Two new species of Neophysobates (Acari, Oribatida, Tegoribatidae) from New Zealand

Two new species of oribatid mites of the monotypic genus Neophysobates (Oribatida, Tegoribatidae) from high alpine cushion fields in the Pisa Range, South Island, New Zealand are described. Neophysobates zealandicus n. sp. differs from N. monodactylus by the presence of bothridial seta with simple stalk and clavate, rounded distally head, a short adanal lyrifissure, and thickened seta pvo with attenuate tip on tarsus II. Neophysobates incrassatus n. sp. differs from N. monodactylus by the presence of bidactylous legs, three pairs of notogastral porose areas, thin rostral seta and tutorium without free tip. An identification key to the known species of Neophysobates is provided.


INTRODUCTION
Neophysobates is a monotypic oribatid mite genus (Acari, Oribatida, Tegoribatidae), which was proposed by Luxton (1985) under the name Paraphysobates, with Physobates monodactylus Hammer, 1966 as type species. Later, Luxton (1987) proposed the replacement name (Neophysobates), because the name Paraphysobates was preoccupied (see Mahunka 1985). Apparently unaware of this action, Fujikawa (1991) proposed another replacement name -Pseudophysobates. As it has the same type species, Pseudophysobates is an objective junior synonym of Neophysobates, and the synonymy was first noted by Subías (2004). Subías (2004) also included Tegoribates montana Engelbrecht, 1986 and T. nuda Engelbrecht, 1986 (both from South Africa) in Neophysobates. How-ever, these species have lamellae with anterior incision, three pairs of adanal setae, and very long bothridial setae with stalk not enclosed by bothridia (also, T. nuda has sacculi on notogaster), therefore, the inclusion of these species in Neophysobates seems to be problematic and their systematic position should be investigated further.
The main generic characters of Neophysobates are (based on data from Luxton (1985) and including our additions): fused lamellae broadly rounded anteriorly, without anterior incision; interlamellar seta and its alveolus absent; bothridial seta clavate or fusiform, stalk enclosed in bothridium; anterior part of pteromorph at the same level as anterior notogastral margin; three or four pairs of porose areas on notogaster; ten pairs of minute notogastral setae; five or six pairs of genital setae; aggenital se-tae present or absent; two pairs of adanal setae; legs mono-or bidactylous.
During a recent study of the oribatid mite fauna of the high alpine zone of several mountain ranges in Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand (Ermilov and Minor 2015a-c), we discovered two new species of the genus Neophysobates. The main goal of our paper is to describe and illustrate these taxa. Additionally, we provide an identification key for the three known species of Neophysobates.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The new species were found in the high alpine zone of Central Otago mountains, at elevations ranging 1700 -1800 m a.s.l. The area is an exposed alpine environment with low mean annual temperatures (ca. 2 degrees C) and frequent freeze-thaw cycles (Mark and Bliss 1970). The vegetation is dominated by dwarf cushion shrubs Dracophyllum muscoides (Ericaceae) and Raoulia spp. (Compositae) on crests of small (15 -30 cm) cryogenic earth hummocks and stripes; between hummocks and stripes there is bare soil with some herbaceous plants and lichens (Mark and Bliss 1970). The collection locality and habitat for each new species are given in the respective "Material examined" sections. Specimens were mounted in lactic acid on temporary cavity slides for measurement and illustration. The body length was measured in lateral view, from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the ventral plate. Notogastral width refers to the maximum width in dorsal aspect. Lengths of body setae were measured in lateral aspect. All body measurements are presented in micrometers. Formulas for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanter-femur-genu-tibia-tarsus (famulus included). Formulas for leg solenidia are given in square brackets according to the sequence genu-tibia-tarsus. General terminology used in this paper follows that of Grandjean (summarized by Norton and Behan-Pelletier 2009). Drawings were made with a drawing tube using a Carl Zeiss transmission light microscope "Axioskop-2 Plus".
Integument -Body color light brown to brown. Body surface smooth, but notogaster covered by cerotegumental microgranules (their diameter up to 2, well visible under high magnification in dissected specimens). Tutorium and pedotectum I partially striate.

Leg
Trochanter Femur Genu Tibia Tarsus ', s, (pv) Roman letters refer to normal setae, Greek letters to solenidia (except ɛ = famulus). Single prime (' ) marks setae on anterior and double prime ('' ) setae on posterior side of the given leg segment. Parentheses refer to a pair of setae.
Type deposition -The holotype (alcohol) and two paratypes (alcohol) are deposited in the New Zealand National Arthropod Collection, Auckland, New Zealand; two paratypes (alcohol) are deposited in the collection of the Senckenberg Institution, Frankfurt, Germany; one paratype (alcohol) is deposited in the collection of the Tyumen State University Museum of Zoology, Tyumen, Russia.
Etymology -The specific name "zealandicus" refers to the country of origin, New Zealand.
Comparison -Neophysobates zealandicus n. sp. is similar to N. monodactylus Hammer, 1966 also from New Zealand (see Hammer 1967) in having monodactylous legs, four pairs of notogastral porose areas, thickened rostral seta, and tutorium with free knife-like tip. However, it differs from the latter by the presence of simple bothridial stalk (vs. with strong mid-length swelling), bothridial head rounded distally (vs. pointed), short adanal lyrifissure (vs. comparatively long) and seta pv" on tarsus II thickened, with attenuated tip (vs. short, thick, thorn-like).