Gomez-Pamies, Diego Fernando ¹ ; Martinez, Pablo Antonio ² ; Larrea, Darío Daniel ³ and Laffont, Enrique Rafael ⁴

¹✉ Laboratorio de Biología de los Invertebrados y Protistas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina.
²Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
³Laboratorio de Biología de los Invertebrados y Protistas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina & Grupo de Investigación en Biología de los Artrópodos, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina.
⁴Laboratorio de Biología de los Invertebrados y Protistas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina.

2023 - Volume: 63 Issue: 3 pages: 906-918

Original research

Keywords

Abstract

Introduction

Oribatid mites (Arachnida: Acari: Oribatida) are one of the most abundant and diverse groups of soil fauna, including more than 11,500 species recorded worldwide (Subías 2022). They are commonly found in soils around the world, but many species dwell on vegetation (Salavatulin 2019), including canopy soils on trees, bromeliads, mosses, or even lichens (Behan-Pelletier and Walter 2000). They are small and very abundant in almost all ecosystems and play a key role in decomposition, participating in the comminution of dead organic matter, and increasing the available surface for decomposers; they also help in bacteria and fungi proliferation, by external and internal transport of spores and other structures (Behan-Pelletier 2003).

The South American Gran Chaco ecoregion extends through great areas of Central and Northern Argentina and Western Paraguay, with small areas in Eastern Bolivia and South-Western Brazil (Bucher and Huszar 1999) (Fig. 1). The region is generally divided into a humid Eastern area and a dry Western area (Bianchi and Gibbs 2000). This region includes large areas of forests that serve as an important reservoir of tropical and subtropical diversity.

In spite of its large extent and high biodiversity, relatively few efforts have been made to explore the oribatid fauna of the Gran Chaco region. A complete catalogue of global oribatid mites can be found in Subías (2022); although very complete and frequently updated, this list does generally provide scarce information about the distribution, such as country (e.g., Argentina) or wide region (e.g., Neotropics). A more detailed list of species and records is presented by (Fredes 2018), although only for Argentina; in her work, she includes a compilation of the species cited for the Argentinean Chaco region, mainly in the southernmost part, around the ''Sierras de Córdoba'' area, with two individual records for the Chaco province. A single work citing oribatid species (23 spp.) for the Paraguayan Chaco is recorded (Balogh and Mahunka 1981) and none from the Bolivian and Brazilian areas.

In the present work, we compile and provide a first checklist of Oribatida for the Gran Chaco region.

Material and methods

The collection in the new prospected sites reported in this work come from an expedition to the Santiago del Estero-Chaco border led by Dr. Matías Mastrangelo in August 2017, and another to ''El Impenetrable'' National Park (Chaco) led by researchers from the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (UNNE) in November 2021.

At the first site, three fields were sampled. All fields had native forests until the late 90's but then the forests were partially cut off between 1999 and 2012 for pasture or agriculture. Soil and litter samples were taken to the laboratory and processed in Berlese funnels for 12 days. Material was deposited at the Oribatida collection of the ''Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata'' (UNMP).

At ''El Impenetrable'' National Park, two forest sites were sampled, which differ in their conservation status, based on modified categories proposed by Roig et al. (2015). This public reserve was established in 2014 from previous private lands. Most of its forests were relatively untouched for decades, but illegal deforestation, hunting and livestock were frequent, leaving some degraded areas. One of the sites is a well conserved forest area and the other one corresponds to a forest with intermediate level of conservation. Litter samples were taken to the laboratory and processed in Berlese funnels for 10 days. Material was deposited at the Arthropods collection of the ''Universidad Nacional del Nordeste'' (CARTROUNNE).

Additional to these new data, a search of bibliography about Oribatida in the Gran Chaco ecoregion was performed. Coordinates of all localities and sources of data are shown in Table 1. Some of the coordinates of sites from bibliography are approximate due to the lack of accuracy of data provided in the papers. A map of the Gran Chaco region including localities of Oribatida species cited in this paper is shown in Figure 1.

