Contribution to the knowledge of the oribatid mite genus Leptotocepheus (Acari, Oribatida, Otocepheidae)

Abstract

The otocepheid oribatid mite genus Leptotocepheus Balogh, 1961 is recorded in the Australasian region for the first time. The taxonomic status of the genera Leptotocepheus Balogh, 1961 and Longocepheus Balogh & Mahunka,1966 is discussed, resulting in the recognition of Longocepheus as a subgenus (stat. nov.) of Leptotocepheus and the following recombinations: Leptotocepheus (Longocepheus) australis (Balogh & Mahunka, 1966) comb. nov., Leptotocepheus (Longocepheus) globosus (Grobler, 1995) comb. nov., Leptotocepheus (Longocepheus) longus (Balogh, 1961) comb. nov., Leptotocepheus (Longocepheus) youngai (Mahunka, 1984) comb. nov. A new species of Leptotocepheus (Longocepheus) is described from New Zealand, Leptotocepheus (Longocepheus) neozealandicus sp. nov., which differs from other species of the subgenus by the presence of short, slightly developed prodorsal costulae. Revised generic and subgeneric diagnoses, an identification key and distributions for the known taxa of Leptotocepheus are presented.