Studies on Latin American water mites of the genus Torrenticola Piersig, 1896 (Torrenticolidae, Hydrachnidia, Acari)

Abstract

In this paper the Latin American species of the water mite genus Torrenticola are presented and discussed comprehensively for the first time. All 21 previously known species from Central and South America are portrayed in detail, descriptions are given for 36 new species from Costa Rica: Torrenticola adunca, T. alargada, T. alexandra, T. alticola, T. altifontana, T. amalgamada, T. ambigua, T. australis, T. baderi, T. chicacoxalis, T. chirripoensis, T. collina, T. conopalpis, T. corta, T. cortobrazo, T. costaricense, T. cumbrensis, T. delgada, T. dispersa, T. elhachensis, T. esferica, T. esquinada, T. fastigata, T. flexirostris, T. fontinale, T. guanacastensis, T. harpagophora, T. levicoxalis, T. menudopalpis, T. monticola, T. pervagata, T. rapidensis, T. ratoncitoi, T. rubella, T. tilaranensis and T. torpebrazo. The Latin American species of Torrenticola are subdivided in a clear, robust system of ten species groups – five of these are regarded as phylogenetic entities, five as rather artificial groups. An identification key to these species groups is given, as well as keys, measurement tables, figures and detailed descriptions of all species within these groups. The males of T. gennada Cook, 1980 and T. keesdavidsi Cramer, 1992, as well as the female of T. amala Cook, 1980 are described for the first time. Descriptions and figures of the genital skeleton of nine formerly described species are given for the first time. All information available on the habitat preferences (habitat type, stream velocity, altitudinal distribution, choriotope types, temperature and conductivity) and the geographical distribution of the species is presented. Zoogeographical characteristics, endemicity and habitat preferences of the 42 species of Torrenticola found in Costa Rica are analysed. The main object of this study is to facilitate further systematic and ecological work on this important genus and to make it accessible for general limnological surveys. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 150, 443–678.

Torrenticola trimaculata n. sp. (Parasitengona: Torrenticolidae), a three-spotted water mite from eastern North America: taxonomic history, species delimitation, and survey of external morphology

“…Selected measurements follow the suggestions outlined by Goldschmidt (2007) with the addition of the area of secondary sclerotization on the dorsal plate.…”

“…For more discussion of recent taxonomic history, the reader should refer to Goldschmidt (2007) and Wiles (1997).…”

“…As a result, we mostly follow Goldschmidt (2007), who also used broadly applicable terminology applied to Torrenticolidae. However, we deviate from this reference in the following instances.…”

“…Fisher J.R. et al microcrustaceans (Goldschmidt 2007. As is typical for lotic-dwelling water mites , torrenticolids are heavily sclerotized, dorsoventrally flattened, and possess latigrade legs with robust tarsal claws for crawling rather than swimming.…”

“…Torrenticola-the largest genuscontains nearly 250 described species worldwide, with 76 species known from North America. Most North American species are from Central America, as Goldschmidt (2007) described 36 new species from Costa Rica (raising the total number known from Central America from 19 to 55).…”