Systematics of testudacarine torrent mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia, Torrenticolidae) with descriptions of 13 new species from North America

Abstract

Thirteen new species of North American Testudacarus (Torrenticolidae: Testudacarinae) are described: T. deceptivus O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. hitchensi O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. harrisi O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. dennetti O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. dawkinsi O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. radwellae O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. kirkwoodae O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. hyporhynchus O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. smithi O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. rollerae O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. elongatus O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., T. rectangulatus O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n., and T. oblongatus O’Neill & Dowling, sp. n. Testudacarus vulgaris Habeeb, 1954 is resurrected from synonymy with T. minimus and redescribed. Debsacarus (Habeeb, 1961), Testudacarus americanus Marshall, 1943, and T. minimus Marshall, 1943 are redescribed. All redescriptions are from original types. Species delimination was accomplished through examination of morphology, biogeography, and molecular phylogenetics of the barcoding region of COI. Other species are addressed and a key to world species is presented. For Testudacarinae, this represents the first published: 1) descriptions from multiple specimens (i.e. intraspecific variation); 2) colored photographs; 3) explicit illustrations and discussion of sexual dimorphism within the subfamily; 4) genetic data. A comprehensive testudacarine reference list is also included.