Two new Agaue species (Acari: Halacaridae) from Moreton Bay, Queensland, with a key to Australian species

2008·3.9 MB·English

by  Ilse Bartsch

Two new Agaue species (Acari: Halacaridae) from
Moreton Bay, Queensland, with a key to Australian
species
Use BARTSCH
Deutsches Zentrum fur Marine Biodiversitatsforschung, Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg,
Notkestr. 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany. Email: [email protected]
Citation: Bartsch, I. 2008 12 01. Two new-Agaue species (Acari: Halacaridae) from Moreton Bay,
Queensland, with a key to Australian species. In, Davie, P.J.F. St Phillips, J.A. (Eds), Proceedings of
the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton
Bay, Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature 54(1): 105-115. Brisbane. ISSN
0079-8835.
ABSTRACT
Two new species, Agaue fuscata and A. lubrica, are described. yAgaue fuscata is character¬
ised by its conspicuously brown cerotegument, the four dorsal setae on PE and short legs.
Agaue lubhca is rather slender, its integument is almost smooth and the cerotegumental
cover delicate; the PE bears three dorsal setae. A key to the Australian Agaue species is
given. (cid:9633) Australia, Queensland, marine mites, descriptions, new species, key
More than a century ago, Lohmann (1889) only the two genera Halixodes and Parhalixodes
introduced Agaue to include tlie single type species, Laubier, 1960 (Laubier 1960).
Agaue panm (Chilton, 1883). Other species were However tlie descriptions of many new halacarid
subsequently added. Viels (1927), when surveying species has increased the knowledge of intra¬
and reorganising the halacarid genera, rede¬ generic variations, and the range of character
scribed the type of Agaue panm and the characters states has proved to be larger than expected.
of Agaue, and erected Agauopjsis for the species Characters thought to be unique to Agaue and
that had been erroneously placed into Agaue. other halixodines (e.g. the cerotegumental mem¬
These two genera, together with the majority of branes) were also found in genera of other sub¬
the other halacarid genera, were included in the families. As there was no longer a unique com¬
just erected subfamily Halacarinae Viets, 1927. bination of synapomorpliies to justify a subfamilial
Agaue proved to share numerous characters separation of these four genera, the subfamily
with Halixodes Brucker & Trouessart, 1900 and I-yixodinae was abandoned and Agaue was returned
Bradi/agaucNewel\,197'l. Bartsch (1983) moved to the Halacarinae (Bartsch 1998). Even so, the
Agaue and Bradyagaue to tlie subfamily Halix- Halacarinae is not a natural unit, but includes
odinae Viets, 1927, because of characters such genera with a variety of characters, and is in
as: the idiosoma and legs often bearing ceroteg¬ need of a reorganisation.
umental lamellae; a parallel-sided, slender gnatlio- Three species of Agaue were present in samples
soma with its two pairs of maxillary setae inserted taken at the low water mark around North Strad-
adjacently near the basis of rostrum; a long broke Island, Queensland, two species in samples
rostrum with pair(s) of barbs at its apex; the seta from Amity Point, Agaue galatea Otto, 1999 and
on P-3 in dorsal position; the chelicerae slender A, lubrica sp. nov., and one species from Point
and bearing large tines at their claws; the legs Lookout, Agaue fuscata sp. nov.
slender and their tibiae with smooth ventral
setae, none of the setae pectinate or spiniform; MATERIAL AND METHODS
the solenidion on tarsus 1 in dorsolateral, on The specimens described were collected from
tarsus II in dorsomedial position; the generally the northern end of North Stradbroke Island, in
large fossa membranes on the tarsi; tlie large Moreton Bay, a large sheltered embayment
paired claws. The Halixodinae had previously included adjacent to Brisbane and south of the tropical
Memoirs Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1) • www.qm.qld.gov.au 105
I. Bartsch
Great Barrier Reef (see Davie 2004, for general Legs. Often with cerotegumental lamellae. Genua
overview). Various substrata, algae, colonial organ¬ shorter than telofemora and tibiae. Tibiae cylin¬
isms, sediment, were sampled from the upper drical or clavate, with four to six smooth ventral
tidal to just beneath the low water edge. The setae. Tarsi with large membranes of claw fossae.
samples were washed with a jet of water over a Tarsus I with one ventromedial seta, tarsi II to
lOOjum sieve. The material retained in the sieve IV withoutsuch setae. Tip of tarsus I with cluster
was scanned for halacarid mites. The mites were of 10-30 ventral eupathidia. Paired claws large,
cleared in lactic acid and mounted in glycerine median claw minute.
jelly. The illustrations were prepared with help
of a drawing tube. The holotypes and a voucher Agauefuscata sp. nov.
specimen are deposited in the Queensland Mus¬ (Figs 1, 2)
eum, Brisbane (QM).
Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, QM-S83653, ?,
Abbreviations used in the descriptions: AD, Frenchmans Bench, Point Lookout, North Stradbroke
anterior dorsal plate; ads, adanal setae; AE, anteri¬ I., Queensland (c. 27°26'S, 153°33'E), Halimeda sp.
or epimeral plate; ds-1 to ds-5, first to fifth pair (Chlorophy ta), in tidal rock pool, 23.02.2005,1. Bartsch.
of dorsal idiosomal setae, numbered from anteri¬ Diagnosis. Length of idiosoma 485 /^m. Dorsal
or to posterior; GA, genitoanal plate; GF, genital plates with delimited cerotegumental costae,
foramen; GO, genital opening; OC, ocular plate(s); these costae of brown colour. AD wider than
P-2 to P-4, second to fourth palpal segment; pas, PD. Corneae small. PE with three dorsal setae
parambulacral seta(e); PD, posterior dorsal plate; anterior to insertion of leg III and one seta
PE, posterior epimeral plate(s); pgs, perigenital anterior to leg IV. Female GA with 16 small pgs
setae. The legs are numbered 1 to IV, The pos¬ around GO. Ovipositor extending beyond GA.
ition of a seta or gland pore is given in a decimal Gnathosoma 0.34 times of length of idiosoma,
system, with reference to the length of a plate, 1.7 times longer than wide. Length of rostrum
from its anterior to posterior margin, 2.3 times that of gnathosomal base. Legs short,
length of telofemora II and III about twice their
SYSTEMATICS height. Tibiae not markedly club-shaped. Tibiae
I to IV with four ventral setae each. Claws with
Agaiie Lohmann, 1889
tines on accessory process and shaft.
Type Species: Halacanis pannis Chilton, 1883.
Description. Fetmle. Idiosomal length 485 ^m,
Diagnosis. Idiosoma. With cerotegument, gener¬ width 309 fj.m. Cerotegumental costae of dorsal
ally forming membranes or lamellae. One pair plates rather smooth, of brown colour, without
of gland pores each on or lateral to AD, on OC sculpturing. Plates with areolae with numerous
and PD. PE with one to three dorsal setae anteri¬ deep pores, else surface of dorsal plates smooth.
or to leg III, and zero to one setae anterior to leg Length of AD (without anterior lamella) 155 /um,
IV. Female GA with 3-15 (rarely more) pairs of width 164 /im, plate widest at the level of gland
pgs. Male GA with more than 80 pgs densely pores. AD with pair of longitudinal ceroteg¬
arranged around GO; genital sclerites with five umental costae, about 50 ^m in width, and a
pairs of spur-like sgs. transverse anterior cerotegumental area (Fig. lA).
Gnatliosoma. Generally slender. Tectum with Integument along lateral margin of AD with
scaliform lamella. Rostrum almost parallel-sided. deep pores. Markings from muscle attachment
Maxillary setae inserted close together. Rostral small and in posterior half of plate. Length of
setae minute, one pair spur-like or divaricate. OC 97 lum, width 75 y:^m. Plate with two very
Palps four-segmented. P-3 short, usually with small corneae; lateral margin with pore canal¬
one distodorsal bristle; that seta slender or flat¬ iculus followed by gland pore. Integument with
tened. P-4 with three setae in basal whorl (rarely deep pores both along lateral and medial margin.