Results

Based on bibliography and new data we present an updated checklist of the Oribatida of the Gran Chaco. Supra-generic classification follows that of Schatz et al. (2011); these categories are presented in phylogenetical order following the same authors. Genera and species follow the nomenclature in Subías (2022) and are presented in alphabetical order. Locality number codes correspond to those in Table 1.

Infraorder PALAEOSOMATA Grandjean, 1969

Superfamily Ctenacaroidea Grandjean, 1954

Family Adelphacaridae Grandjean, 1954

• Adelphacarus sellnicki Grandjean, 1952

New record for the Gran Chaco. Material deposited at UNMP-Or0101. Localities: (5), (6), (7). Habitat: pasture, wheat crop, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

Family Aphelacaridae Grandjean, 1954

• Aphelacarus acarinus (Berlese, 1910)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Material deposited at UNMP-Or0100.Localities: (5), (6), (7). Habitat: dry forest and pasture; soil.

Infraorder ENARTHRONOTA Grandjean, 1947

Superfamily Brachychthonioidea Thor, 1934

Family Brachychthoniidae Thor, 1934

• Liochthonius fimbriatissimus Hammer, 1962

New record for the Gran Chaco. Material deposited at UNMP-Or0102.Localities: (6), (7). Habitat: pasture; soil.

• Poecilochthonius spiciger (Berlese, 1910)

Cited as Brachychthonius rapoporti in Balogh and Mahunka (1968). Locality: (10). Habitat: litter and soil.

• Sellnickochthonius foliatus (Hammer, 1958)

Cited as Brachychthonius foliatus in Balogh and Mahunka (1968). New material deposited at UNMP-Or0103.Localities: (6), (10). Habitat: dry forest; moss and soil.

Superfamily Hypochthonioidea Berlese, 1910

Family Lohmanniidae Berlese, 1916

• Annectacarus mucronatus Grandjean, 1950

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (16).

Habitat: marshy forest; litter.

• Torpacarus omittens omittens Grandjean, 1950

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0107.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and wheat crop; soil.

• Torpacarus omittens paraguayensis Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (16).

Habitat: marshy forest; litter.

Superfamily Protoplophoroidea Ewing, 1917

Family Cosmochthoniidae Grandjean, 1947

• Cosmochthonius foveolatus Beck, 1962

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0104.

Locality: (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest; litter and soil.

• Cosmochthonius plumatus suramericanus Hammer, 1958

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9395, and UNMP-Or0105

Localities: (1), (2), (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

Family Haplochthoniidae van der Hammen, 1959

• Haplochthonius clavatus (Hammer, 1958)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0106.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest and pasture; litter and soil.

Infraorder MIXONOMATA Grandjean, 1969

Superfamily Epilohmannioidea Oudemans, 1923

Family Epilohmanniidae Oudemans, 1923

• Epilohmannia minuta minuta Berlese, 1920

Cited as Epilohmannia pallida americana in Balogh and Mahunka (1981). New material deposited at UNMP-Or0108.

Localities: (5), (6), (7), (16), (17).

Habitat: dry forest, marshy forest, pasture, wheat crop, and botanical garden; litter and soil.

Superfamily Euphthiracaroidea Jacot, 1930

Family Euphthiracaridae Jacot, 1930

• Acrotritia curticephala (Jacot, 1938)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9390.

Localities: (1), (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Acrotritia peruensis (Hammer, 1961)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0109.

Localities: (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, wheat crop, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

Superfamily Phthiracaroidea Perty, 1841

Family Phthiracaridae Perty, 1841

• Hoplophorella hamata (Ewing, 1909)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0110.

Localities: (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest and pasture; litter and soil.

• Hoplophorella lanceoseta (Balogh & Mahunka, 1981)

Cited as Steganacarus lanceosetus in Balogh and Mahunka (1981). New material deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9476.

