Afroleius inae Coetzee, 2014, sp. nov.

Afroleius inae sp. nov.

(Figs 7, 8, 11)

Species diagnosis. Dorsal surface reticulate, inner surface of cavities with fine sculpture; ventral surface with round foveae; surfaces of prodorsum and pteromorph reticulate with some cerotegument; octotaxic system consisting of saccules; bothridial seta clavate, head barbed, stalk thick, directed antero-dorsally; rostral seta of medium length, barbed; lamellar seta subequal in length to ro, with coarse surface; postanal porose area present; large dorsal dens on tarsi I and II; genu I distally with dorsal and ventral cusps antiaxially; genu II distally with lateral cusp.

Dimensions. Holotype: (female) length 251, width 170. Paratypes: males (n = 5): length 236 (232–243) width 163 (160–169); females (n = 5): length 257 (250–270), width 179 (170–185).

Prodorsum (Figs 7 A, C, 8A–C). Rostral margin anteriorly with two small notches, small transparent U-shaped area between notches (similar to A. floridus comb. nov. Fig.1 B); genal notch absent, genal tooth fused to lateral margin of rostrum, represented by small carina; prodorsal surface reticulate with some cerotegument present; lamella wide, extending over lateral margin of prodorsum, long, reaching well over ¾ of prodorsal length (Figs 8 A, C); rostral seta of medium length, (~20 ), coarsely barbed, inserted at anterior apex of tutorium; lamellar seta of medium length (~21), coarse, inserted on lamellar apex; interlamellar seta minute (~4); bothridial opening directed ventro-laterally, with overlapping slit in ventral wall of bothridium; bothridial seta clavate, head barbed, stalk of medium length, thick, directed antero-dorsally; length of bothridial seta from point of emerging from bothridium to tip of seta ~54 (51–57).

Notogaster (Figs 7 A, C, 8A). Surface of notogaster with reticulation, inner surface of cavities with fine sculpture; octotaxic system consisting of saccules, notogastral setae minute (~5); orifice of opisthosomal gland very small, situated postero-laterally to lp; surface of pteromorph similar to that of notogaster, peripheral area with fine granules.

Podosoma and gnathosoma (Figs 7 B, C). Surface of mentum anteriorly with faint foveae, posteriorly with shallow, faint grooves; subcapitular seta a of medium length, smooth, m of medium length, finely barbed, h short, smooth; genal notch absent; genal tooth represented by short carina; epimeral setae very short; epimeral setation (epimeres I–IV) 2-1-2-2; epimeral surface laterally with large foveae, medially foveae becoming smaller and fainter.

Ventral plate (Fig. 7 B). Surface of genital plate smooth; surface of anal plate foveate; ventral plate with large foveae; postanal porose area present, covered by posterior notogastral tectum.

Legs (Fig. 8 D). Setation of all legs similar to A. floridus comb. nov.; dorsal integument of tarsi I, II, IV and tibiae I, II, IV thick; femora I–IV, trochanters III–IV antiaxially with fine striae; surfaces of tarsi and tibiae I and II finely granulate; tarsi I and II with large, pointed, distally directed dens; tarsus II short, broad; genua I and II distally with ventral and dorsal cusps antiaxially; femur IV ventrally with wide tectum.

Material examined (Fig. 11). Holotype: Database no. 1930.7.1, Ballito 29°31’S, 31°13’E, litter underneath dense indigenous shrubs, 2.ix.1982, leg. C.M. Engelbrecht. Paratypes: from the same sample; 4 males and 4 females deposited in the Acarology Collection of the National Museum (Database no 1930.7.2); 1 male and 1 female deposited in the KwaZulu-Natal Museum (Database no: NMSA-Aca 20009, Type 4031).

Additional material: Litter from forests or wooded patches from various biomes of the eastern and north eastern parts of South Africa (habitat types according to Mucina & Rutherford 2006). Indian Ocean Coastal Belt: Ballito 29°31'S 31°13'E 9.ii.1982 CME; Kwambonambi 28°41'S 32°12'E 11.xi.1993 JPE; Leisure Bay 31°00'S 31°14'E 10.ii.1982 CME; Stanger 29°20'S 31°17'E 8.ii.1982 CME. Coastal forest: Cape Vidal 28°07'S 32°33'E 9.xi.1993 JPE; Richard's Bay 28°51'S 32°02'E 11.xi.1993 JPE; St Lucia 28°16'S 32°29'E 8.xi.1993 JPE. Grassland: Frankfort 27°17'S 28°22'E 18.i.1982 CME; Golden Gate Highlands National Park 28°31'S, 28°36'E 16.x.1985 SvdML; Heilbron 27°19'S 27°58'E 18.i.1982 CME; Lydenburg 25°08'S 30°32'E 5.ii.2013 DdS; Pomeroy 28°47'S 30°24'E 27.i.1982 CME; Savanna: Greytown 28°47'S 30°31'E 27.i.1982 CME; Inchanga 29°42'S 30°40'E 30.iii.1982 JP; Makhado 23°02'S 30°03'E 3.viii.1982 CME; Mtubatuba 28°24'S 32°12'E 11.xi.1993 JPE; Thohoyando 23°00'S 31°38'E 3.viii.1982 CME; Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve 30°16'S 3°035'E 15.i.1992 LNL.

Remarks. Afroleius inae sp. nov. is recognized by the long lamellae, rostral and lamellar setae of similar length and unique dorsal sculpturing, being reticulate with fine sculpture within the cavities. The stalk of the bothridial seta is slightly thicker than in the species described above. The absence of the genal incision and the genal tooth being fused to the rostral margin is rare in Ceratozetoidea. This character state is expressed in Nuhivabates Niemi & Behan-Pelletier, 2003 (Mycobatidae) as well as in some Melanozetes species (Ceratozetidae) (Behan-Pelletier 1986; Niemi & Behan-Pelletier 2003). Afroleius inae sp. nov. is distributed widely in South Africa, occurring along the east coast region, grasslands of the interior and savanna of the northern regions.

Etymology. This species is named for my sister, Ina Engelbrecht, in recognition of her encouragement and provision of material.