Tinamiphilopsis temmincki sp. n., a New Quill Mite Species from Tataupa Tinamou, and the Early History of Syringophilid Mites.

The quill mite fauna of the Syringophilidae family (Acariformes: Prostigmata), which is associated with palaeognathous birds of the Tinamiformes order, remains poorly studied. Thus far, only two species of syringophilid mites have been documented on four species of tinamous. In this study, we present a description of a new species, Tinamiphilopsis temmincki sp. n., which was found on the Tataupa Tinamou (Crypturellus tataupa) in South America. This newly identified species differs from others in the genus due to the short hysteronotal setae d2 in females, unlike the long setae d2 found in females of other Tinamiphilopsis species. In addition to describing the new species, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the primitive syringophilid genera. The results reveal that the Tinamiphilopsis genus does not emerge as a sister group to all other syringophilids. Instead, it is deeply embedded within the radiation of quill mites associated with neognathous birds. This study provided evidence that mites belonging to the genus Tinamiphilopsis initially parasitised Neoavian birds before host switching to tinamous birds. This placement carries significant implications for our understanding of the evolution of quill mites and their relationship with their avian hosts.

Life Stages and Phylogenetic Position of the New Scale-Mite of the Genus Neopterygosoma (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) from Robert's Tree Iguana.

A new pterygosomatid mite species, Neopterygosoma robertmertensi sp. n. (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) was collected from two specimens of Liolaemus robertmertensi (Liolaemidae) from Argentina. This new species is described based on active stages: adults (female and male) and juveniles (deutonymphs, protonymphs, and larvae) and quiescent stages (nymphchrysalis, deutochrysalis and imagochrysalis). The changes in morphological characters that occur during the ontogeny of N. robertmertensi have been analyzed in detail. A difference in larval sex morphology was observed for the first time in the family Pterygosomatidae (female larvae differ from male larvae in terms of the shape and size of the idiosoma and the position of the genital area). This new mite species is most similar to N. cyanogasteri but can be distinguished by the presence of different leg chaetotaxy patterns of genua IV and femora IV, four to six genital setae, three to five dorsomedial setae, and two to three ventromedial setae. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on 120 morphological characters of all Neopterygosoma spp. and four outgroup species using the maximum parsimony approach. The results indicated that this species is nested within mites of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma associated with host species of the section chiliensis of Liolaemus s. str. An updated diagnosis of the chilensis group of Neopterygosoma and an identification key for all species of this genus has been provided.

Two new mite species of the genus Geckobia Mégnin (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) from Israel.

Two new species of pterygosomatid mites parasitizing Sinai fan-fingered gecko Ptyodactylus guttatus Heyden (Phyllodactylidae) from Israel are described: Geckobia bochkovi sp. nov. and Geckobia synthesys sp. nov. The former species is the most similar to Geckobia squameum Bertrand, Paperna, and Finkelman, 1999, but differs by the presence of a well-outlined, slightly concave propodonotal shield in its anterior and posterior margin, fine-pointed dorsal setae that slightly increase in length from the anterior to the posterior part of the idiosoma, leg setae l'FI and l'GI, shape of coxal setae 4a, 4b and 4c which are slender and smooth or with barely discernible serration. The latter species is most similar to Geckobia keegani Lawrence, 1953 but differs in the shape of the propodonotal shield, which is almost straight in its posterior margin, the presence of five pairs of setae on the shield, 19-28 pairs of idiosomal ventral setae, three genital setae and leg setae l'GI, l'GIV, vFI-II, vFIII-IV, lFIII-IV and vTrIV.

A systematic revision of the genus Neopterygosoma Fajfer, 2019 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) with the description of a new species.

A systematic revision of the scale mites of the genus Neopterygosoma Fajfer, 2019 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) formerly placed in the genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849, is presented. Two new natural species groups are established: the chilensis group for species found on Chilean liolaemid lizards (Sauria: Liolaemidae) and the patagonica group for N. patagonica (Dittmar de la Cruz, Morando & Avila, 2004) found on several Liolaemus spp. from Argentina. A neotype of N. patagonica is designated. A leg chaetotaxy model for tarsi-coxae I-IV is proposed for the genus. A key to all species of Neopterygosoma is provided and a full list of Neopterygosoma spp. with their updated host associations and distribution data is compiled. Additionally, a new species, N. schroederi n. sp. found on Liolaemus schroederi Müller & Hellmich, is described, including for the first time, description and illustrations of the immature stages of a species of Neopterygosoma.

A systematic revision of the scale mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae).

