Ueckermann, Edward A. ¹ ; De La Paz, Juan Carlos ² ; Hernández-Teixidor, David ³ and Durucan, Furkan ⁴

¹✉ Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
²Grupo de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Tenerife (GIET), La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
³Grupo de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Tenerife (GIET), La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain & Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), Astrofísico Fco. Sánchez no. 3, 38206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
⁴German Centre for Marine Biodiversity Research (DZMB), Senckenberg am Meer, Wilhelmshaven, Germany & Department of Aquaculture, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, 32260 Isparta, Turkey.

2022 - Volume: 62 Issue: 3 pages: 786-797

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

Sig Thor (1911) described Teneriffia quadripapillata as the type species of his new genus, Teneriffia, from Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Sig Thor was a controversial, stubborn person and received both praise and criticism. The Swedish arachnologist, Dr. Lundblad suggested that microscope slides of his type material must be deposited in a public museum. Unfortunately, this wish did not come true as Sig Thor apparently suffered from depression and had determined in his will that all his preparations were to be destroyed after his death. However, his widow donated some of his material, preserved in alcohol, to the zoological museum where he was a curator (Natvig 1944). Since then, no mention was made if this alcohol material contains T. quadripapillata. According to article 75.2 of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, designation of a neotype is invalid when there is no doubt about the species' identity; in this case the ''clasp'' organ is a unique character of the species.

Strandtmann (1965) came across unpublished figures with more detail of T. quadripapillata drawn by Oudemans based on the type specimens and he published it. A redescription is necessary to add more detailed information and to confirm the presence of the ''clasp'' organ.

The genus Teneriffia currently consists of five known species: T. quadripapillata, T. mexicana McDaniel, T. sebahatae Ueckermann & Durucan, T. aethiopica Zmudzinski et al. and T. hajiqanbari Paktinat-Saeij & Kazemi (Sig Thor 1911; McDaniel et al. 1976; Ueckermann and Durucan 2020; Zmudzinski et al. 2021 and Paktinat-Saeij and Kazemi 2022).

Teneriffia quadripapillata was collected for the first time on the beach in La Orotava, Tenerife, in August 1909 (Sig Thor, 1911). For more than 100 years this species remained undetected. Recently, new samplings carried out on Tenerife have revealed the presence of this species and led to its redescription.

Material and methods

Sampling and location

This study was carried out on Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, Spain. It is situated near the centre of this volcanic archipelago comprising seven major islands, off the south-west Atlantic coast of Morocco. Specifically, the sampling area is situated in the northeast of the island.

The mites (Figure 1) were collected under rocks, in the supralittoral zone, about a meter above the limit of the last high tide. They were captured one by one with a fine brush moistened in sea water, then put in a small container with sea water. Under a stereomicroscope (Leica ES2), specimens were manually extracted and transferred to 100% ethanol for storage.

Localities

• Locality A: La Barranquera, La Laguna, Tenerife. Beach with rocks and sand (Figure 2); coordinates 28.537908°N, 16.396246°W; sampling dates 21/07/20, 29/07/20, 01/08/20 and 10/08/20; collected by Juan Carlos de la Paz.
• Locality B: Roque de las Bodegas, Taganana, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Beach with large rocks, boulders, pebbles and sand (Figure 2); coordinates 28.571219°N, 16.203836°W; sampling dates 24/07/20 and 25/07/20; collected by Juan Carlos de la Paz.
• Locality not used in the redescription: Las Eras, Fasnia, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Beach with pebbles and sand; coordinates 28.19373443°N, 16.42278712°W; sampling dates 03/10/20; collected by Juan Carlos de la Paz.

Preparation of specimens

Mites were cleared in 90% lactic acid and mounted on microscope slides in PVA. They were then dried in an oven at 45-50 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. Line drawings were made from photographs of the specimens taken with a Zeiss Axioskop TM Research microscope equipped with a Zen Soft Imaging System with measuring tools and an Axiocam 208 color camera. The line drawings were prepared with a Wacom One 13" Pen display and edited using Adobe Illustrator CS5. Measurements are given in micrometres (μm).

