Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T01:01:24.531Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Algophagus mites (Astigmata: Algophagidae) from the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands: habitat-related morphology and taxonomic descriptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2003

David J. Marshall
Affiliation:
School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Durban-Westville, P/Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa
Barry M. OConnor
Affiliation:
Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Michigan, U.S.A.
Philip J. A. Pugh
Affiliation:
British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, U.K.
Get access

Abstract

Five populations of habitat-specific, morphologically distinct Algophagus mites (Astigmata: Algophagidae) were found to occur on the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward islands. Although these mites did not differ among themselves with respect to idiosomal setal characteristics, which were also similar to those of known sub-Antarctic Algophagus taxa, morphometric analyses revealed leg and idiosomal size differences. In addition to morphometric differences, leg setal positions and porose axillary organ structure, indicated that the morphotypes were taxonomically discrete. The taxa were found to include the known A. antarcticus Hughes, 1955, A. laticollaris Fain, 1974 (new status), a sub-species of A. semicollaris Fain, 1974, and two new species, A. brachytarsus sp. nov. and A. macrolithus sp. nov. With the exception of A. semicollaris, the taxa are described or redescribed in this paper. Morphological features of the females in particular, and notably leg proportions, claw dimensions, and apodeme positions, corroborate discrete terrestrial (A. brachytarsus and A. macrolithus) and aquatic forms (A. antarcticus, A. laticollaris, and A. semicollaris), and vary in a manner suggesting a functional relationship to habitat occupation by the various taxa.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 The Zoological Society of London

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)