Localities: (2), (16).

Habitat: dry forest and marshy forest; litter.

• Hoplophthiracarus eparmatos (Niedbała, 2004)

Cited as Arphthiracarus eparmatos in Niedbała (2004).

Locality: (4).

Habitat: humid forest; rotted logs and sticks with fungus.

Infraorder DESMONOMATA Woolley, 1973

Hyporder NOTHRINA van der Hammen, 1982

Superfamily Crotonioidea Thorell, 1876

Family Malaconothridae Berlese, 1916

• Tyrphonothrus translamellatus (Hammer, 1958)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9477.

Locality: (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Family Nothridae Berlese, 1896

• Nothrus becki Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (16).

Habitat: marshy forest; litter.

Family Trhypochthoniidae Willmann, 1931

• Allonothrus neotropicus Balogh & Mahunka, 1969

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (16).

Habitat: marshy forest; litter.

Hyporder BRACHYPYLINA Hull, 1918

Superfamily Plateremaeoidea Trägårdh, 1926

Family Aleurodamaeidae Paschoal & Johnston, 1985

• Austrodamaeus elegantulus (Hammer, 1958)

Cited as Austrodamaeus rimosus in Balogh and Mahunka (1981). New material deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9387.

Localities: (1), (2), (16).

Habitat: dry forest, marshy forest; litter.

Family Gymnodamaeidae Grandjean, 1954

• Jacotella ornata (Balogh & Csiszár, 1963)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0111.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: forest; litter and soil.

Family Licnodamaeidae Grandjean, 1954

• Licnodamaeus granulatus Balogh & Csiszár, 1963

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9389.

Localities: (1), (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Family Pedrocortesellidae Paschoal, 1987

• Pedrocortesella monicai Eguaras, Martínez & Fernández, 1990

Cited in Eguaras et al. (1990).

Locality: (15).

Habitat: litter of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco Schltdl.

• Pedrocortesella montis Fernández, 1990

Cited in Fernández (1990).

Locality: (15).

Habitat: litter of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco.

• Pedrocortesella pulchra Hammer, 1961

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9388.

Localities: (1), (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Family Pheroliodidae Paschoal, 1987

• Pheroliodes achalensis Baranek, 1986

Cited in Baranek (1986).

Locality: (13).

Habitat: moss in crevices of rocks.

• Pheroliodes bolivianus Ermilov & Starý, 2021

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9393.

Localities: (1), (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Pheroliodes cordobensis Baranek, 1986

Cited in Baranek (1986).

Localities: (9), (10).

Habitat: moss and liverwort on rocks.

• Pheroliodes longisetus Baranek, 1986

Cited in Baranek (1986).

Locality: (13).

Habitat: moss in crevices of rocks.

• Pheroliodes vulgaris Baranek, 1984

Cited in Baranek (1986).

Localities: (8), (10).

Habitat: moss in crevices of rocks.

Family Plateremaeidae Trägårdh, 1926

• Plateremaeus yurtaevi Ermilov & Starý, 2021

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9392.

Localities: (1), (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Superfamily Microzetoidea Grandjean, 1936

Family Microzetidae Grandjean, 1936

• Berlesezetes brazilozetoides Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981). New material deposited at UNMP-Or0123.

Localities: (5), (6), (7), (17).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, wheat crop, maize stubble, and botanical garden; litter and soil.

• Fusozetes plumifer (Balogh & Mahunka, 1968)

Cited as Rhopalozetes plumifer in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: litter and soil.

Superfamily Ameroidea Bulanova-Zachvatkina, 1957

Family Damaeolidae Grandjean, 1965

• Fosseremus laciniatus (Berlese, 1905)

Cited as Fosseremus saltaensis in Balogh and Mahunka. New material deposited at UNMP-Or0113.

Localities: (5), (6), (7), (17).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, wheat crop, maize stubble, and botanical garden; litter and soil.