The material will be deposited in the Zoological Collection of the Department of Animal Biology, Edaphology and Geology at the University of La Laguna (DZUL) (collection numbers 34644-34659) and the Arachnology Collection of ARC-Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PPRI) (Accession numbers, Acy: 22/381 to Acy: 22/386).

Taxonomy

Family Teneriffiidae Sig Thor, 1911

Genus Teneriffia Sig Thor, 1911

Type species: Teneriffia quadripapillata, Sig Thor, 1911: 173.

Teneriffia quadripapillata Sig Thor

(Figures 2-8B)

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis — The character that differentiates this species from the rest of the genus is the presence of ''clasps'' on the venter of the gnathosoma (Figures 5D and 6). See discussion under Remarks.

Description

Female — (n=6). Idiosoma ovate, 648–782 long (from tip of naso to posterior margin of opisthosoma) and 412–476 wide at level of setae c (Figure 3A).

Dorsal idiosoma – Peritremes situated anterolaterally on propodosoma consisting of 9 long and 7 shorter branches (Figure 3B). Naso small, situated between setae vi (Figure 3A), the latter arising from cuplike bothridia. Prodorsal shield 323–348 long and 171–190 wide, demarcated by fine transverse striae behind setae vi and between setae ve, longitudinal on rest of shield, bearing setae vi, ve, sci and sce, setae vi smooth, ve and sce serrate and sci coarsely serrate, the latter also inserted into bothridia surrounded by 10–13 vesicles forming a ''rosette″. Flanking the prodorsum, are two pairs of equal eyes. Opisthosoma transversely striated medially and diagonal laterally, all setae serrate, each situated on small sclerite; setae c2 the longest setae on idiosoma. Lengths of setae: vi 79–97, ve 86–99, sci 93–110, sce 108–119, c1 59–67, c2 150–174, d 68–78, e 73–78, f 87–108, h1 92–108, h2 55–63. Distances between setae: vi–vi 33–42, ve–ve 147–176, sci –sci 134–158, sce–sce 127–149, c1–c1 128–158, c2–c2 254–307, d–d 160–174, e–e 112–141, f–f 81–105, h1–h1 44–49, h2–h2 130–169. Four pairs of ordinary circular cupules present with ia lateral to setae d, im lateral to setae e and ip lateral to setae f, and ih ventrally, lateral to setae ps4.

Ventral idiosoma – Venter striate with coxal fields I-IV finely striated (Figure 4A). Anal opening situated caudally, each anal valve with four pairs of pseudanal setae: ps1 43–56, ps2 37, v2–h1 54, ps3 36–54 and ps4 37–43. Coxal formula: 6 to 7–6 to 7–6–5. All coxal setae slightly barbed; 1f, 2g, 3a, and 4f longest setae. Lengths of coxal setae: 1a 57–68, 1b 27–34, 1c 28–41, 1d 28–43, 1e 32–45, 1f 90–100, 1g 57–68; 2a 27–33, 2b 25–31, 2c 24–28, 2d 27–33, 2e 26–31, 2f 33–46, 2g 54–62; 3a 63–78, 3b 27–30, 3c 25–30, 3d 23–28, 3e 44–55, 3f 27–34; 4a 24–27, 4b 19–26, 4c 21–27, 4d 22–26, 4e 24–28, 4f 77–82, 4g 26–30. Genital valves with 6 pairs of genital setae (g1-6), varying between 13–22. Genital opening with 5 pairs of eugenital setae and 3 papillae (Figure 4B). Genital opening surrounded by 20–25 pairs of setae, aggenital setae included, aggenital setae (ag1-6) varying between 24—38, showing asymmetry with 6 setae on one side and 7 on the other in some specimens. All these setae slightly barbed.

