Allocunaxa Heyer & Castro, 2008, gen. nov.

Genus Allocunaxa gen. nov.

Type species: Allocunaxa heveae gen. et sp. nov.

Genus description. Relatively large mites with sclerotised gnathosoma; total body length may reach 700 µm and width may average 400 µm. All shields in adults poorly sclerotised. The main diagnostic feature of this cunaxine genus is the lack of a functional articulation facet between the palpal telofemur and genu; a narrow fusion suture is visible but the integumental papilla pattern runs right over the suture without break. Palps project with distal half of the genu and tibiotarsus past the entomalae. Palpal chaetotaxy is: trochanter (I), 0; basifemur (II), 1 dorsal long sts; telofemur (III), 1 shorter sts; genu (IV), 1 dorsal, 1 median,1 ventral and 1 lateral sts; tibiotarsus (V), 1 ventral sts, 1 median sts, 1 strong ventral tubercle, 1 ventral sts, 1 dorsal sts, 1 dtsl and 1 terminal claw. Hypognathal length: width ratio is 1,29. Setae hg 3 are exceptionally prominent, long and carried on integumental protuberances. Adoral setae, on well-developed entomalae, prominent. Tarsal lobes are fairly well-developed. Female tarsi I and II are provided with three strong spine-like setae on their ventrolateral surfaces; males with two. Tarsal lobes fairly well-developed. Coxal chaetotaxy I–IV is 3 sts, 1 peg—1 sts—3 sts—1 sts (propodogastral and paracoxal setae excluded).

Etymology. The Greek prefix Allo - (meaning “other” or “different”) refers to the atypical fusion of the arthrodial joint between the palpal telofemur and genu, which is added to the name of the type genus Cunaxa Von Heyden; hence Allocunaxa.