Family Eremobelbidae Balogh, 1961

• Eremobelba foliata Hammer, 1958

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (17).

Habitat: botanical garden; litter.

• Eremobelba zicsii Balogh & Mahunka, 1969

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (17).

Habitat: botanical garden; litter.

Family Eremulidae Grandjean, 1965

• Eremulus crispus Hammer, 1958

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981). New material deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9457, and UNMP-Or0112.

Localities: (2), (5), (6), (7), (16), (17).

Habitat: dry forest, marshy forest, wheat crop, and botanical garden; litter and soil.

• Eremulus nigrisetosus Hammer, 1958

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (17).

Habitat: botanical garden; litter.

• Pseuderemulus gladiator Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: litter and soil.

Family Staurobatidae Grandjean, 1966

• Staurobates schusteri cordobensis Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: soil.

Superfamily Gustavioidea Oudemans, 1900

Family Astegistidae Balogh, 1961

• Cultroribula bicuspidata Mahunka, 1978

Cited as Cultroribula zicsii in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (17).

Habitat: botanical garden; litter.

Family Liacaridae Sellnick, 1928

• Xenillus argentinensis Balogh & Balogh (1985)

Cited in Balogh and Balogh (1985).

Locality: (11).

Habitat: litter.

• Xenillus lawrencei Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968). New material deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9456.

Localities: (2), (10).

Habitat: dry forest; litter and soil.

Superfamily Carabodoidea Koch, 1837

Family Carabodidae Koch, 1837

• Gymnobodes atrichosus (Mahunka, 1984)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0120.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest and pasture; soil.

Superfamily Oppioidea Grandjean, 1951

Family Oppiidae Grandjean, 1951

• Brachioppia cuscensis Hammer, 1961

Cited as Oppia guarani in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (16).

Habitat: marshy forest; litter.

• Microppia minus (Paoli, 1908)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0137.

Locality: (7).

Habitat: pasture; soil.

• Oppiella nova (Oudemans, 1902)

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981). New material deposited at UNMP-Or0115

Localities: (5), (6), (16).

Habitat: marshy forest, pasture, and wheat crop; litter and soil.

• Oxyoppia suramericana (Hammer, 1958)

New record. Deposited at UNMP-Or0116.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and wheat crop; litter and soil.

• Ramusella cordobensis (Balogh & Mahunka, 1968)

Cited as Oppia cordobensis in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: soil.

• Sacculoppia singularis Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: moss, soil, and Stipa branches.

• Stratioppia tribuliformis Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (16).

Habitat: marshy forest; litter.

• Taiwanoppia trichotos (Balogh & Mahunka, 1977)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0117.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest and pasture; litter and soil.

Family Sternoppiidae Balogh & Mahunka, 1969

• Sternoppia mirabilis Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunk (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: soil.

Family Thyrisomidae Grandjean, 1953

• Banksinoma monoceros (Balogh & Mahunka, 1968)

Cited as Oribella spinifera monoceros in Balogh and Mahunka (1968). New material deposited at UNMP-Or0114.

Localities: (5), (10).

Habitat: wheat crop; litter and soil.

Superfamily Trizetoidea Ewing, 1917

Family Suctobelbidae Jacot, 1938

• Coartobelba campestris (Balogh & Mahunka, 1981)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0118.

Locality: (6).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Novosuctobelba baculifera (Balogh & Mahunka, 1981)

Cited as Suctobelba perdentata baculifer in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Locality: (17).

Habitat: botanical garden; litter.

• Parasuctobelba complexa (Hammer, 1958)

Cited as Suctobelbella complexa in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: litter and soil.

• Parasuctobelba subcomplexa (Balogh & Mahunka, 1968)

Cited as Suctobelbella subcomplexa in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: litter and soil.

• Suctobelbella peracuta (Balogh & Mahunka, 1980)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0119.

Localities: (6), (7).

Habitat: pasture and wheat crop; litter and soil.

