Revealing morphological characteristics of Goniodorididae genera (Mollusca: Nudibranchia)

AbstractDetailed knowledge of the anatomy of the species is an essential element in taxonomic studies, since it allows the comparison and differentiation of separate groups of taxa. It becomes especially important when considering type species, as the subsequent identification of the species that compose the taxa is based on its characteristics, considered common in the group. However, despite its relevance, there are still numerous species without detailed descriptions, being especially significant among invertebrates. The family Goniodorididae is a little-known group of nudibranchs that includes eight recognized genera: Okenia, Goniodoris, Ancula, Lophodoris, Spahria, Trapania, Goniodoridella and Murphydoris. Several of their species are not completely described, including type species, and the systematics of the family is still unclear. Here we study in detail the external morphology and internal anatomy of the type species of five of the eight Goniodorididae genera using microcomputed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. We include the species Okenia elegans, Goniodoris nodosa, Ancula gibbosa, Goniodoridella savignyi and Murphydoris singaporensis as well as one species of Trapania, T. graeffei. We describe for the first time the detailed internal anatomy of the type species Goniodoridella savignyi. The diagnostic features of each genus are compared, and a preliminary framework is shown to clarify their systematics and identifications.

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Contributions to Molecular Phylogeny of Lichen-Forming Fungi 2. Review of Current Monophyletic Branches of the Family Physciaceae

Acta Botanica Hungarica ◽

10.1556/034.63.2021.3-4.8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 63 (3-4) ◽

pp. 351-390

Author(s):

