Litarachna communiswalter, 1925 (Acari: Hydrachnidiae: Pontarachnidae): Taxonomic status, lectotype and paralectotype designation and redescription

Abstract

Litarachna communis, the type species of the genus, was originally described by C. Walter (1925) based on specimens collected on the coast of Banyuls-sur-Mer in France. Walter did not specify the type designation and type depository of L. communis in the original description. Therefore, we looked for the specimens used in the original description of L. communis and successfully found 14 specimens on five glass slides (Nos. 2698-2702) deposited in the Natural History Museum of Basel. Comparative study of morphological characteristics between real specimens and the original descriptions by Walter (1925) was carried out in order to specify the material used in the descriptions of female, male, and nymph of L. communis. As a result, it was confirmed that the female on slide No. 2700, the male on slide No. 2701, and the nymph on slide No. 2702 were the specimens used in the original description of L. communis. Consequently, we designated the female on slide No. 2700 as the lectotype and the male on slide No. 2701 and the nymph on slide No. 2702 as the paralectotypes of L. communis. Redescriptions of the female, male, and nymph of L. communis were also given on the basis of the newly designated types to provide additional information on morphological characteristics of the species.