• Suctobelbella scrofa (Balogh & Mahunka, 1968)

Cited as Suctobelba scrofa in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: litter and soil.

Superfamily Tectocepheoidea Grandjean, 1954

Family Tectocepheidae Grandjean, 1954

• Tectocepheus velatus (Michael, 1980)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9396 and UNMP-Or0121.

Localities: (1), (2), (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, wheat crop, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

Superfamily Limnozetoidea Thor, 1937

Family Limnozetidae Thor, 1937

• Ceratobates spathulatus Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9401.

Locality: (1).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Superfamily Cymbaeremaeoidea Sellnick, 1928

Family Cymbaeremaeidae Sellnick, 1928

• Scapheremaeus chaquensis Fernández & Cleva, 2009

Cited in Fernánez and Cleva (2009).

Locality: (3).

Habitat: litter of Schinopsis lorenzii (Griseb.) Engl. and Libidibia (=Caesalpinia) paraguariensis (D. Parodi) G. P. Lewis.

• Scapheremaeus longicuspis Mahunka, 1984

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9394.

Locality: (1).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Scapheremaeus ornatus Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: epiphyton of bushes.

Superfamily Eremaeozetoidea Piffl, 1972

Family Eremaeozetidae Piffl, 1972

• Eremaeozetes bilunatifer Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981).

Localities: (16), (17).

Habitat: marshy forest and botanical garden; litter and soil.

• Eremaeozetes chancanii Fernández & Cleva, 2000

Cited in Fernández and Cleva (2000).

Locality: (14).

Habitat: litter of Prosopis flexuosa DC. and Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco.

Superfamily Licneremaeoidea Grandjean, 1954

Family Charassobatidae Grandjean, 1958

• Charassobates minimus Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981)

Locality: (16).

Habitat: marshy forest; litter.

Family Eremellidae Balogh, 1961

• Eremella ensifera Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: litter and soil.

Family Licneremaeidae Grandjean, 1954

• Huilicheremaeus atypicus (Mahunka, 1984)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0122.

Locality: (5).

Habitat: dry forest; litter and soil.

• Licneremaeus altiplanicus Covarrubias, 2005

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9417.

Locality: (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Family Passalozetidae Grandjean, 1954

• Passalozetes prominens Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: epiphyton of bushes.

Superfamily Oribatelloidea Jacot, 1925

Family Oribatellidae Jacot, 1925

• Lamellobates molecula molecula (Berlese, 1916)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0124.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, wheat crop, and maize stubble; litter.

Superfamily Oripodoidea Jacot, 1925

Family Haplozetidae Grandjean, 1936

• Indoribates rostropilosus (Hammer, 1961)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9399.

Localities: (1), (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Peloribates longicoma Hammer, 1958

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968). New material deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9398, and UNMP-Or0132.

Localities: (1), (2), (7), (10).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and maize stubble; litter, soil, and stems of Stipa.

• Peloribates paraguayensis Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0133.

Localities: (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest and pasture; litter and soil.

• Peloribates porosus Beck, 1964

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9410.

Locality: (1).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Rostrozetes ovulum ovulum (Berlese, 1908)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9431, and UNMP-Or0134.

Localities: (1), (2), (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest and pasture; litter and soil.

• Rostrozetes pseudofurcatus Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: soil.

Family Nasobatidae Balogh, 1972

• Nasobates mirabilis Balogh & Mahunka, 1969

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9391, and UNMP-Or0131.

Localities: (1), (2), (7).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Family Oribatulidae Thor, 1929

• Jornadia dactyloscopica (Balogh & Mahunka, 1968)

Cited as Oribatula dactyloscopica in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: epiphyton of bushes.

• Oribatula lata (Hammer, 1961)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0125.

Localities: (5), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

• Oribatula translineata Mahunka, 1985

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0126.

Locality: (5).

Habitat: pasture and wheat crop; soil.

• Paraphauloppia fraenzlei (Balogh & Mahunka, 1968)

Cited as Oribatula fraenzlei in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: epiphyton of bushes.