S. Y. Kondratyuk ◽

L. Lőkös ◽

I. Kärnefelt ◽

A. Thell ◽

M.-H. Jeong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Costa Rica ◽

Molecular Phylogeny ◽

Type Species ◽

Lichen Species ◽

New Combinations ◽

Phylogeny Analysis ◽

The Family ◽

Crustose Lichens ◽

First Time ◽

Combined Matrix

Seven genera new to science, i.e.: Helmutiopsis, Huriopsis, Johnsheardia, Klauskalbia, Kudratovia, Kurokawia and Poeltonia of the Physciaceae are proposed for the ‘Rinodina’ atrocinerea, the ‘Rinodina’ xanthophaea, the ‘Rinodina’ cinnamomea, the ‘Heterodermia’ obscurata, the ‘Rinodina’ straussii, the ‘Anaptychia’ isidiata and the ‘Physconia’ grisea groups consequently that all form strongly supported monophyletic branches in a phylogeny analysis based on a combined matrix of nrITS and mtSSU sequences. Phylogenetic positions of species belonging to the genera Kashiwadia s. l., Leucodermia, Mischoblastia,Oxnerella, Phaeorrhiza s. l., Polyblastidium and Rinodinella s. l. are discussed. Oxnerella afghanica which for the first time recorded as parasitic lichen species from both epiphytic and saxicolous crustose lichens is designated as type species for the genus Oxnerella. Sequences of the recently described Physcia orientostellaris as well as Huriopsis xanthophaea and additional sequences of Kashiwadia aff. orientalis and Mischoblastia aff. oxydata are submitted to the GenBank. The positions of Polyblastidium casaterrinum from Costa Rica, ‘Rinodina’ efflorescens from Białowieża, Poland, and ‘Mischoblastia’ confragosula from Cambodia in the Physciaceae are confirmed in a phylogeny analysis based on the nrITS sequences. The presence of ‘extraneous mycobiont DNA’ in lichen associations is exemplified with earlier incorrect identifications of Heterodermia, Kashiwadia, Kurokawia,Oxnerella and Poeltonia specimens. Fifty-six new combinations are presented: Helmutiopsis alba (for Rinodina alba Metzler ex Arn.), Helmutiopsis aspersa (for Lecanora aspersa Borrer), Helmutiopsis atrocinerea (for Parmelia atrocinerea Fr.), Huriopsis chrysidiata (for Rinodina chrysidiata Sheard), Huriopsis chrysomelaena (for Rinodina chrysomelaena Tuck.), Huriopsis lepida (for Lecanora lepida Nyl.), Huriopsis luteonigra (for Rinodina luteonigra Zahlbr.), Huriopsis plana (for Rinodina plana H. Magn.), Huriopsis thiomela (for Lecanora thiomela Nyl.), Huriopsis xanthomelana (for Rinodina xanthomelana Müll. Arg.), Huriopsis xanthophaea (for Lecanora xanthophaea Nyl.), Johnsheardia cinnamomea (for Rinodina mniaroea var. cinnamomea Th. Fr.), Johnsheardia herteliana (for Rinodina herteliana Kaschik), Johnsheardia jamesii (for Rinodina jamesii H. Mayrhofer), Johnsheardia reagens (for Rinodina reagens Matzer et H. Mayrhofer), Johnsheardia zwackhiana (for Lecanora zwackhiana Kremp.), Kashiwadia austrostellaris (for Physcia austrostellaris Elix), Kashiwadia jackii (for Physcia jackii Moberg), Kashiwadia littoralis for Physcia littoralis Elix), Kashiwadia nubila (for Physcia nubila Moberg), and Kashiwadia tropica (for Physcia tropica Elix), Klauskalbia crocea (for Heterodermia crocea R. C. Harris), Klauskalbia flabellata (for Parmelia flabellata Fée), Klauskalbia obscurata (for Physcia speciosa (Wulfen) Nyl. *obscurata Nyl.), Klauskalbia paradoxa (for Heterodermia paradoxa Schumm et Schäfer-Verwimp), Kudratovia bohlinii (for Rinodina bohlinii H. Magn.), Kudratovia candidogrisea (for Rinodina candidogrisea Hafellner, Muggia et Obermayer), Kudratovia luridata (for Buellia luridata Körb.), Kudratovia metaboliza (for Rinodina metaboliza Vain.), Kudratovia pycnocarpa (for Rinodina pycnocarpa H. Magn.), Kudratovia roscida (for Lecanora roscida Sommerf.), Kudratovia straussii (for Rinodina straussii J. Steiner), Kudratovia terrestris (for Rinodina terrestris Tomin), Kurokawia bryorum (for Anaptychia bryorum Poelt), Kurokawia isidiata (for Anaptychia isidiata Tomin), Kurokawia mereschkowskii (for Physcia mereschkowskii Tomin), Kurokawia palmulata (for Psoroma palmulatum Michx.), Kurokawia runcinata (for Lichen runcinatus With.), Kurokawia stippea (for Parmelia aquila var. stippea Ach.), Lecania safavidiorum (for Oxnerella safavidiorum S. Y. Kondr., Zarei-Darki, Lőkös et Hur), Leucodermia erinacea (for Lichen erinaceus Ach.), Mischoblastia confragosula (for Lecanora confragosula Nyl.), Mischoblastia destituta (for Lecidea destituta Nyl.), Mischoblastia moziana (for Lecanora moziana Nyl.), Mischoblastia moziana subsp. parasitica (comb. et stat. nova for Rinodina moziana var. parasitica Kaschik et H. Mayrhofer), Mischoblastia ramboldii (for Rinodina ramboldii Kaschik), Mischoblastia vezdae (for Rinodina vezdae H. Mayrhofer), Oxnerella afghanica (for Rinodina afghanica M. Steiner et Poelt), Oxnerella castanomelodes (for Rinodina castanomelodes H. Mayrhofer et Poelt), Physciella nigricans (for Lecanora nigricans Flörke), Poeltonia elegantula (for Physconia elegantula Essl.), Poeltonia grisea (for Lichen griseus Lam.), Poeltonia isidiomuscigena (for Physconia isidiomuscigena Essl.), Poeltonia perisidiosa (for Physcia perisidiosa Erichsen), Poeltonia venusta (for Parmelia venusta Ach.), and Polyblastidium albicans (for Parmelia albicans Pers.) are proposed.

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Delimitation, new species and teleomorph-anamorph relationships in Codinaea, Dendrophoma, Paragaeumannomyces and Striatosphaeria (Chaetosphaeriaceae)

MycoKeys ◽

10.3897/mycokeys.74.57824 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 74 ◽

pp. 17-74

Author(s):

Martina Réblová ◽

Jana Nekvindová ◽

Jacques Fournier ◽

Andrew N. Miller

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Type Species ◽

Morphological Traits ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Axenic Culture ◽