situated in apical half of segment), one seta in Length of PD 264 ^m, width 157 pinr, pair of cero¬
about middle of segment, and one setula and tegumental costae about 45 ^/m wide; with numer¬
two spurs at its tip. Chelicerae slender, chelic- ous deep pores on either side of cerotegumental
eral claw with few but strong teeth. costae. Pair of gland pores at 0.9 relative to
106 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1)
New Agaue Species
FIG. 1. Agaue fuscata sp. nov., holotype ?: A, Idiosoma, dorsal (margin of plates in finely broken line when
obscured by cerotegument); B, idiosoma, ventral; C, genitoanal plate and ovipositor; D, end of palp,
dorsolateral; E, tip of right half of rostrum, ventral; F, gnathosoma, ventral. (AD = anterior dorsal plate; AE =
anterior epimeral plate; GF = genital foramen; GO = genital opening; OC = ocular plate; PD = posterior dorsal
plate; PE = posterior epimeral plate) Scale bar = 50 /urn.
length of PD. All dorsal setae small, without ous filaments. Length of PE 235 ^m; with seven
cerotegumental cover. Pair of ds-1 smaller than setae, namely three dorsal setae anterior to
following setae and inserted in anterior margin insertion of leg III, one dorsal seta anterior to leg
of pair of cerotegumental costae. Pairs of ds-2, IV and three ventral setae. Length of GA180 ^m,
ds-3 and ds-4 within striated integument; ds-5 width 120 ^m; anterior margin rounded. GF
on PD. Pair of ads on anal plate, obscured by constricted by thin lamellae. Length of GO 65 /um,
cerotegument of PD. widtli 55 /im. With 16 very short pgs around GO;
Surface of ventral parts of plates with delicate, no setae in or near anterior margin of GA (Fig.
minutely reticulate and filamentous cerotegumental 1C). Interval between anterior margin of GA
cover, margins of ventral plates with tliick, smootli and GO 0.5 times length of GO, distance from GO
cerotegument. Venti‘al setae short, slender. Length to end of anal sclerites 1.3 times the length of GO.
of AE 150 luixir width 282 ^m; its posterior mar¬ Ovipositor extending beyond margin of GA.
gin truncate (Fig. IB). Plate with three pairs of Length of gnathosoma 167 yum, i.e. 0.34 of idio-
setae, Epimeral processes lamellar, with numer¬ somal length; width 97 fu.m. Rostrum about 2.3
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1) 107
I. Bartsch
FIG. 2. Agaue fiiscata sp. nov., holotype ?; A, Basifemur to tarsus I, medial; B, basifemur to tarsus II,
medial; C, leg III, medial; D, leg IV, medial; E, telofemur, genu and tibia IV, lateral (outline of
segments in broken line when obscured by cerotegument); F, tarsus I, lateral (medial setae and claw
omitted) (dotted lines indicate thickness of integument); G, tarsus II, medial (lateral fossary seta,
parambuiacral setae and claw omitted); H, tip of tarsus IV, medial (lateral fossary and parambulacral
seta omitted), (dfs = dorsal fossary seta; mfs = dorsomedial fossary seta; so = solenidion) Scale bar =
50/./m.
times longer than gnathosomal base. Tectum lateral flank to ventral flank. Dorsal ridges slightly
scaliform, arched. Basal pair of maxillary setae thicker than ventral cerotegument, and thicker
slightly longer than following pair of setae (Fig. IF). on telofemora III and IV than on telofemur II.
Rostral sulcus extending almost to base of rostrum. Telofemora, genua and tibiae with thin articular
Tip of rostrum with pair of minute bidentate lamellae of cerotegument; lamellae along their
spurs and delicate setulae (Fig. IE). Dorsal setae distal margin with delicate filaments (Fig. 2E).
on P-2 and P-3 slender, smooth, more slender Tarsi with large fossa membranes. Leg chaeto-
than dorsal seta of basal whorl of P-4 (Fig. ID). taxv (solenidia and pas included): leg 1,1,2,5,4,
P-4 with three basal setae, an eupathid lateral 11,24; leg 11,1,2,5,4,11,10; leg HI, 2,2,3-4,4,9,
seta in middle of segment and a wide setula and 5; leg IV, 0,2,3,3,9,5. Dorsal seta on basifemora
two spurs apically. 111 and IV wider than ventral seta. Ventromedial
Legs short, wide. Length/height ratio of telo- setae of tibiae remarkably short and delicate.
femora 1 to IV: 2.3, 2.1, 2.0, 2.0. All telofemora Dorsomedial and -lateral fossary setae of tarsi
longer than tibiae (Fig. 2A-D). Telofemora with slightly widened and plumulose. Tarsus I with
cerotegumental cover, i.e. two dorsal ceroteg- one ventromedial seta in about middle of seg¬
umental ridges which extend along medial and ment and cluster with 19 eupathidia at its apex
108 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1)
New Agaue Species
(pas included); solenidion on dorsolateral fossa Agaue lubrica sp. nov.