Gnathosoma – Palp 5-segmented; tarsus reduced, bearing 3 long serrate and 4 shorter smooth setae (1 stout), 1 minute solenidion and 1 microseta (Figure 5B). Tibia with 1 long, strong spur, o1 56–64, 2 subterminal spurs (o 2–3), 17–21 and 17–20 long and one serrate seta. Genu and femur each with one long, serrate seta, 80–93 and 105–119 long, respectively, oncophysis absent. Palp supracoxal, seta 7 long. Chelicerae 186–219 long with movable digit 26–33 long and setae cha and chb 39–48 and 44–50 long, respectively (Figure 5A). Gnathosoma ventrally with subcapitular setae m 59–70 long and 3 pairs of adoral setae, or1 18–24, or2 10–17 and or3 34–41. The unique ''clasp'' organ of this species on the venter of the gnathosoma is only outlined in Figure 5C but clearly visible in Figures 5D and 6. It is an internal organ that is clearly visible before the treatment with lactic acid (Also see video in supplementary material).

Legs – Leg IV clearly longer than body. Each side of claws on tarsi I–II with 18 pectinations, empodium absent (Figure 7A), tarsal claws III–IV smooth with a tiny peg-like empodium between them (Figure 7B). Lengths of leg segments: Ta I 172–193, Ti I 139–160, Ge I 98–125, TF I 86–113, BF I, 89–103, Tr I 72–100, Cx I 174–220; Ta II 159–180, Ti II 118–131, Ge II 74–102, TF II 72–91, BF II 65–91, Tr II 75–88, Cx II 170–198; Ta III 208–223, Ti III 117–145, Ge III 96–107, TF III 86–98, BF III 71–88, Tr III 72–103, Cx III 155–189; Ta IV 250–302, constricted before trichobothrium, Ti IV 164–183, Ge IV 120–134, TF IV 111–125, BF IV 75–91, Tr IV 109–123, Cx IV 163–186. Trichobothrium III 102–118 and trichobothrium 121–130 long. Setal formulae of leg segments: Tarsi 27 (3 ω)-27 (3 ω)- 22+ 1 trich. –22 (1 ω) + 1 trich (Figure 7C); tibiae 14 (1ϕ) (1κ)-12(1ϕ)-12(1ϕ)-11(1ϕ); genua 10(1σ)-8(1σ)-7(1σ)-6; telofemora 5-5-4-4; basifemora 5-6-4-4; trochanters 1-2-2-2; coxae 6 or 7-8-6-6.

Male — (n=5). Idiosoma elongate-oval, body length 640–705, width at level of setae c2, 340–422.

Dorsal idiosoma – Prodorsal shield oval, 308–316 long and 175–178 wide. Similar to that of female. Lengths of setae: vi 89–102, ve 81–105, sci 100–127, sce 104–113, c1 56–63, c2 154–164, d 56–77, e 67–78, f 87–103, h1 90–100 and h2 55–64. Distances between setae: vi–vi 30–38, ve–ve 147–166, sci-sci 136–149, sce–sce 128–141, c1–c1 140–145, c2-c2 246–269, d–d 153–170, e–e 118–130, f–f 79–93, h1–h1 37–42, h2–h2 133–145.

Four pairs of ordinary circular cupules present, with ia lateral to setae d, im lateral to setae e and ip lateral to setae f, and ih ventrally, lateral to setae ps4.