Monophyletic Clade ◽

Morphological Comparison ◽

The Family ◽

Terrestrial Habitats ◽

First Time

The Chaetosphaeriaceae are a diverse group of pigmented, predominantly phialidic hyphomycetes comprised of several holomorphic genera including Chaetosphaeria, the most prominent genus of the family. Although the morphology of the teleomorphs of the majority of Chaetosphaeria is rather uniform, their associated anamorphs primarily exhibit the variability and evolutionary change observed in the genus. An exception from the morphological monotony among Chaetosphaeria species is a group characterised by scolecosporous, hyaline to light pink, multiseptate, asymmetrical ascospores and a unique three-layered ascomatal wall. Paragaeumannomyces sphaerocellularis, the type species of the genus, exhibits these morphological traits and is compared with similar Chaetosphaeria with craspedodidymum- and chloridium-like synanamorphs. Morphological comparison and phylogenetic analyses of the combined ITS-28S sequences of 35 isolates and vouchers with these characteristics revealed a strongly-supported, morphologically well-delimited clade in the Chaetosphaeriaceae containing 16 species. The generic name Paragaeumannomyces is applied to this monophyletic clade; eight new combinations and five new species, i.e. P. abietinussp. nov., P. eleganssp. nov., P. granulatussp. nov., P. sabinianussp. nov. and P. smokiensissp. nov., are proposed. A key to Paragaeumannomyces is provided. Using morphology, cultivation studies and phylogenetic analyses of ITS and 28S rDNA, two additional new species from freshwater and terrestrial habitats, Codinaea paniculatasp. nov. and Striatosphaeria castaneasp. nov., are described in the family. A codinaea-like anamorph of S. castanea forms conidia with setulae at each end in axenic culture; this feature expands the known morphology of Striatosphaeria. A chaetosphaeria-like teleomorph is experimentally linked to Dendrophoma cytisporoides, a sporodochial hyphomycete and type species of Dendrophoma, for the first time.

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The millipede family Diplomaragnidae Attems, 1907 in the Asian part of Russia, with the descriptions of two new genera and seven new species (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.5060.1.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5060 (1) ◽

pp. 1-44

Author(s):

ELENA V. MIKHALJOVA

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Type Species ◽

Russian Far East ◽

Far East ◽

Species Level ◽

New Genera ◽

Primorsky Krai ◽

The Family ◽

First Time ◽

The Russian Far East

The family Diplomaragnidae Attems, 1907 of the Asian part of Russia is reviewed and shown to comprise 11 genera and 60 species + 1 dubious species. Two genera and seven species are described here as new to science: Alineuma gen. nov., with type species A. rodionovi sp. nov. and Litovkia gen. nov., with the type species L. anisimovka sp. nov., Diplomaragna budilovi sp. nov., Diplomaragna dentifer sp. nov., Pacifiosoma shabalini sp. nov., Pacifiosoma acutum sp. nov., Pacifiosoma triangulatum sp. nov. Pacifiosoma asperum Mikhaljova, 2016 is recorded from the Primorsky Krai for the first time. Five genera are endemic to the Asian part of Russia. At the species level, the rate of endemism amounts to 91.7%. A key is given to all species of Diplomaragnidae presently known from Siberia and the Russian Far East. The distributions of the region’s diplomaragnids are discussed. Taxonomic remarks are provided for many species.

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Alpinites and other Posttornoceratidae (Goniatitida, Famennian)

Fossil Record ◽

10.5194/fr-5-51-2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 51-73

Author(s):

R. T. Becker

Keyword(s):