membrane (Fig. 2F), its length 14 /urn. Solenidion (Figs 3,4)
on tarsus II in medial fossa membrane (Fig. 2G),
Material Examined. HOLOTYPE, QM-S83654, ?, Amity
length 9 /im; apex of tarsus II with pair of
Point, North Stradbroke 1., Qld (c. 27°25'S, 153°26T),
eupathidia and doubled pas. Tarsi HI and IV
amongst corallines and other red algae growing on
each with pair of short pas. stones, low water edge, 20.02.2005,1. Bartsch.
Paired claws large; central sclerite with minute Diagnosis. Length of idiosoma 560 /um. Dorsal
dent-like process. Paired claws with large acces¬ plates very delicately punctate, without areolae
sory process. Process with tines; shaft of claws with deep pores. Cerotegumental cover almost
with about eight large and some smaller tines inconspicuous. Dorsal setae short. PE with three
(Fig. 2H). dorsal setae anterior to insertion of leg III, none
Remarks. Agaue fuscata is characterised by its anterior to leg IV. Female GA with 27 pgs, situ¬
brown, smooth cerotegument on the idiosoma ated around GO and along anterior margin of
and legs, the four dorsal setae on the PE, three GA. Gnathosoma long and slender, almost half
anterior to the insertion of leg III, one immedi¬ length of idiosoma. Rostrum almost twice length
ately anterior to that of leg IV, and the tarsi with of gnathosomal base. Tibiae slender, cylindrical.
coarse tines both on the accessory process and Tibiae 1, 111 and IV with four ventral setae. Telo¬
claw shaft. Eleven named species of Agaue had femora at least three times longer than high.
to date been recorded from Australian shores, Claws with accessory process, otherwise smooth.
namely, A. alicna Otto,1999, A. bella Otto, 1999, Description. Female. Idiosomal length
A. hrmpjes Bartsch, 1999, A. circellaris Bartsch 1999, width 320 jum. Cuticle of dorsal plates delicately
A. galatea Otto, 1999, A. hispida (Lohmann, 1893), punctate, at low magnification almost smooth;
A. reichelti Otto, 1999, A. sciia Bartsch, 1999, A. ai‘eolae with scattered deep pores lacking; ceroteg¬
similis Bartsch, 2007, A. subglabra Bartsch, 1999, umental cover delicate. Integument between plates
and A. fenuipes Bartsch, 1999. A. breinpes and A. finely striated. Length of AD 165 prc\, widtli /^m;
tenuiffes share the just mentioned characters but anterior margin truncate, with delicate lamella;
the cerotegument lacks the intense brown colour posterior margin arched. Markings of internal
present in A.fuscafa and their AD is more slen¬ muscle scars distinct, arranged in shape of a
der than their PD whereas in A.fiiscata the AD triangle. Pair of gland pores in lateral margin of
is wider than the PD. AD on tiny cones (Fig. 3A). Length of OC100 ^m,
Posterior epimeral plates with four dorsal setae width 65 pm; slightly raised corneal area with
and claws with tines on the accessory process and two small comeae, eye pigment beneath corneae,
the shaft are characters present also in A. californica and a gland pore on small cone posterior to
(Hall, 1912), A. setalis Newell, 1984, and A. variahilis cornea. Interval between gland pore and cornea
MacQuithv 1984. Agaue californica and A. variabilis twice tile latter's diameter. Pore canaliculus immedi¬
are species of the eastern Pacific, present from ately lateral to posterior cornea, anterior to gland
Mexico to Oregon, the former as far as to Wash¬ pore. Lengtli of PD 300 pm, widtli 184 pm; anterior
ington (Hall 1912; MacQuitty 1984), records of margin truncate. With pair of very faint cerotegu¬
A. setalis are from Western Antarctica (Newell, mental costae; integument beneath cerotegument
1984). The cerotegument on the dorsal plates delicately punctate. Pair of gland pores at 0,9.
