Ontogenetic instars of Hermannia longisetosa Subías & Shtanchaeva, 2013, with remarks on juveniles of Hermanniidae (Acari: Oribatida)

Information on the morphological ontogeny of the majority species of the family Hermanniidae is still lacking. In this work, the ontogenetic instars of the Mediterranean species, Hermannia longisetosa Subías & Shtanchaeva, 2013 are studied, based on material from northwestern Spain. Comparative characteristics of juveniles of species belonging to different genera of Hermanniidae are given based on our own data and available literature sources, and the major characteristics of larvae and nymphs are presented. An updated family and generic diagnoses based on juveniles of Hermanniidae are proposed. At the moment, the juveniles of two genera, Hermannia and Phyllhermannia are known, which differ from one another in the pattern of cuticle plications of the gastronotum; number of solenidia on leg tarsi I and II; number of setae on palp femur; setal formula of leg IV in protonymph; and the arrangement of gastronotic setae of c- and d-series.

Revalidation of the stygobiotic species Haber zavreli (Hrabĕ, 1942) (Clitellata, Naididae, Tubificinae) with discussion on the closely related species Haber speciosus (Hrabĕ, 1931) and Haber monfalconensis (Hrabĕ, 1966)

During studies of aquatic fauna in wells situated near Kraków (South Poland), many specimens of clitellates were found. The detailed description of the setal formula and genital organs of the collected individuals made it possible to distinguish Haber zavreli (Hrabĕ, 1942) from the related species: H. speciosus (Hrabĕ, 1931) including synonymized H. simsi and its forms known from the USA (H. speciosus simsi and H. speciosus fluminialis) and H. monfalconensis (Hrabĕ, 1966). In addition, remarks concerning the morphologically similar Haber vetus (Semernoy, 1982) described from Lake Baikal and the stygobiotic species H. turquinae (Juget & Lafont, 1979) are included.

Two new species of Bdellidae (Acari: Prostigmata) from China

Two new species of Bdellidae, collected from China, are described in this paper. Odontoscirus anzhouensis Wu & Guo n. sp. is described based on adult females, characterized by dorsal hypostomal setae (DHS) shorter than vh3，and different leg chaetotaxy/solenidotaxy. Cyta pseudokreiteri Wu & Guo n. sp. is described based on adult females and larvae, characterized by movable digits smooth and fixed digits with one tooth; chelicera with continuous longitudinal striae; setal formula of telofemora I–IV 6–5(6)–5(6)–4.

New and interesting palpigrades (Arachnida, Palpigradi) of the genera Koeneniodes Silvestri, 1913 and Prokoenenia Börner, 1901 from Asia

Two new species of palpigrades are described: a soil-dwelling species of the genus Koeneniodes Silvestri, 1913 from a broadleaf forest in Tibet and an extraordinary cave-dwelling species from Jinhua cave in China belonging to Prokoenenia Börner, 1901. Koeneniodes tibetanus sp. n. is related to Koeneniodes spiniger from Thailand. The two species share the presence of four thick and spiniform setae on the second lobe of the female genitalia; they differ in the number of thick setae on opisthosomal sternite IV, the number of cheliceral teeth, the coxal setal formula, and the morphology of the spiniform setae. Prokoenenia sarcodactylica sp. n. is based on an immature female from Jinhua Cave, Beijing. The presence of 18 finger-shaped blades in the lateral organs—unique among palpigrades –, the large body size (2150 μm) and the extremely long basitarsus IV (205 μm) indicate that the new species is the first undoubtedly cave–adapted Prokoenenia. This is also the first record of the genus Prokoenenia from China.

A new species of Tantulocarida (Crustacea) parasitic on a deep-water cumacean host from the southwestern Atlantic, with a review of tantulocaridan host utilization, distribution, and diversity

Tantulocaridans (Class Tantulocarida) are primarily known to parasitize copepods, tanaidaceans, and isopods while only single species have been recorded from amphipod, ostracod, and cumacean hosts. Examination of a collection of deep-water peracarids from the Campos Basin off northeastern Brazil resulted in the discovery of a tantulus larva attached to a juvenile Styloptocuma angustatum (Jones, 1984) (Cumacea, Nannastacidae), representing a new species and only the fifth record for this host group. The new species is provisionally assigned to the genus AphotocentorHuys, 1991 (Cumoniscidae) based on the proximally dilated terminal caudal ramus setae, the conspicuous polygonal surface ornamentation on the thoracic somites, the spinous processes around the posterior border of the abdomen, the dorsal abdominal surface pattern consisting of four continuous transverse lamellae, and the spinular ornamentation on the protopods of legs 2–6. The tantulus of A. kolbasovisp. nov. is characterized by its large body size (175 μm), disproportionally long cephalic shield, the presence of paired papillae on the midventral surface of the cephalon, and the unique swimming leg setal formula, displaying the highest number of setation elements ever reported for leg 1. Except for the asymmetrically arranged median pores, the new species exhibits the full complement of cephalic pores, including the anterior pore AV. Current classification, known stages, tantulus body length, and distribution of all valid tantulocaridan species are presented. Literature records of Tantulocarida, including host group/species and depth, as well as those based exclusively on tantulus stages from the temporary meiobenthos or unidentified stages from the meroplankton are summarized. The authenticity of recently reported tantulus larvae on the lysianassid amphipod Lepidepecreella debroyeriSchiaparelli, Alvaro, Kilgallen, Scinto & Lörz, 2015 from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica) is scrutinized. Tumour-like anomalies on the exoskeleton of planktonic copepods in the central Red Sea and around hydrothermal vent fluids off Taiwan have erroneously been attributed to tantulocaridan infections.