• Senoribula africana Mahunka, 1975

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0127.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and wheat crop; litter and soil.

Family Oripodidae Jacot, 1925

• Oripoda benegasi Fernández, 1999

Cited in Fernández (1999).

Locality: (12).

Habitat: rocks covered by Tillandsia spp.

• Oripoda cordobensis Balogh & Balogh, 1990

Cited as Truncopes australis in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: epiphyton in bushes.

• Oripoda maxensis Mahunka, 1984

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9451.

Locality: (1).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Parapirnodus longus Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: epiphyton in bushes.

• Pirnodus imitans Balogh & Mahunka, 1968

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1968).

Locality: (10).

Habitat: epiphyton in bushes.

Family Scheloribatidae Grandjean, 1933

• Exoribatula chavinensis (Hammer, 1961)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9469.

Locality: (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Hemileius suramericanus (Hammer, 1958)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9411, and UNMP-Or0129.

Localities: (1), (2), (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, wheat crop, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

• Hemileius trichosus (Hammer, 1958)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9409.

Locality: (1).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Scheloribates curvialatus Hammer, 1961

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0130.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, wheat crop, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

• Scheloribates laticlava Hammer, 1961

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9400.

Locality: (1).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Scheloribates praeincisus interruptus (Berlese, 1916)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9468.

Locality: (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

• Urubambates paraguayensis Balogh & Mahunka, 1981

Cited in Balogh and Mahunka (1981). New material deposited at UNMP-Or0128.

Localities: (6), (7), (16).

Habitat: dry forest, marshy forest, and pasture; litter and soil.

Superfamily Ceratozetoidea Jacot, 1925

Family Ceratozetidae Jacot, 1925

• Ceratozetella processus (Hammer, 1962)

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at CARTROUNNE N°9397.

Localities: (1), (2).

Habitat: dry forest; litter.

Superfamily Galumnoidea Jacot, 1925

Family Galumnidae Jacot, 1925

• Galumna flabellifera Hammer, 1958

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0135.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and wheat crop; litter and soil.

• Galumna innexa Pérez-Íñigo & Baggio, 1986

New record for the Gran Chaco. Deposited at UNMP-Or0136.

Localities: (5), (6), (7).

Habitat: dry forest, pasture, and maize stubble; litter and soil.

Final remarks

Though large and diverse in habitats and species, the Gran Chaco remains a poorly prospected area. Few previous data registered 53 species of Oribatida from the region, concentrated in the southernmost and eastern areas (Balogh and Mahunka 1981; Fredes 2018). Our data from the central part of the Dry Chaco (West) add 48 species newly recorded for the ecoregion and new localities for 11 species previously recorded in other areas. This constitutes a big step forward in the knowledge of soil biodiversity in the region, and Oribatida in particular, a group of the fauna that is important in food webs but whose actual diversity remains unknown. Still, there is a huge gap in knowledge of Oribatid mites of the Gran Chaco, with many large areas not prospected, such as the diverse Iberá wetlands in the East and the rich forests in the North, and many species still to be described, including some found in the works presented here, which could not be assigned to any known species.

Acknowledgements

We thank to those who participated in the sampling campaigns. To Dr. Enrique R. Laffont, Dr. Juan M. Coronel, B.S. Guillermo Ávalos, and Mr. Nicolás Infrán, from the lab ''Biología de Invertebrados y Protistas'' (Universidad Nacional del Nordeste-UNNE), and Dr. Miryam P. Damborski, Dr. Gilberto Ávalos, Dr. Mario Ibarra-Polesel, Dr. Darío D. Larrea, and Dr. Matías I. Dufek, from the lab ''Biología de los Artrópodos'' (UNNE), who took samples from ''El Impenetrable'' National Park. To Matías Mastrangelo (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata), who took samples from the following sites: La Agustina, Martín, and Verbeck.

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