and the telofemora of Agaue californica and A. All dorsal setae small, without conspicuous cero¬
variabilis is not smooth, as in the Australian tegumental cover. Pair of ds-1 on AD, slightly
species, but panelled. The AD of A. fuscata is anterior to level of gland pores. Pairs of ds-2 to
wide, the posterior half of the plate rectangular, ds-4 within striated integument. Pair of ds-5
whereas the opposing margins of AD and PD minute, at 0.5 relative to length of PD, that
are ovate in A. variabilis and arched in A. californica equals level with insertion of leg IV. Pair of ads
and A. setalis. In that latter species the cerotegu- in margin of anal plate.
mental areolae of the AD are faint and converging. Ventral plates delicately dotted. Length of AE
Etymology. The specific name is derived from 175 pm, width 284 pm; with three pairs of setae.
fuscatus (Latin), in reference to its dark colour. Length of PE 224 ^m; with three ventral and
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1) 109
I. Baitsch
FIG. 3. Agatie lubrica sp. nov., holotype ?: A, Idiosoma, dorsal; B, idiosoma, ventral; C, gnathosoma,
lateral; D, gnathosoma, ventral; E, palp, lateral; F, tip of rostrum, ventral; G, genitoanal plate. Scale
bar = SO^m.
three dorsal (marginal) setae, the latter anterior slender, length 177 /um, almost twice length of
to insertion of leg III; no dorsal seta anterior to gnathosomal base. Two pairs of maxillary setae
insertion of leg IV. PE hardly extending beyond almost equal in length (Fig. 3C); distal pair of
insertion of leg IV. Length of GA 222^m, width setae separated from basal pair by more than
150 ixm; anterior margin ovate (Fig. 3B). Length distance between that latter pair (Fig. 3D).
of GF 90 jum, width 80 /um, constricted by lamellae, Tectum scaliform. One pair of rostral setae, at
accordingly GO smaller than GF, length 60 /^m, tip of rostrum, in form of divaricate spurs (Fig.
width 72 yum. GO almost in iTiiddle of GA (Fig. 3F), the other pair small, delicate and in lateral
3G); distcince from GO to anterior margin of GA margin of rostrum. P-2 with slender dorsal seta;
equalling 1.3 times length of GO; distance from P-3 with slender, short dorsal seta (Fig. 3E).
posterior margin of GO to end of anal cone 1.2 Length of P-4 about three times that of P-3;
times length of GO. In all, 12 and 15 pgs in either three setae in basal third of segment; one lateral
half of GA or iinmediately outside the plate; 8 and eupathid seta in about middle of P-4; apically
11 of pgs situated close to GO. Subgenital setae with two spurs and one setula.
lacking. Ovipositor reaching till end of GA.
Segments of legs cylindrical, tibiae not clavate
Length of gnathosoma 264 ^^m, width 100 yum, (Fig. 4A-D). Telofemora 1 and II longer than
i.e. almost half of idiosomal length. Integument tibiae. Telofemora I to IV about 3.5, 3.3, 3.4, 3.1
of gnathosomal base delicately punctate. Rostrum times longer than high, respectively. Telofemora
110
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1)
New Agaue Species
FIG. 4. Agaue lubrica sp. nov., holotype ?: A, Leg I, medial; B, leg II, medial; C, leg III, medial; D, leg IV,
medial; E, tarsus I, lateral (medial setae and claw omitted); F, tarsus II, medial (lateral fossary seta,
parambulacral setae and claw omitted); G, tarsus III, lateral (medial setae and claw omitted); H, claw II, inner
flank. (A-D, telofemora and tibiae with cover of debris instead of distinct cerotegumental lamellae) Scale bar
= 50 //m.
with cover of debris (Fig. 4A-D); distinct cero¬ on tarsus I 12 ^um long, on dorsolateral fossa
tegumental ridges or lamella lacking. All tarsi membrane (Fig. 4E). Solenidion on tarsus II on
with large fossa membranes. Leg chaetotaxy dorsomedial fossa membrane (Fig. 4F), its length
(solenidia and pas included): leg 1,1, 2,4,4,11, 9 ptm. Tarsus I with one ventromedial seta and
19; leg II, 1,2,5,4,10,10; leg III, 2,2,3,4,7,5; leg an apical cluster with 14 eupathid setulae, pas
III, 0, 2,3,4, 7,5. No ventral seta on telofemur 1; included. Tarsi II to IV without ventral setae. Apex
telofemora II to IV with one ventral seta each. of tarsus II with pair of eupathidia and doubled
Each of tibiae I, III and IV with four ventral setae; pas, six setae in all. Tarsi III (Fig. 4G) and IV
tibia II with two ventral, two ventrolateral and each with pair of tapering pas.