Type Species ◽

Common Species ◽

Wird Eine ◽

Carnic Alps ◽

Holy Cross Mountains ◽

Nomen Dubium ◽

Neue Art ◽

The Family ◽

First Time ◽

Subjective Synonym

The rediscovery of the supposedly lost type allows a revision of Alpinites Bogoslovskiy, 1971, the most advanced genus of the Posttornoceratidae. The type-species, Alp. kayseri Schindewolf, 1923, is so far only known from the Carnic Alps. Alp. schultzei n. sp. from the eastern Anti-Atlas of Morocco is closely related to Alp. kajraktensis n. sp. (= Alp. kayseri in Bogoslovskiy 1971) from Kazakhstan. A second new and more common species of southern Morocco, Alp. zigzag n. sp., is also known from the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland). The taxonomy and phylogeny of other Posttornoceratidae are discussed. The holotype of Exotornoceras nehdense (Lange, 1929) was recovered and is re-illustrated; it is conspecific with Exot. superstes (Wedekind, 1908). The genus and species is also here first recorded from Morocco. Post. weyeri Korn, 1999 is a subjective synonym of Post. posthumum (Wedekind, 1918) in which strongly biconvex growth lines, as typical for the family, are observed for the first time. Goniatites lenticularis Richter, 1848 is a nomen dubium within Discoclymenia, Clymenia polytrichus in Richter (1948) is a Falcitornoceras. It seems possible to distinguish an extreme thin and trochoid Disco. haueri (Münster, 1840) from the tegoid Disco. cucullata (v. Buch, 1839). Various taxa are excluded from the Posttornoceratidae. Posttornoceras sapiens Korn, 1999 forms the type-species of Maiderocera n. gen., Discoclymenia n. sp. of Müller (1956) is assigned to Maid. muelleri n. sp. Disco. cornwallensis is the type-species of Selwoodites n.gen (Sporadoceratidae) which also occurs in the Rhenish Massive. Durch Auffinden des verschollen geglaubten Typus-Exemplares wird eine Revision der Gattung Alpinites Bogoslovskiy, 1971, der höchst entwickelten Gattung der Posttornoceratidae, möglich. Die Typus-Art, Alp. kayseri Schindewolf, 1923, kommt gesichert bisher nur in den Karnischen Alpen vor. Alp. schultzei n. sp. aus dem östlichen Anti-Atlas (Marokko) ist nah mit Alp. kajraktensis n. sp. aus Kazakhstan (= Alp. kayseri in Bogoslovskiy 1971) verwandt. Eine zweite, aber häufigere neue Art Süd-Marokkos, Alp. zigzag n. sp., wird auch im Heiligkreuzgebirge (Polen) nachgewiesen. Die Taxonomie und Phylogenie anderer Vertreter der Posttornoceratidae werden diskutiert. Der verschollen geglaubte Holotypus von Exotornoceras nehdense (Lange, 1929) wird neu abgebildet und ist conspezifisch mit Exot. superstes (Wedekind, 1908). Die Gattung und Art wird erstmals auch in Marokko nachgewiesen. Post. weyeri Korn, 1999 ist ein subjektives Synonym von Post. posthumum (Wedekind, 1918) bei dem erstmals die Familien-typischen, stark biconvexen Anwachsstreifen beobachtet wurden. Goniatites lenticularis Richter, 1848 ist ein nomen dubium innerhalb von Discoclymenia, Clymenia polytrichus in Richter (1848) ein Falcitornoceras. Es scheint möglich, eine extrem dünne, trochoide Disco. haueri (Münster, 1840) von der tegoiden Disco. cucullata (v. Buch, 1839) zu trennen. Verschiedene Taxa werden aus den Posttornoceratidae ausgeschlossen. Post. sapiens Korn, 1999 wird als Typus-Art zu Maideroceras n. gen. gestellt. Discoclymenia n. sp. in Müller (1956) wird als Maid. muelleri n. sp. neu beschrieben. Disco. cornwallensis Selwood, 1960 bildet die Typusart von Selwoodites n. gen. (Sporadoceratidae), welches auch im Rheinischen Schiefergebirge vorkommt. doi:<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mmng.20020050105" target="_blank">10.1002/mmng.20020050105</a>

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A revision of Oriental Teloganodidae (Insecta, Ephemeroptera, Ephemerelloidea)

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1957.1.1 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1957 (1) ◽

pp. 1-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

MICHEL SARTORI ◽

JANICE G. PETERS ◽

MICHAEL D. HUBBARD

Keyword(s):

Sri Lanka ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Type Species ◽

Junior Synonym ◽

New Genera ◽

Western Ghats Of India ◽

The Family ◽

Egg Morphology ◽

First Time ◽

The Western Ghats

Based on the examination of the type series of Cloe tristis Hagen, 1858 (type species of the genus Teloganodes Eaton, 1882) and material housed in several institutions, a revision of Oriental Teloganodidae is proposed. A lectotype is designated for Teloganodes tristis (Hagen, 1858) and the genus is redefined. The species T. major Eaton, 1884, is a subjective junior synonym of T. tristis Hagen, 1858 (syn. nov.). The genus Macafertiella Wang, 1996 is a subjective junior synonym of Teloganodes Eaton, 1882 (syn. nov.). A phylogenetic analysis is performed on all available nymphs. Teloganodes is restricted to Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of India and encompasses the type species and T. dentatus Navás, 1931, T. insignis (Wang & McCafferty, 1996) (comb. nov.), and the following new species: T. tuberculatus sp. nov. (Sri Lanka), T. kodai sp. nov. (India), T. jacobusi sp. nov. (Sri Lanka) and T. hubbardi sp. nov. (Sri Lanka). The type material of T. dentata is redescribed. Species from Southeast Asia are assigned to two new genera. Dudgeodes gen. nov. includes the type species D. pescadori sp. nov. (Philippines) and D. lugens (Navás, 1933) comb. nov. (China), D. hutanis sp. nov. (Borneo), D. stephani sp. nov. (Borneo), D. ulmeri sp. nov. (Java, Sumatra), and D. celebensis sp. nov. (Sulawesi). The genus Derlethina gen. nov. is established for D. eloisae sp. nov. (Borneo). The egg morphology is presented for the first time for the family Teloganodidae. Affinities within the family and between related families are discussed and a key to distinguish all species known at the larval stage is proposed.

