A new species of Scheloribates (Acari, Oribatida, Scheloribatidae) from South Africa

A new species of the genus Scheloribates is described from soil in South Africa. Scheloribates ( Scheloribates ) curviprolamellatus sp. nov. differs from all species of the subgenus by the thick, specifically curved (concave) prolamella.


Introduction
During taxonomic identification of Scheloribatidae from Hogsback State Forest in South Africa, we found one new species belonging to the genus Scheloribates Berlese, 1908, the nominative subgenus, which we describe and illustrate herein.

Material and methods
Specimens. Substrate samples containing oribatid mites were collected in Hogsback State Forest, a centuries-old indigenous Afromontane forest near the village of Hogsback (32°35'S, 26°57'E), situated in the Amathole mountains, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Mites were extracted using Berlese's funnels with electric lamps in laboratory conditions during five days, and stored in 75% ethanol.
Specimens are deposited in three institutions: the National Museum Bloemfontein, South Africa (NMB); the Senckenberg Museum, Görlitz, Germany (SMG); and the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia (TSUMZ).
Observation and documentation. Specimens were mounted in lactic acid on temporary cavity slides for measurement and illustration. Body length was measured in lateral view, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the notogaster. Notogastral width refers to the maximum width of the notogaster behind pteromorphs in dorsal view. Lengths of body setae were measured in lateral aspect. All body measurements are presented in micrometers. Formulas for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanter-femur-genu-tibia-tarsus (famulus included). Formulas for leg solenidia are given in square brackets according to the sequence genu-tibia-tarsus. Drawings were made with a camera lucida using a Leica transmission light microscope "Leica DM 2500".

Description of new species
Scheloribates (Scheloribates) curviprolamellatus sp. nov. Type deposition. The holotype and one paratype are deposited in NMB; one paratype is deposited in SMG; nine paratypes are deposited in TSUMZ. All specimens are preserved in ethanol with a drop of glycerol.
Diagnosis. Body size 464-548 × 315-364. Lateral side of prodorsum with several ridges between insertion of rostral seta and acetabulum I. Prolamella thick, specifically curved (concave). Translamella absent, only two short ridges developed near lamellae. Rostral, lamellar and interlamellar setae long, setiform, barbed; ro shortest, inserted before prolamella, in longest. Bothridial seta of medium length, with long stalk and small, rounded, slightly barbed head. All notogastral setae minute, simple. Four pairs of sacculi drop-like. Epimeral and anogenital setae short, setiform, thin, slightly barbed; g1 distinctly longer than other genital setae. Circumpedal carina short. Leg tarsus I with 19 setae (l" absent), genu II with two setae (v' absent).  Integument. Body color brown. Cuticle microporose (visible under high magnification, ×1000). Lateral side of body with microgranulate cerotegument between bothridium and acetabula I-III. Lateral side of prodorsum with several strong ridges between insertion of rostral seta and acetabulum I; and with dense stria lateral to lamella. Ventrolateral side of pedotectum I slightly striate.