two ventromedial setae. Tarsi I to IV with three Claws of all tarsi with accessory process; shaft
long dorsal setae, of these the two apical setae of claws apparently smooth though, at high
paired, inserted on fossa membranes. Solenidion magnification, about five delicate tines seen on
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1) 111
. Bartsch
the ds-3 stand close together relative to their
distance to the OC, there are no setae in the
anterior part of the female GA and the ovipos¬
itor extends distinctly beyond the level of the
anterior margin of the GA; in A. lubrica the
interval between the pair of ds-3 is larger than
that between the ds-3 and the margin of the OC,
in the female there are several setae near the
anterior margin of the GA, and the ovipositor
extends to, but not beyond, the anterior margin
of the GA. A. circellaris is much larger than A.
lubrica, has prominent cerotegumental lamellae,
a very slender gnathosoma, and six ventral setae
on tibiae I, III and IV.
Other superficially similar species are A. insig-
nata Bartsch, 1979, A. kvjgiseta Newell, 1951, A.
magellanica Newell, 1951, A. marginata Viets, 1950,
A. setalis Newell, 1984, and A. variabilis Mac-
Quitty, 1984, but in all these species the ceroteg¬
umental lamellae and the ornamentation of the
plates are more conspicuous than in A. lubrica.
Worldwide, 44 Agaue species are known (Bartsch
2004,2007, present new records; Chang & Chatter-
jee 2006).
Etymology. The specific name is derived from
lubricus (Latin), smooth or slippery, referring
to its almost smooth integument.
Agaue galatea Otto, 1999
FIG. 5. Agaue galatea Otto, 1999, ?: A, Idiosoma, dorsal (Fig. 5A, B)
(margin of PD in finely broken line when obscured
Agaue galatea Otto, 1999: 276-278, figs 5A-D, 6A-D.
by cerotegument); B, genitoanal plate and ovipos¬
itor. Scale bar = 50 ^m. Material Examined. QM-S83655, ?, Amity Point, North
Stradbroke 1., Qld (c. 27°25'S, 153°26'E), amongst
small hydrozoans and bryzoans on stones, mid-tide,
inner flank of claws II to IV (Fig. 4H). Central 12.02.2005,1. Bartsch.
sclerite without claw-like process. Diagnosis. Length of idiosoma 545 ^m. Idio-
Remarks. Agaue lubrica has slender legs with soma and legs with smooth cerotegument; AD
cylindrical tibiae and there are three dorsal with unpaired transverse and pair of parallel¬
setae on the PE anterior to the insertion of leg sided longitudinal lamellae. Plates with areolae
III. The same combination of characters is found with canaliculi. Dorsal idiosomal setae with cero¬
in A. brevipes, A. circellaris, A.fiiscata, A, similis, tegument. PE with single dorsal seta. Female
A. subglabra, and A. tenuipes. The other Agaue GA with 19 pgs. Ovipositor extending beyond
species known from Australia have a single GA. Length of gnathosoma 2.2 times its width
dorsal seta on the PE and the tibiae are club- and length of rostrum about twice that of gnatho-
shaped. The six species just mentioned have distinct somal base. Integument of gnathosomal base
cerotegumcntal costae whereas in A. lubrica the with coarse porosity. Basal pair of maxillary
cerotegument is faint. Females of A. brevipes, A. setae longer than following pair. Tibiae clavate.
fuscata, A. sirnilis, and A. tenuipes have the GO in Telofemora 2.7-3.1 times longer than high. Leg
the anterior half of the GA, but in A. lubrica the chaetotaxy, from trochanter to tarsus (solenidia
GO is in the middle of the GA. In A. subglabra and pas included): leg 1,1,2,5,5,12,22; leg II, 1,
112 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1)
New Agaue Species
2,5, 5, 9-10,11; leg 111, 2,2,3, 3,8,5; leg IV, 0, 2, galatea bear six ventral setae, but the tibiae I of
3, 3, 7, 5. Tibiae I to IV with 6, 4, 4, 4 ventral A. fuscata and A. lubrica have four ventral setae;
setae. Claws with accessory process and five to the dorsal plates of A. galatea and A. fuscata have
six tines at the claw shaft. areolae in which the integument is pierced by
Supplementary Description. Female. Idiosomal deep pores, but such areolae are lacking in A.