Ventral idiosoma – Striate. With 19–28 pairs of serrate setae, including aggenitals. Coxisternal shields I–II separated from III–IV by a striate band. Anogenital area with 6 pairs of aggenital setae but more setae closely associated with aggenital setae, 6 pairs of genital setae and internal male genitalia with 2 pairs of eugenital setae easily detected (Figure 8A). Genital setae smooth and aggenital setae serrate. Lengths of coxal setae: 1a 51–60, 1b 25–34, 1c 25–31, 1d 31– 46, 1e 36–47, 1f 88–104, 1g 59–70, 2a 25–31, 2b 23–27, 2c 25–31, 2d 25–35, 2e 22–31, 2f 55–66, 2g 33– 44, 3a 64–68, 3b 23–31, 3c 25–29, 3d 22–29, 3e 45–62, 3f 28–31, 4a22–28, 4b 19–24, 4c 21, 4d 21, 4e 22–25, 4f 71–87, 4g 22–30, g1 17–20, g2 16–21, g3 16–22, g4 17–22, g5 16–22, g6 17–20, ag1 26–29, ag2 24–28, ag3 24–29, ag4 28–30, ag5 30–34, ag6 26–35, ag7 26–35, ps1 34–40, ps2 39–45, ps3 37–48, ps4 35–56, supracoxal seta 5–8.

Gnathosoma – Palp 5-segmented; tarsus reduced with 3 serrate and 4 smooth setae, 1 microseta and 1minute solenidion. Tibia with 1 long, strong spur, o1 60–65, 2 subterminal spurs (o2–3), 18–21 long and 16–19, respectively, and 1 serrate seta. Genu and femur each with 1 long serrate seta, 84–94 and 109–122 long, respectively. Palp supracoxal seta 5 long. Oncophysis absent. Chelicerae 188–200 long with movable digit 21–28 long and setae cha and chb 40–55 and 42–51 long, respectively. Ventrally, gnathosoma with subcapitular setae m 56–67 long and 3 pairs of adoral setae, or 1 18–23, or2 12–17 and or 3 35–44. Outlines of clasp organ vaguely visible in male. Palp coxa with one supracoxal seta, 4 long.

Legs – Leg IV clearly longer than body. Each side of claws on tarsi I–II with 17–18 pectinations, empodium absent, tarsal claws III–IV smooth with a tiny peg-like empodium between them. Lengths of leg segments: Ta I 162–182, Ti I 142–149, Ge I 95–100, TF I 67–99, BF I 84–100, Tr I 60–77, Cx I 165–216; Leg I 775–923: Ta II 157–178, Ti II 117–126, Ge II 82–89, TF II 56–88, BF II 77–87, Tr II 66–79, Cx II 172–185; Leg II 727–832: Ta III 215–226, Ti III 135–150, Ge III 90–103, TF III 74–93, BF III 68–76, Tr III 76–102, Cx III 159–177; Leg III 817–927: Ta IV 256–266, Ti IV 160–179, Ge IV 109–134, TF IV 91–119, BF IV 73–95, Tr IV 91–122, Cx IV 156–167; Leg IV 936–1082, IP 3255– 3764. Setal formulae of leg segments: Tarsi 27 (3 ω)-27 (3 ω)-22+ 1 trich-22 (1 ω) + 1 trich; tibiae 14 (1ϕ) (1κ)-12(1ϕ)-12(1ϕ)-11(1ϕ), genua 10(1σ)-8(1σ)-7(1σ)-6; telofemora 5-5-4-4; basifemora 5- 6-4-4; trochanters 1-2-2-2; coxae 6 or 5-8-6-6 or 5. Trichobothrium III 107–125 and trichobothrium IV 126–136.

Nymph — (n=3). Idiosoma elongate-oval, body length 535–601, width at level of setae c2, 293–425.

Dorsal idiosoma – Prodorsal shield oval, 249–258 long and 148–154 wide. Similar to that of female. Lengths of setae: vi 73–78, ve 79–84, sci 84–109, sce 98–109, c1 48–50, c2 135–146, d 60–63, e 68–75, f 85–89, h1 88–91 and h2 51. Distances between setae: vi–vi 27–32, ve-ve 131–138, sci–sci 118–124, sce–sce 104–117, c1–c1 119–130, c2-c2 212–272, d–d 138–150, e–e 104–122, f–f 65–74, h1–h1 35–36, h2–h2 127–143.