A new species of the genus Prostigmaeus Kuznetzov (Trombidiformes: Stigmaeidae) from Turkey

A new species of the genus Prostigmaeus Kuznetzov (Stigmaeidae), P. amplius sp. nov. collected from soil, grassy soil and litter samples from Turkey, is described and illustrated. This species can be distinguished by having apodemal marking, one pair of extra and non-setose dorsal platelets, having humeral shields, suranal shield entire and genual setal formula 5(+1κ)-5(+1κ)-2-2. Comparison of the chaetotaxy and some morphological features of Prostigmaeus species are provided as tabular data, and an updated key to the species is presented here.

First new species of the Caeculidae (Acari: Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) from Iran, with a key to the world species of Allocaeculus

A new species, Allocaeculus sirwani sp. nov. (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata: Caeculidae) is described based on adult females from Marivan city, Kurdistan Province, Iran. The new species can be distinguished from other species by the following features: the bothridial setae (bo) filiform; dorsal body setae clavate; setae c1, a2, d1, d2, e1, e2 present; setae c1 normal; adanal and pseudanal plates each bearing three pairs of setae; un-pair seta hs present; palp tarsus with seven setae; epimeral setal formula 3-2-2-4/5 and spinose setal formula of leg I 3-2-1-1-2. Also, an identification key to known species of Allocaeculus is provided.

A new species of Paraproto (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from southern New SouthWales, Australia

A new species of the caprellid genus Paraproto, P. murrayae n. sp. is described based on specimens collected from New South Wales, Australia. The new species was collected from brown algae in shallow water (16–19 m deep). Paraproto murrayae n. sp. is very similar to P. tasmaniensis Guerra-García & Takeuchi, 2004 but can be distinguished mainly by the following characteristics: (1) adults of P. murrayae are significantly smaller than P. tasmaniensis (5–6 mm and 10–11 mm respectively); (2) in larger males of P. tasmaniensis, gnathopod 2 is inserted on the anterior half of pereonite 2, rather than the posterior half as in P. murrayae; (3) the dactylus of the male gnathopod 2 is thickened medially in P. murrayae, but not thickened in P. tasmaniensis; (4) the setal formula of mandibular palp is 1-3-1 in P. murrayae versus 1-9-1 or 1-10-1 in P. tasmaniensis; (5) the lower lip is glabrous in P. murrayae but strongly setose in P. tasmaniensis; and (6) the anterolateral projections on pereonite 2 are lacking or vestigial in males of P. murrayae rather than distinct as in P. tasmaniensis. An illustrated key to the species of Paraproto is provided.

A new genus of Pulaeini (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) from South–East Asia

A new genus Lepidocunaxoides gen. nov., with the type species Lepidocunaxoides robustus sp. nov. (Acari: Prostigmata, Cunaxidae), is described and figured from Vietnam. The general characters of the genus Lepidocunaxoides gen. nov. within the tribe Pulaeini include: palp femurogenu with 6 setae; palp tibiotarsus with 5 setae; setal formula for telofemora I–IV 5-5-4-3 sts; setae f2 absent. It differs from related genera of the subfamily Cunaxoidinae by its paired ventral plates resembling butterfly wings, separating the sternal plate from fused coxae II–IV, by three paired platelets around the genital plates, and by the basifemora I–IV setal formula 3-5–3-2. An undated identification key to the tribes and genera of Cunaxoidinae is provided.

A new species of bomolochid Orbitacolax brevispinus n. sp. and redescription of taeniacanthid Cirracanthus inimici (Yamaguti et Yamasu, 1959) (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida) parasitic on marine fishes of Korea

Two species of cyclopoid copepods are recorded in this study. (1) A new species of bomolochid, Orbitacolax brevispinus n. sp. (Crustacea) is described based on adult females collected from the gill filaments and inner surface of the opercula of red barracuda, Sphyraena pinguis Günther (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae), captured in Korean waters. The new species differs from its congeners by the possession of two pairs of spines on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax located just posterior to the rostrum and a different setal formula on the distal exopodal segments of legs 2–4. (2) A taeniacanthid Cirracanthus inimici (Yamaguti et Yamasu, 1959) (Crustacea) is redescribed based on the specimens collected from the gill filaments and inner surface of the opercula of devil stinger, Inimicus japonicus (Cuvier) (Scorpaeniformes: Synancellidae). This finding is the first record in Korean waters and the first description of male. A checklist of parasitic copepods of the families Bomolochidae Sumpf, 1871 and Taeniacanthidae Wilson, 1911of Korea is also provided.