A systematic revision of the scale mites of the genus Pterygosoma (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) associated with agamas (Reptilia: Agamidae) was carried out based on type-material and numerous samples collected all over the world. For the natural species groups established in Fajfer (2019) diagnoses are presented. All Pterygosoma species are re-diagnosed or redescribed with simultaneous re-examination of host-parasite associations. Several taxonomic changes are implemented in the course of re-examination of the type series: seven subspecies of the genus Pterygosoma are elevated to species rank (with their former stem species in parentheses): P. aculeatum Lawrence, 1936 (agamae), P. angolae Jack, 1962 (melanum), P. capensis Jack, 1962 (melanum), P. longipalpae Lawrence, 1936 (melanum), P. orbicularis Jack, 1962 (spinosa) and P. pseudorbicularis Jack, 1962 (bibronii), P. problematica Jack, 1962 (fimbriata); four species are synonymized: Pterygosoma expansum Bertrand, Finkelman and Paperna, 2000 is synonymized with P. adramitana Jack, 1961 and consequently P. gladiator Bertrand, Finkelman and Paperna, 2000 with P. neumanni (Berlese, 1910), P. rhipidostichata Bertrand, Finkelman and Paperna, 2000 with P. mutabilis Jack, 1961 and P. livingstonei Bertrand and Modry, 2004 with P. circularis Jack, 1962; new hosts and distribution records are given for Pterygosoma neumanni (Berlese, 1910), P. bibronii Jack, 1962, P. longipalpae Lawrence, 1936, P. gracilipalpis and P. sinaita Jack, 1961. The protonymphs of Pterygosoma engai Fajfer, 2013, P. indare Fajfer, 2013, P. longipalpae Lawrence, 1936, and the deutonymph of P. transvaalense Lawrence, 1936 are described for the first time. A revision of leg chaetotaxy models i.e. coxae-trochanters I-IV and tarsi I-IV proposed by Jack (1964) is conducted and new species groups for Pterygosoma species are proposed. A key to all Pterygosoma species is provided. A full list of Pterygosoma species with their corrected host associations and distribution data is compiled.

Systematics of reptile-associated scale mites of the genus Pterygosoma (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) derived from external morphology.

The phylogeny of the mite genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae), permanent parasites of lizards of the families Agamidae, Gerrhosauridae and Liolaemidae (Reptilia: Squamata), was inferred with maximum parsimony, successive weighting and implied weighting approaches based on 182 characters of 48 ingroup and 12 outgroup species. All undertaken analyses questioned the monophyly of the genus. Based on this research, Pterygosoma includes 56 mite species associated with agamas from Africa and Asia (Sauria: Agamidae). Within the genus seven natural species groups were found: mutabilis, inermis, melanum, caucasica, fimbriata, singularis and foliosetis; 13 species of the genus were not assigned to any of the groups due to their unique morphological characters. For the ligare group of the subgenus Pterygosoma s. str. (7 species) associated with the South American tree lizards from the family Liolaemidae, a new genus, Neopterygosoma gen. nov., is established. The subgenus Gerrhosaurobia Lawrence, 1959 (3 species) associated with the African plated lizards of the family Gerrhosauridae is elevated to the genus rank. Diagnoses for the three genera are presented. Historical associations are reconstructed by fitting the obtained mite tree into the host topology on the family level. Results of coevolutionary analysis highlight the coincidence of both trees. The studies suggest that the ancestor of the genus Pterygosoma switched from the hosts of Gerrhosaurobia i.e. from the plated lizards (Gerrhosauridae) to the agamas (Agamidae), and the genus Pterygosoma has its biogeographic origin in North Africa, and colonized Asia via the Arabian Peninsula, which is congruent with the historical biogeography of its hosts.

New Species and Records of Scale Mites (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) from Geckos (Squamata: Gekkonidae and Caprodactylidae).

Two new species of pterygosomatid mites parasitizing geckos of the families Gekkonidae and Caprodactylidae are described: Geckobia africana n. sp. from Cnemaspis africana (Werner) from Tanzania and Geckobia milii n. sp. from Underwoodisaurus milii (Bory De Saint-Vincent) from Australia. The former species is the most similar to Geckobia loricata Berlese, 1892, but differs by the presence of the propodonotal shield reduced to small platelets, slender and blunt-pointed setae in the posterolateral part of the idiosomal venter and the absence of thick serrate ventral setae in posterior part of the idiosoma. For the latter species and Geckobia simplex Hirst, 1926, a new species group is established based on the analysis of chaetotaxy of legs I-IV. Mites of this new species group differ from the indica group by the presence of five setae on tibiae I-III and setae l'GI, l"GIV, dFI, dFII, and lFIII. Species of the genus Geckobia are recorded from hosts of the genera Cnemaspis Strauch and Underwoodisaurus Wermuth for the first time.

