Revision of the genus Afroleius Mahunka, 1984 (Acari: Oribatida)

[摘要] English: The genus Afroleius Mahunka, 1984 originally comprised three species (A. deformisMahunka, 1984 (type), A. minor Mahunka, 1984 and A. simplex Mahunka, 1984), but with anuncertain relationship, at first placed in the family Haplozetidae (Oripodoidea). In this studythe genus is redescribed and its relationship investigated. Specimens from the acarologycollection of the National Museum referable to new species are described, two speciesoriginally described in other genera are recombined, a key to the species of the genus isproposed and its phylogeny investigated on the basis of molecular data.It is concluded that Afroleius is a member of the superfamily Ceratozetoidea, based on thepresence of the axillary saccule, genal tooth, and the shape of pedotectum I. Its relationshipin the family Punctoribatidae is based on the presence of the posterior notogastral tectumand desclerotized hinge of the pteromorph.Nine new species are described (A. crassus Coetzee, 2013; A. decurvatus Coetzee, 2013;A. deformatoides Coetzee, 2013; A. natalensis Coetzee, 2014; A. caudatus Coetzee, 2014;A. amieae Coetzee, 2014; A. inae Coetzee, 2014; A. valerieae Coetzee 2014; A. lucidusCoetzee, In Press). Two species are recombined namely A. polygonatus (Mahunka, 1985)from the genus Kilimabates Mahunka, 1984 and A. floridus (Mahunka, 1985) from the genusMagyaria Balogh, 1963. Afroleius undulatus (Balogh, 1959) (previously recombined fromAfricoribates) from Tanzania is discussed. Juvenile instars of two species (A. floridus and A.polygonatus) are described. The genus now comprises 15 species. The phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data of 28S rDNA of A. floridus, A. deformis,A. minor en A. polygonatus, additional Ceratozetoidea sequences and outgroup sequencesretrieved from GenBank, indicates Mycobates and Trichoribates as the sister genera ofAfroleius. Ceratozetidae is shown to be paraphyletic. This analysis emphasises the need fora large-scale phylogenetic analysis of Ceratozetoidea including morphological and moleculardata.

[发布机构] University of the Free State