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Lymnaea columella in northern Brazil

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz ◽

10.1590/s0074-02761983000400011 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 78 (4) ◽

pp. 477-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

W. Lobato Paraense

Keyword(s):

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Diagnostic Value ◽

Genital System ◽

The Family ◽

Constant State ◽

Northern Brazil ◽

Benjamin Constant ◽

First Time

The occurrence of a mollusc of the family Lymnaeidae is recorded for the first time in Brazil north of parallel 15ºS, as a result of the finding of Lymnaea columella in Manus and Benjamin Constant, state of Amazonas. A description is given of its shell, renal organ, genital system and radula, pointing to the morphological characteristics of diagnostic value to separate it from two other species previously studied by the author, Lymnaea viatrix and L. rupestris, which also occur in Brazil.

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Taxonomic review of the moth family Thyatiridae (Lepidoptera) from Yunnan province, China

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4306.4.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4306 (4) ◽

pp. 451

Author(s):

HAILING ZHUANG ◽

MASAYA YAGO ◽

MAMORU OWADA ◽

MIN WANG

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Type Species ◽

Yunnan Province ◽

Accession Number ◽

Bar Codes ◽

Taxonomic Review ◽

The Family ◽

Two New Species ◽

First Time

A total of 22 genera and 79 species of Thyatiridae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Yunnan, China are reviewed. Forty of these species are examined in detail, and the wing markings and genitalia of the male/female adults are illustrated. The following five species are recorded from Yunnan for the first time: Psidopala undulans (Hampson, [1893]), Tethea (Tethea) punctorenalia (Houlbert, 1921), Toxoides sichuanensis Zhuang, Owada & Wang, 2014, Mimopsestis basalis sinensis László, Ronkay, Ronkay & Witt, 2007 and Betapsestis brevis (Leech, 1900). Two new species, Parapsestis naxii sp. n. and Parapsestis tachengensis sp. n., are described and their DNA bar codes are provided using genbank accession number. Type species of genus Parapsestis, Parapsestis argenteopicta, we also provide its genbank accession number. Stenopsestis bruna Jiang, Yang, Xue & Han, 2015 is synonymized with Toxoides sichuanensis Zhuang, Owada & Wang, 2014. Biogeographical features of the family in Yunnan are also briefly discussed.

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Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomy of the subgenus Gnathopaederus Chapin and related groups of Paederus s.l. (Coleoptera:Staphylinidae:Paederinae)

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is09015 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 23 (5) ◽

pp. 422

Author(s):

Xiao-Yan Li ◽

Hong-Zhang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Type Species ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character State ◽

Robust Solution ◽

Current Classification ◽

The Status ◽

Definition Of ◽

Taxonomic Studies ◽

First Time

The paederine genus Paederus s.l. (Coleoptera : Staphylinidae) is a hyperdiverse group of some 500 species worldwide. Although the subtribe Paederina, in which the genus resides, is monophyletic the status of numerous genera and subgenera is questionable and the current classification is likely to be flawed. As part of detailed studies on the paederine fauna of China, we undertook a preliminary morphologically-based phylogenetic analysis to determine the relationships of Paederus (Gnathopaederus) and related subgenera, as a basis for a revision of the subgenus, and as an attempt to provide a better framework for future taxonomic studies on the group as a whole. The analysis was based on 66 adult morphological characters for 30 ingroup taxa, including all six species of P. (Gnathopaederus). The results show that P. (Gnathopaederus) and P. (Paederus), and the genera Megalopaederus, Pachypaederus and Paederidus are monophyletic, and that P. (Eopaederus) and P. (Harpopaederus) are paraphylyetic. However, our analysis did not offer a robust solution to relationships among other clades within Paederus s.l. although it seems clear that Paederus s.l. is not monophyletic with respect to the above genera. The monophyly of P. (Gnathopaederus) is supported by the mandibular basal medial tooth having two cuspids separated dorsoventrally. Based largely on this character state, the definition of the subgenus is refined; six species are recognized, including two new species described from China as follows: P. (G.) daozhenensis, sp. nov. from Guizhou, and P. (G.) jilongensis, sp. nov. from Xizang; three species, P. bursavacua Willers, P. yunnanensis Willers and P. solodovnikovi Willers, are newly assigned to the subgenus according to a revised subgeneric definition. New morphological characters including important secondary sexual characters and sexual dimorphism are described and male genitalia are illustrated for the first time for the type species of the subgenus, P. (G.) szechuanus (Chapin). A key to the six species is presented and the distribution of each species is documented and discussed.

