphs): 855 (holotype), 825 (male paratype), 825, 855 (female paratypes); body width ventral plate: 750 (holotype), 750 (male paratype), 735, 780 (female paratypes).

Integument — Body color brown. Body surface mostly indistinctly microfoveolate (visible under high magnification, × 1000).

Prodorsum (Figs 4(a, b, e)) — Rostrum slightly protruding, rounded. Lamella about 1/2 length of prodorsum, without cusp; prolamella, translamella and sublamella absent; tutorium slightly developed, short, lineate. Sublamellar porose area oval (34–37 × 24–26) oval. Rostral (146–154), lamellar (187–199), interlamellar (330–352), and bothridial (255–277) setae setiform, barbed; le posteromedial to the lamella end; exobothridial seta (26–30) setiform, roughened. Dorsosejugal porose area not observable.

Notogaster (Figs 4(a, d, e)) — Dorsosejugal suture slightly convex medially. Pteromorph broadly rounded laterally. About 40 pairs of small (diameter from 4 up to 19) porose areas. All notogastral setae represented by alveoli. Opisthonotal gland opening and all lyrifissures distinct.

Gnathosoma (Figs 5(a–c)) — Subcapitulum size: 229–244 × 180–191; subcapitular setae (a: 49–56; m: 71–75; h: 82–86) setiform, barbed; both adoral setae (26–30) setiform, shortly and densely ciliate. Palp length: 124–131; setation: 0–2–1–3–9(+ω); solenidion medium-sized (1/2 of tarsus), slightly thickened, rounded distally, attached to acm; postpalpal seta (7) spiniform, roughened. Chelicera length: 229–244; setae (cha: 82–90; chb: 56–64) setiform, barbed.

Epimeral and lateral podosomal regions (Figs 4(c, e)) — Epimeral setal formula: 3–1–3–3; all setae (1a, 2a, 3a, 4c: 49–60; 1b, 1c, 3b, 3c 4a, 4b: 82–90) setiform, slightly barbed. Humeral porose areas Am and Ah elongate oval, slightly visible. Custodium minute, triangular. Discidium triangular, rounded distally. Circumpedal carina long, distally connected to custodium.

Anogenital region (Figs 4(c–e)) — Anogenital formula: 5–1–2–3; genital (49–60), aggenital (49–60), anal (41–49), and adanal (56–60) setae setiform, slightly barbed. Adanal lyrifissure parallel and close to anal plate. Marginal porose area represented by numerous small porose areas.

Legs (Figs 5(d–g)) — Median claw thicker than lateral claws; all claw slightly barbed on dorsal side; lateral claw without ventrodistal tooth. Femur IV with slight emargination ventrodistally. Dorsoparaxial porose area on trochanters III, IV and on femora I–IV as well as ventrodistal porose area on tibia I–IV and proximoventral porose area on tarsi I–IV and dorsal porose area on tarsi I, II well visible. Formulas of leg setation and solenidia: I (1–5–3–4–20) [1–2–2], II (1–5–3–4–15) [1–1–2], III (2–3–1–3–15) [1–1–0], IV (1–2–2–3–12) [0–1–0]; homology of setae and solenidia indicated in Table 2; seta s eupathidial on tarsus I, located between paired setae u and a; solenidia ω₁ on tarsus I, ω₁, ω₂ on tarsus II and σ on genu III slightly thickened, rounded distally versus others solenidia setiform.

Remarks — In having five pairs of genital setae, D. harennaensis Ermilov n. sp. is similar to D. boronganensis Ermilov and Corpuz-Raros, 2017 from the Philippines and D. malabaricus (Adolph and Haq, 1982) from India. However, the new species can be distinguished from both mentioned species by larger body size (length: 975–1080 versus 664–747 in D. boronganensis; 737–767 in D. malabaricus), and the location of the lamellar seta (posteromedial to lamella end versus on lamellar end).

Etymology — The species name harennaensis refers to the place of origin, Harenna Forest.

Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Gezahegn Degefe for supporting our field studies and organizing laboratory work; Dr. Mikhail S. Ignatov for the identification of moss species; Dr. Bulat F. Khasanov and Dr. Eugenia A. Kuzmicheva for the identification of plant species; and Dr. Julia Baumann and two anonymous reviewers for valuable comments. The work was performed within the framework of the Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition, financially supported by the Russian Academy of Sciences. The collection of materials was conducted under the Agreement between the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Science and Technology (Ministry of Innovation and Technology) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (17 Dec. 2020 – present).

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