Four pairs of ordinary circular cupules present with ia lateral to setae d, im lateral to setae e and ip lateral to setae f, and ih ventrally, lateral to setae ps4.

Ventral idiosoma – Striate. With 11–12 pairs of serrate setae, aggenitals included. Coxisternal shields I–II separated from III–IV by a striate band. Anogenital area with 2 (or 2 on one side and 3 on the other side) pairs of aggenital setae, 2 pairs of genital setae (Figure 8B). Genital setae smooth and aggenital setae serrate. Lengths of setae: 1a 46–51, 1b 24, 1c 23, 1d 31– 33, 1e 28–31, 1f 67–70, 1g 47–55, 2a 22–25, 2b 20–21, 2c absent, 2d 22–26, 2e 21–25, 2f 42–46, 2g 27– 31, 3a 53–57, 3b 21–22, 3c 20–22, 3d 21, 3e 32–38, 3f 21–28, 4a 17–20, 4b 17, 4c 18–19, 4d absent, 4e absent, 4f 43-56, 4g 21–23, g1 16–17, g2 15–17, ag1 19–23, ag2 20–26, ag3 23–30, ag4 26–31, ps1 34–40, ps2 32–34, ps3 31, ps4 33–34, supracoxal seta 6–7.

Gnathosoma – Palp 5-segmented; tarsus reduced with 3 serrate and 4 smooth setae, 1 minute solenidion, 1 microseta. Tibia with 1 long, strong spur, o1 50–54, 2 subterminal spurs (o2–3), 14–16 long and 15–16, respectively, and 1 serrate seta. Genu and femur each with 1 long serrate seta, 50–65 and 97–103 long, respectively. Palp supracoxal seta 5 long. Oncophysis absent. Chelicerae 148–156 long with movable digit 20–22 long and setae cha and chb 36–38 and 33–37 long, respectively. Ventrally, gnathosoma with subcapitular setae m 49–53 long and 3 pairs of adoral setae, or1 15–16, or2 9–12 and or3 27–35. Clasp organ outline on venter of gnathosoma. Palp coxa with 1 supracoxal seta, 4 long.

Legs – Leg IV clearly longer than body. Each side of claws on tarsi I–II with 17 pectinations, empodium absent, tarsal claws III–IV smooth with a tiny peg-like empodium between them. Lengths of leg segments: Ta I 133–140, Ti I 113–121, Ge I 82–87, TF I 73–84, BF I 76–91, Tr I 51–69, Cx I 145–186; Leg I 673–778: Ta II 129–131, Ti II 90–100, Ge II 71–75, TF II 76–70, BF II 70–74, Tr II 58–71, Cx II 133–157; Leg II 627–678: Ta III 165–170, Ti III 107–110, Ge III 73–81, TF III 67–72, BF III 52–72, Tr III 63–74, Cx III 137–148; Leg III 664–727: Ta IV 184–204, Ti IV 119–131, Ge IV 86–107, TF IV 57–72, BF IV 59–69, Tr IV 72–102, Cx IV 132–152; Leg IV 709–837, IP 2 673–3 020. Setal formulae of leg segments: Tarsi 23 (2 ω)-23 (2 ω)-19+ 1 trich-18 (1 ω) + 1 trich; tibiae 12 (1ϕ) (1κ)-12(1ϕ)-12(1ϕ)-11(1ϕ), genua 10(1σ)-8(1σ)-7(1σ)-6; telofemora 5-5-4-4; basifemora 5- 6-4-3; trochanters 1-2-2-2; coxae 5-6-5-4. Trichobothrium III 96–106 and trichobothrium IV 120–124.

