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Issue: Vol. 2153 No. 1: 9 Jul. 2009
Type: Articles
Published: 2009-07-09
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2153.1.3
Page range: 35–54
Abstract views: 33
PDF downloaded: 12

Differentiation between two epilittoral species, Scutovertex arenocolus spec. nov. and Scutovertex pilosetosus Polderman (Acari: Oribatida) from different European coasts

Institute of Zoology, Karl-Franzens University, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010 Graz, Austria
Institute of Zoology, Karl-Franzens University, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010 Graz, Austria
Institute of Zoology, Karl-Franzens University, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010 Graz, Austria
Institute of Zoology, Karl-Franzens University, Universitätsplatz 2, A-8010 Graz, Austria
Acari Scutovertex minutus morphology morphometry PCA exochorion

Abstract

Scutovertex arenocolus spec. nov. living in the sandy shore of the Baltic coast is described. Additionally, a closely related species, S. pilosetosus, occurring in marsh habitats of the North Sea coast, is redescribed in detail. Both species show a similar habitus. Scutovertex arenocolus differs from S. pilosetosus in the length of body, cusps and notogastral setae, in the ridge on mentum as well as in a different exochorion structure of the eggs. A morphometric analysis of 14 morphological characters confirmed distinctly shorter cusps and notogastral setae in S. arenocolus. Additionally, a principal component analysis performed with 17 morphological traits provided a clear separation of these two species and of S. minutus. The results of these analyses lead to the conclusion that earlier reports of S. minutus in the coastal zone of the Atlantic, the Baltic and the North Sea should be assigned to the one or the other of these two littoral species.

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