length 542 /xm. AD with transverse and pair of Iitbrica,
longitudinal cerotcgumental areas; PD with In the specimen described by Otto (1999: fig.
pair of costae extending slightly beyond anterior 5A) the ds-5 are situated at 0.7 instead of at 0.5
margin of PD. Plates with areolae with deep as in the specimen from North Stradbroke I.,
pores (Fig. 5A). On AD deep pores along postero¬ and the length of the rostrum is 1.4 times that of
lateral portion of plate, on OC scattered deep the gnatlnosomal base, instead of twice the gnatho¬
pores along lateral margin but numerous in somal base.
medial part, medial to cerotcgumental cover,
on PD two narrow lines with deep pores on AGAUE IN AUSTRALIA
either side of cerotcgumental costae. PE with
The first records of species of Agaue from
deep pores between insertions of legs III and
Australia were published about a century ago
IV, close to dot with cerotegument. Striated
(Lohmann 1893, 1909), and included a deuto-
integument with delicate cerotcgumental cover.
nymph of A. hispida, from off Sydney, and species
Pore canaliculus in lateral margin of OC at the
similar to A. clievreuxi (Trouessart, 1889) and A.
level of posterior cornea but more or less obscured
pauopae (Lohmann, 1893) with records from Sydney
by pores. Posterior cornea not distinctly delim¬
ited, interval between cornea and gland pore and Shark Bay. Twelve species have since been
equalling about diameter of cornea. Pair of ds-5 described from Australia, six species from the
on PD at 0.5. In female GO in middle of plate southwestern coast (A. breinpes, A. circellaris, A.
(Fig. 5B), distance to anterior margin of GA teiiuip^es, A. scita, A. similis, and A. subglabra)
equalling 1.4 times length of GO, distance to tip (Bartsch 1999a, b, 2007), and six from the eastern
of anal sclerites 1.7 times. GA with 19 pgs. coast (A. aliena, A. bella, A. fuscata, A. galatea, A.
lubrica and A. reichelti (Otto 1999; above described
Length of gnathosoma 195//m, width 90/im,
new species).
i.e. 2.2 times longer than wide and 0.36 of idio¬
somal length. Length of rostrum 130 /.^m or twice Agaue liispida was described on the basis of a
that of gnathosomal base. Basal pair of maxil¬ single deutonymph. Its length, with the gnatho¬
lary setae at least three times length of follow¬ soma included, is 430//m, which equals an idio¬
ing pair. Rostral sulcus extending to that pair of somal length of about 330^m. The dorsal plates
maxillary setae. are ornamented with a reticulate cerotegument,
the legs bear large honey comb-shaped ceroteg¬
Telofemora I and 11 longer than these legs
umental lamellae, and the width of the lamellae
tibiae, telofemora 111 and IV shorter than tibiae.
on telofemora and tibiae is at least half the
Length/height ratio of telofemur I 3.1, that of
telofemora II to IV 2.7-2.8. Dorsal cerotegu- height of the relevant segment. The w^alls of the
mental cover of telofemora less than 1/3 of honey comb are drawm out into numerous
height of segment. Claws with accessory process points. The ds-3 are very long. The Australian
and five to six tines at the claw shaft. species A. aliena, A. bella, A. reichelti, and A. scita
also have large honey comb-shaped lamellae
Remarks. When sorting at low magnification,
but the cerotegument does not show a reticu¬
Agaue galatea is similar to A. fuscata and A.
late pattern. Deutonymphs in general have less
liibrica, but its cerotegumental cover is pale, not
developed cerotegumental ornamentation and
as dense and brown as in A. fuscata, and more
smaller lamellae than their adults, but the
conspicuous than in A. Iitbrica. Other differ¬
situation in adults cannot definitely be predic¬
ences include: A. galatea has a single dorsal seta
ted on the basis of nymphal characters.