Three new species of the genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) from agamid lizards (Sauria: Agaminae) with DNA barcode data.

Three new species of the genus Pterygosoma Peters, 1849 parasitising lizards of the subfamily Agaminae (Squamata: Agamidae) are described: P. pallidum n. sp. from Trapelus pallidus (Merrem) and P. parasiniatum n. sp. from Pseudotrapelus cf. sinaitus (Heyden) (both from Jordan); and P. theobaldi n. sp. from Phrynocephalus theobaldi Blyth from North India. We extend the standard morphological description of the new species by using DNA barcode markers, partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene and the hypervariable region D2 of the nuclear 28S rRNA gene. A key to the species group inermis is constructed based on female morphology. The agamid genus Phrynocephalus Kaup, 1825 is recorded as a host of Pterygosoma for the first time.

Two new species of the genus Pterygosoma (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) parasitizing agamid lizards (Sauria: Agamidae) from the Indian subcontinent.

Two new species of scale-mites parasitizing lizards of the family Agamidae (Sauria) are described: Pterygosoma blandfordi n. sp. from Psammophilus blanfordanus (Stoliczka) (Agamidae: Draconinae) from South India and Pterygosoma balochistani n. sp. from Laudakia nupta nupta (De Filippi) (Agamidae: Agaminae) from Pakistan. Pterygosoma blandfordi n. sp. (female) differs from P. foliosetis Jack, 1961 by the shape of the idiosoma which is much wider than long (vs. rounded idiosoma in P. foliosetis), the presence of 110-139 pairs of the dorsal anterolateral setae (vs. presence of about 35 pairs of these setae), 20-26 pairs of the peripheral setae (vs. 10-19 pairs), 3 pairs of the genital setae (vs. 1 pair), 6 pairs of the pseudoanal setae (vs. 4 pairs), the absence of leg setae vGII and presence of setae vGIV (vs. presence of setae vGII and absence of setae vGIV). P. balochistani n. sp. (female) differs from P. persicum Hirst, 1917 by the chelicerae 325-350 long (vs. 190-230 long in P. persicum), the fixed cheliceral digit bearing small tines (vs. spinous fixed cheliceral digit), presence of subcapitular setae n (vs. absence of setae n), serrate peripheral setae (vs. smooth peripheral setae), presence of leg setae vGII-III (vs. absence of setae vGII-III), 4 pairs of the genital setae (vs. 3 pairs) and 7 pairs of the pseudoanal serrate setae (vs. 9-11 pairs of filiform setae ps).

Mites of the new species group nitidus (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae: Geckobia), parasites of lizards in South America.

A new species group nitidus is established within the genus Geckobia Mégnin, 1878 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) based on an analysis of morphological characters of two newly described species from Chile: Geckobia nitidus n. sp. from Liolaemus nitidus (Wiegmann) and Geckobia zapallarensis n. sp. from Liolaemus zapallarensis Müller and Hellmich (Sauria: Liolaemidae). Mites of this new species group differ from species in the ovambica group in the presence of a movable cheliceral digit without basal spur, the absence of propodonotal shield and eyes, and in having shorter legs of the second pair, five setae on genua and femora I, four setae on genua and femora II, three setae on genua and femora III and two or three setae on genua and femora IV. Additionally, the third pterygosomatid species from Chile, Geckobia gerrhopygus n. sp. from Phyllodactylus gerrhopygus (Wiegmann) (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae) belonging to indica species group is described. This species is morphologically closely related to G. indica Hirst, 1917 but differs in the presence of 14 setae on the transversely elongated propodonotal shield and spur-like palp femoral setae dF and in the presence of leg setae vFIV and vTIV. Species of the genus Geckobia are recorded on hosts of the infraorder Iguania for the first time.

New species and records of scale mites (Acari: Pterygosomatidae) from Arabian Agamid lizards (Squamata: Agamidae).