Material examined

Three females, two males and one nymph from rocks and sand at La Barranquera, La Laguna, Tenerife, coordinates 28.537908°N, 16.396246°W, 21/07/2020, coll. Juan Carlos de la Paz; two females, two males and one nymph from rocks and sand at La Barranquera, La Laguna, Tenerife, coordinates 28.537908°N, 16.396246°W, 29/07/2020, coll. Juan Carlos de la Paz; two females, two males from rocks and sand at La Barranquera, La Laguna, Tenerife, coordinates 28.537908°N, 16.396246°W, 10/08/2020, coll. Juan Carlos de la Paz; one female, two males and one nymph from rocks and sand at La Barranquera, La Laguna, Tenerife, coordinates 28.537908°N, 16.396246°W, 01/08/2020, coll. Juan Carlos de la Paz; four females and three males, Roque de las Bodegas, Taganana, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, from large rocks, boulders, pebbles and sand, coordinates 28.571219°N, 16.203836°W, 24/07/20, coll. Juan Carlos de la Paz; three females, one male and one nymph, Roque de las Bodegas, Taganana, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, from large rocks, boulders, pebbles and sand, coordinates 28.571219°N, 16.203836°W, 25/07/20, coll. Juan Carlos de la Paz.

Discussion

The redescription of T. quadripapillata allowed us to confirm in principle the presence of the unique diagnostic character within the Teneriffia genus (''clasps'' on the venter of the gnathosoma). The unpublished figures of T. quadripapillata by Oudemans (Strandmann, 1965) showed more characters than the original figures of Sig Thor and was apparently the first to point out the ''clasps″. In their revision of the Teneriffiidae McDaniel et al. (1976) recognised only two monotypic genera, namely Teneriffia and Parateneriffia Sig Thor, 1911 but recognised 3 species in the former and 5 in the latter. These authors described the field with ''clasps'' as follows: ''8 transverse chitinous clasps for muscles of the pharynx'' and that it has not been mentioned in any other species up to 1976. Judson (1994) in his description of Neoteneriffiola coineaui described the pharynx as large and with irregular transverse ridges but the figure bears no resemblance to that of T. quadripapillata. An examination of the types of T. sebahatae clearly confirms the absence of ''clasps'' in this species. Zmudzinski et al. (2021) also confirms the absence of ''clasps'' in their new species T. aethiopica but suggested further studies about the presence or absence of ''clasps'' in the other representatives of the Teneriffiidae. According to Pakinat-Saeij & Kazemi (2022) ''clasps'' are also absent in their new species T. hajiqanbari. In a video clip produced (supplementary material) by the second author it is clear that the ''clasps'' are not sclerotised but show movement almost in a pump-action.

Furthermore, this sampling on Tenerife detected this species again after more than 100 years, and also widen its known distribution on the island.

Acknowledgements

The Cabildo of Tenerife provided collecting permits. DHT is currently funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife, under the TFinnova Programme supported by MEDI and FDCAN funds. The manuscript was edited by Guido Jones, also funded by the Cabildo de Tenerife under the same programme. This work is based on the research supported in part by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (Grant Number 126938). Any opinion, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the authors and therefore the NRF does not accept any liability in regard thereto.

acarologia_4544_Clasp-organ.mp4

References

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3. Natvig L.R. 1944. Entomology at the Royal Frederik's University. A contribution to the history of Zlorian entomology in the period 1813-1907. Nor. J. Entomol., 7(1-2): 1-73.
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7. Thor S. 1911. A new acarine family (Teneriffiidae) and two new genera, one from Tenerife, the other from Paraguay. Zool. Anz., 38 (7-8): 171-179.
8. Ueckermann E.A., Durucan F. 2020. Teneriffia sebahatae sp.nov. (Acari: Trombidiformes: Teneriffiidae), the first teneriffiid mite from Turkey. Syst. Appl. Acarol., 25(6): 1139-1146. https://doi.org/10.11158/saa.25.6.15
9. Zmudzinski M., Skoracki M., Friedrich S. 2021. A new species of Teneriffiidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata) from Ethiopia. Int. J. Acarol., 47(4): 317-326. https://doi.org/10.1080/01647954.2021.1908422

instructions