on the PE anterior to the insertion of leg III,
while in A.fitscata and A. lubrica there are three The identity of the Australian species recorded
dorsal setae anterior to leg Ill; the tibiae 1 of A. under the names A. panopae and A, clievreuxi
Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1) 113
I. Bartsch
(Trouessart, 1889) is unknown. Material of A. 4. Claws with J-shaped pecten with numerous
panopae from off Sydney was mentioned in the tines along the claw shaft. PE with dorsal
original description (Lohmann 1893: 72), but seta anterior to insertion of leg IV. In
the specimen illustrated and the first mentioned females distance between anterior margin
of G A and GO less than length of GO ... 5
locality is from off the Cape Verde Islands and,
— Claws with zero to six small tines in middle
accordingly, that specimen and locality should
of claw shaft. PE without dorsal seta ante¬
be regarded as the type and type locality of A.
rior to insertion of leg IV. In females dis¬
panopae. According to present knowledge of
tance between anterior margin of GA and
distribution, one may expect different species
GO equalling at least length of GO.8
of Agaue to occur in the Atlantic and Pacific
5. Telofemora slender, length of telofemora III
Oceans. Lohmann (1893: pi. 4, fig. 9) presented
and IV at least 2,7 times their height. ... 6
a ventral aspect of a female from off Sydney,
— Telofemora III and IV less than 2.5 times
that Australian specimen may be closely related
their height.7
or conspecific with A. galatea; though the given
6. Length of telofemora III and IV more than
length of the idiosoma (350-420jum) and the
three times their height.A. tenuipes
dorsal aspect of the gnathosoma (pi. 3, fig. 8),
— Length of telofemora III and IV about 2.7-2.8
with a short, wide seta on P-3, do not agree with
times their height.A. similis
the characters found in A. galatea. The type locality
7. AD wider than PD. Cerotegument of con¬
of A. chevreuxi is Le Croisic at the French Atlantic
spicuously brown colour.A. fuscata
coast (Trouessart 1889). Both A. chevreuxi and A.
— PD wider than AD. Cerotegument pale. . .
panopae are wide-spread in the wann-temperate
.A. brevipes
Atlantic and the Mediterranean (Lohmami 1893;
Viets 1940; Mari & Morselli 1990), the former 8. Cerotegumental costae on AD in shape of
inverted V. Pair of ds-3 situated close to¬
also in the Black Sea (Bartsch 1998).
gether, interval between setae same or less
The following key includes the twelve Agaue
than their distance to margin of OC. Shaft of
species definitely known from Australia, A, aliena,
claws III and IV with four to six tines. , . .
A. bella, A. brevipes, A. circellaris, A. fuscata, A.
.A. subglabra.
galatea, A lubrica, A. reichelti, A. scita, A. siwilis,
— AD without such cerotegumental costae.
A. subglabra, and A. tenuipes, but excludes A. Interval between setae ds-3 more than twice
hispida which is known only by its deutonymph. the distance to margin of OC. Shaft of claws
III and IV apparently smooth. . . A. lubrica
Key to Adults of Australian Species of Agaue
9. Cerotegumental cover on idiosoma and legs
1. Rostrum more than three times length of
plain, without conspicuous texture.
gnathosomal base. P-4 with whorl of setae
.A. galatea
in distal quarter.A. circellaris
— Cerotegumental cover on idiosoma and legs
— Rostrum less than 2.5 times length of
large and of filamentous texture.10
gnathosomal base. P-4 with whorl of setae
in basal two-thirds.2 10. Telofemora with large dorsal cerotegumental
lamellae but inconspicuous ventral lamellae.
2. Rostrum and palps short, not longer than
Tibiae without lamellae.A. aliena
gnathosomal base. First pair of gland pores
— Dorsal and ventral lamellae of telofemora
and dorsal setae on dorsal portion of AE.
large, almost equal in height. Tibiae with
.A. scita
lamellae.11
— Rostrum and palps long and slender, more
than 1.5 times length of gnathosomal base. 11. P-3 with dorsal seta. Comeae removed from
First pair of gland pores and dorsal setae on margins of OC, their diameter less than 1/6
AD.3 of length of OC. In females distance from
anterior margin of genital foramen to that
3. PE with three or four dorsal setae, three
of GA almost twice length of foramen.. . .
setae anterior to insertion of leg III, zero or
.A.bella
one seta anterior to leg IV.4
— P-3 without seta. Comeae close to margin of
— PE with single dorsal seta anterior to inser¬
OC, their diameter about 1/3 of length of
tion of leg III.9
114 Memoirs of the Queensland Museum — Nature • 2008 • 54(1)