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On the ground spider genera Marjanus gen. n., Lasophorus gen. n. and Turkozelotes Kovblyuk & Seyyar, 2009 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) from Greece

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4392.3.5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4392 (3) ◽

pp. 521

Author(s):

MARIA CHATZAKI

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Type Species ◽

New Combination ◽

The Family ◽

Two New Species ◽

First Time

New taxonomic data on the ground spiders of the family Gnaphosidae from Greece are presented. Two genera are proposed as new to science (Marjanus gen. n. and Lasophorus gen. n.) together with two new species (Lasophorus zakkak sp. n. and Lasophorus zografae sp. n.) and a new combination (Marjanus platnicki comb. nov.). Additionally the genus Turkozelotes Kovblyuk & Seyyar, 2009 is here rediagnosed and the female of the type species T. microb Kovblyuk & Seyyar, 2009 is described for the first time. The finding of the matching male of Setaphis mccowani Chatzaki & Russell-Smith, 2017 suggests the transfer of this species to Turkozelotes and hence the male of T. mccowani comb. nov. is described for the first time. Taxonomic affinities of these genera and species are discussed.

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The fossil mite family Archaeorchestidae (Acari, Oribatida) I: redescription of Strieremaeus illibatus and synonymy of Strieremaeus with Archaeorchestes

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2993.1.3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2993 (1) ◽

pp. 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

EKATERINA A. SIDORCHUK ◽

ROY A. NORTON

Keyword(s):

Type Species ◽

Oribatid Mite ◽

Distinct Species ◽

Baltic Amber ◽

Type Specimens ◽

The Family ◽

Species Inquirenda ◽

Arboreal Habitat ◽

New Diagnosis ◽

First Time

Strieremaeus is one of several oribatid mite genera proposed by Max Sellnick based on adult specimens preserved in Eocene Baltic amber. The original specimens of its type-species—S. illibatus Sellnick, 1918—were lost and the genus has received no further empirical study. For many years Strieremaeus was included in the family Eremaeidae, but recently this placement was questioned. Herein we redescribe S. illibatus based on the study of 31 non-type adult specimens from both Baltic and Rovno ambers. Among these are four Baltic specimens identified by Sellnick and currently deposited in the Kaliningrad Museum of Amber (KMA), which we designate as neotype (KMA 197-36) and paraneotypes (KMA 197-34, 197-35, and 197-37). Six immature specimens were associated with this species, of which three—one deutonymph, two tritonymphs—could be studied in detail and their characters are included in the redescription. The type specimens of a second species of Strieremaeus proposed by Sellnick—S. cordiformatus Sellnick, 1918—are also lost and two non-type specimens in the KMA seem to have been misidentified by Sellnick; therefore, we treat S. cordiformatus as a species inquirenda. A new diagnosis of Strieremaeus is presented, and the Cretaceous fossil genus Archaeorchestes is considered a junior subjective synonym, based on examination of the holotype of the type-species, A. minguezae Arillo & Subías, 2000. As a consequence, Strieremaeus is currently the sole genus in Archaeorchestidae. Strieremaeus minguezae (n. comb.) is only tentatively maintained as a distinct species, as no certain distinguishing traits could be found. Two families are reported from the fossil record for the first time: Zetomotrichidae from Baltic amber and Zetorchestidae from Rovno amber. In ancillary discussion we note how the specialized tarsal structure of S. illibatus is consistent with its likely arboreal habitat. We also discuss preservation properties and artifacts, note the dimensional discrepancy between cuticular remnants of the mite and its larger imprint in amber, and strongly recommend measuring more than the cuticular remnants themselves. Further, we provide information on different methods to observe amber inclusions, and for the first time report birefringence of fossil cuticular remnants in thin, airless preparations.

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