Abstract

The marine intertidal zone constitutes one of the most interesting ecosystems on the earth. Oribatid mites of the family Fortuyniidae inhabit marine intertidal habitats in the tropical and subtropical coasts of the world. This family has not been known from Iran until now. The present work deals with a new oribatid species of this family found at the coast of the Gulf of Oman, southeastern Iran, from algae in the intertidal zone of a rocky shore. Fortuynia iranica sp. nov., is described from littoral environments of Chabahar Beach, Sistan and Baluchistan province based on adult and juvenile (deutonymph) stages. The new species is characterized by the presence of both prodorsal external and internal channels; fourteen smooth, thin and long notogastral setae, with a light-colored porose spot in the insertions, c3 completely absent; sensilli with a very slightly oriented head; glove-like lenticulus; epimeral setation 3-1-3-2 and presence of one pair of aggenital setae. An updated diagnostic key to the adults of known species of Fortuynia van der Hammen, 1960 is given.