Two new species of pterygosomatid mites parasitizing lizards of the family Agamidae are described: Pterygosoma aqabensis sp. nov. from Pseudotrapelus aqabensis Melnikov et al. and Pterygosoma dhofarensis sp.nov. from Pseudotrapelus dhofarensis Melnikov and Pierson both from Arabian Peninsula. Pterygosoma aqabensis sp. nov. is most closely related to P. dhofarensis sp. nov. but differs by the presence of subcapitular setae n, setae vFI and vGIV, 14-21 pairs of the antero-dorsal setae, 4 pairs of dorso-median setae dm, 5-6 pairs of the postero-lateral setae and 7 pairs of pseudoanal setae ps, palp setae dG and dF are subequal in the length and setae vm3 are slightly serrated. P. dhofarensis sp. nov. is similar to P. sinaita Jack, 1961 but in the new species setae dm1 are serrated and setae dm2 are filiform, 3 or 4 pairs of the medio-lateral setae and 2 pairs of peripheral setae are present, setae dGI are absent. A redescription of Pterygosoma adramitana Jack, 1961 from the type host Acanthocercus adramitanus (Anderson) (Agamidae) is given.

Three new species of scale mites (Acari: Pterygosomatidae) parasitizing Agama sankaranica (Sauria: Agamidae).

Three new species of pterygosomatid mites Pterygosoma engai sp. nov. P. indare sp. nov. and P olape sp. nov. (Acari: Pterygosomatidae) are described from the agamid lizard Agama sankaranica (Sauria: Agamidae) from Kenya. P. engai sp. nov. is similar to P annectans circularis Jack, 1962 but in the new species, the anterior paddle-shaped setae with spicules on the apical margin of the idiosomal dorsum and three pairs of the postero-lateral setae are present, setae dm1 are paddle-shaped, peripheral setae and setae dGIV are absent, the pseudoanal setal series is represented by three pairs of setae ps. P indare sp. nov. is most closely related to P. agamae agamae Peters, 1849 but differs by the absence of eyes and setae dGI, the presence of the flattened hypostomal apex and 12-14 pairs of the peripheral setae and some of them are tapered. P olape sp. nov. is similar to P engai sp. nov. but differs by the presence of the hypostome with a smooth rounded apex and 16 pairs of the peripheral setae inserted ventrally, the genital series is represented by one pair of setae g situated ventrally and four pairs of setae ps situated ventrally and terminally.

Pterygosomatid mites of a new species group ligare (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae: Pterygosoma) parasitizing tree iguanas (Squamata: Liolaemidae: Liolaemus).

A new species group, ligare, is established within the subgenus Pterygosoma (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae: Pterygosoma) based on an analysis of female morphology. This group includes 6 newly described species--all from Liolaemus spp. (Squamata: Liolaemidae) from Chile: P. ligare sp. nov., P. formosus sp. nov., P. ovata sp. nov., and P. levissima sp. nov. from Liolaemuspictus; P chilensis sp. nov. from L. chilensis, and P. cyanogasteri sp. nov. from L. cyanogaster. The ligare species group differs from other mites of the subgenus Pterygosoma by the presence of the movable cheliceral digit without a basal spur, solenidion Ω of the palp tarsus, anterior mid-dorsal setae, large number of setae (about 200-300 pairs) on the lateral and the posterior parts of the idiosomal dorsum and the lateral parts of the idiosomal venter, by the idiosomal hypertrichy of ventro-median setae vm, setae 3a located outside of coxal fields II, the absence of setae 4b, the presence of paired setae tc and vs on tarsi III-IV, 5 setae on tibiae II-IV, 4 or 5 setae on genua I, II, 3 setae on genua III-IV, 5 setae on femur I, 5 or 4 setae on femur II and 3 setae on femur III. A key to females of the new species group is provided. Pterygosoma patagonica Dittmar de la Cruz, Morando and Avila, 2004 insufficiently described but showing most characterisitcs of ligare group is considered as nomen dubium.

Two new species of scale mites (Acari: Pterygosomatidae) parasitizing Agama agama (Sauria: Agamidae) from Kenya.

Two new species of pterygosomatid mites Pterygosoma garissi sp. nov. and P. fragilis sp. nov. (Acari: Pterygosomatidae) are described from the agamid lizard Agama agama (Sauria: Agamidae) from Kenya. P. garissi sp. nov. is similar to P. annectans Jack, 1962 but in the new species the peripheral setae are slightly expanded apically, 3 pairs of setae are situated on the coxal fields I and and 2 pairs on II coxal fields, all pseudoanal setae are paddle-shaped with minute spicules on the apical part, setae dFIV are absent and lTrIV present. P. fragilis sp. nov. is most closely related to P. garissi sp. nov. but differs by the presence of setae n on the subcapitulum, the hypostome with several denticles at the apex, the fixed cheliceral digit bearing a spinous process, the presence of 8-9 pairs of the peripheral setae, 1-2 pairs of genital setae g, and by the cheliceral shaft 2.1 times longer than the cheliceral base.