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Issue: Vol. 2474 No. 1: 14 May. 2010
Type: Articles
Published: 2010-05-14
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2474.1.1
Page range: 1–64
Abstract views: 78
PDF downloaded: 2

A review of the genus Traegaardhia (Acari, Prostigmata, Rhagidiidae) with descriptions of new species and a key to species

Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Na Sádkách 7, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. N. W., Letts Hall LL, Washington, D.C. 20016, USA
Department of Biology, Wittenberg University, Ward Street at North Wittenber Avenue, Springfield, Ohio 45501-0720, USA
Club Speleologico Proteo Vicenza, Viale Riviera Berica, 631, 36100 Vicenza (VI), Italy
Ozark Highlands Office, The Nature Conservancy, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA
Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 S. Oak Street (MC-652), Champaign IL 61820-6953, USA
Acari Rhagidiidae Traegaardhia Italy USA caves

Abstract

A new supplemented concept of the genus Traegaardhia Zacharda, 1980 (Acari: Rhagidiidae) is presented and descriptions of seven new species of the genus are given. These are Traegaardhia cavernarum n. sp., T. cavernicola n. sp., T. distosolenidia n. sp., T. gracilis n. sp., T. nasuta n. sp., T. subterranea n. sp., from caves located in northeastern Prealps, Italy, and T. similis n. sp. from the Ozark Plateaus, southeastern USA. The neotype of Foveacheles holsingeri Zacharda, 1980 is assigned, the species is redescribed and together with Foveacheles paralleloseta Zacharda, 1985, transferred into the genus Traegaardhia. Foveacheles thaleri n. sp. is described as the possible epigean ancestor of the derivative troglobiotic T. subterranea and the adaptive shift hypothesis and parapatric speciation of T. subterranea is outlined. A key to adults of the known eleven species of the genus Traegaardhia is presented. The biogeography, morphological adaptations to life in caves (troglomorphisms), vicariance and distribution of the presented taxa are briefly discussed. All new taxa are authored by M. Zacharda only.

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