Two New Species of <i>Eulohmannia</i> Berlese 1910 (Acari, Oribatida, Eulohmanniidae) From the Russian Far East and Kashmir

Abstract

In surveying material of the genus Eulohmannia Berlese 1910, representatives of two new species were discovered. Eulohmannia aborigensis sp. n., described based on all instars, is known only from alpine environments of the Kolyma Highlands in Magadan Oblast, Russia. It is the largest species of the genus known (length often well over 800 µm) and appears to be bisexual. Adults are unique among the known species of Eulohmannia in having a relatively long femur IV (about 2 times the length of trochanter IV), three setae on trochanter III, 14 setae on tarsus IV, and a minute tooth or spine at the base of each lateral claw. Eulohmannia juvenalis sp. n., described based on adults and a single tritonymph, is known only from forest soil in the Kashmir Valley (Kashmir). Among the known species of the genus, adults are unique in having paedomorphic legs, resulting from several specific neotenic characters. The most conspicuous is a monodactylous pretarsus on all legs and the retention of a single seta on trochanters III and IV, but several other setae are delayed or fail to be developed.