Table Of ContentIIALACAKID FAUNA Ol- I HE GREAT BARklbR RIbF AND CORAL SLA Till
GENERA AGAUOPSJSAND MALACAROPSJS(ACARINA: IALAC ARIDAE)
I
JURGLNC. 01TO
Otto. J.C. 1909 06 30: Ilalacarid fauna ofthe Oreat Barrier RecTaild I oral genet*
Aguw>p,vi;< and llulaeuropsis (Acarina: Ualaearidac). MemoirsofShe QueenslandMuseum
43(2); 797-SI7. ISSN O07J)-S83ST
Six new species vtfAgnuop&i&and one new li Halacaropsh ate described rrom the
Great BarrierReefMarine ParkandadjacentCoralSeareels,namely. \gcmopsisherriei, 4,
capilh&QiA* deeorata.A, fenneri,A no)ino . uandHQlucarapsunereis. Thespecies
Agauopsis okinuvensis Bartsch is recorded forthe first time from Australian waters, and ,1
aeguiliVBStitaBarlsch furthe fust limefrom theeasternpartofthecontinent. Thepreviously
UDknown niale>.ol.1 ueifuilivestilaandA ukinavensisatedescribedandakey toAustralian
3
species ofAgauppsh is presented. Halaeorhh, tgWOp&fa (fyfacaKOpsfa Grtai ln>>
Reef, \u\tndia.
JUrgenC Olio, /email [email protected]) AustralianInstitute o/Mariru Sen-me, PMB3,
Tawnsvilic 4X10, Australia; 24 Fehruarv J9
Aquatic mites nf the family Halaeandae are Agavupsk and 1 species of the closely-related
genua Halocaropsis* Seven of these are n^
most abundant and diverse in marine habitatshut
science and dr^ described herein.
also occur freshwater and range in size from
0.1-2mm, They are unable to swim and arc
therefore part of the benthos. More than 900 METHODS
species have been described to date. Until a few
yeats ago relatively few species were described Sand, coral rubble and algae, all substrates in
from Australia and Ihese were the result of which halacarids are known to occur, were
sporadic collecting at just a few localities (Otto, collected by hand cither intertidally or bom
1994). However, recently XX speciesofhalacarid various depths usually using SCUBA. A single
miles were found around the relatively small sample from 51in depth was taken by a mech-
Rottnest Island (Western Australia) afteronly 14 anical grabbing device. Mites were extracted by
days of collecting activity, which led to a washing the substrates in a bowl of wale
dramatic increase in the rtumher of described decanting the supernatant through a lOOuffl
Australian species(Bartseh, l°92a_d; 1Wa.bx,d; sieve. All material was collected by the authoi
1094a,b; I996a,b; I997a,c; foran accurateaccount except where stated otherwise Mites wete
Of all halacaroids described until 199S see Hat cleared inlacticacidandmountedinPVA(Boud-
liday, 1998). reau\& Dusse. 963 Drawings weremade with
1 ).
On the basis ofsuch figures it appears likely the aid ofa camera luctda.
that the species presently known from Australia In the accounts ofeach speciesonly om »
represent only a fraction ofthose that inhabit the described in detail, while for the opposite sex
coastal waters of this continent. Further studies only characters that differ arc described Meas-
on Australia's extensive coast arc necessary to urements arc in micrometres (gin). Terminology
revealthe full extentofhalacarid diversity onthis follows BaitSCh (I993c3 and includes: arcol
continent, In particular, the tropica] north ofthe areas un dorsal and ventral plates with cuticular
continent has barely been investigated in regard structure differing from remainder of plates,
to its halacarid fauna the only recordsbeing of4 costae - longitudinal areolae on PD and AD;
species of Cvpidognuthus found in Darwin parambulaerul setae small setae at tip oftaisus,
Harbour (Bartseh, 1997b) and 1 species o\ cornea - retractile body visible on the ocular
Copidognaihus collected on the Great Barrier plate in deeper cuticular layers. Abbreviations
Reef(GBR) (Bartseh, 1996c) AD, anterodorsal plate; AP. anterior epuneral
Thepresentstudy formspart ol a project aimed plate;GA,getntoaual plate; GO, genitalopening;
at investigatingthehalacarid fauna ofAustralia's OC ocular plate: PD, posterodorsal plate; PP.
GBR, adjacentcoastand Coral Seareefs.Among postserior epimeral plate; P-2, P-3, P-4, 2nd, 3ttl
Xhe, halacarids found to date arc S species of and4th palp segmenis (starting from base); I-1V,
,
798 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
Tarsi straight, not curved. Median claws absent
orinconspicuous.Tarsi IIIandIVusuallylacking
ventral setae (parambulacral setae excluded).
Agauopsis aequilivestita Bartsch
(Fig- 1)
AgauopsisaequilivestitaBartsch, 1996a: 2.
MATERIAL. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park;
QMS105141, F, and ZMH, F, 19.20.12°S 149.02.85°E,
Elizabeth Reef, 25. Dec. 1997, coarse sand at 3m;
QMS105142-105144 3F, 18.25.93°S 147.21.1 1°E,
&
FaradayReef, 13Apr. 1998,coarsesand rubbleat 1Om,
sandat2m, andcoarsesand& rubbleat2m,respectively;
QMS105145,F, 18.41.91°S I47.06.49°E, LoadstoneReef,
12Apr. 1998,sand&rubbleat2m;QMS105146,F,Carter
Reef, ca. 14.32°S 145.35°E, 11 Oct. 1998, coarsesand at
0.5m. Coral Sea: QMS105147-105153, 7F, ANIC, F,
ZMH, F; QMS105154-105159, 6F, Lihou Reef, ca.
17.25°S 151.40°E, 20-22 July 1998, D, Fenner, sand at
5-7m;QMS105160, F, Willis Islet,ca. 16.18°S 149.58°E,
15 Sept. 1998, GA. Diaz-Pulido, coral rubble (fine),
FIoGp.en1i.nAgg.aSucoaplseislianeeq=ui2l5ivpe.smt.itaBartsch,malegenital 0-10m.
REMARKS. The above listed specimens are the
leg I to leg IV; ar, areola; co, costa; pas, single
parambulacralsetae;double-pas,doubledpararn- first records ofthis species from the Australian
bulacral setae;os, outlyingsetae;pgs,perigenital east coast. The species was known previously
SW
setae; sgs, subgenital setae. All material is only from RottnestI. in Australia. Itisclose-
deposited in the Queensland Museum (QM), at ly relatedtoAgauopsispunctatus Bartsch, 1981
the Museum ofTropical Queensland branch in from the Mozambique channel.
Townsville (MTQ), unless stated otherwise.
Bartsch (1996a) described an oblong area
Abbreviations for other depositories: ANIC,
lackingrosetteporesontheposterodorsalplateof
Australian National InsectCollection (Canberra,
Australia); UQIC, University of Queensland A. aequilivestita. Suchanoblongareaisabsentin
Insect Collection (Brisbane, Australia); ZMH, all specimens from the Coral Sea reefs but
Zoologisches Museum Hamburg (Hamburg, present, although variable in size and sometimes
barely visible, in all specimens collected on the
Germany).
GBR.ThesedifferencescouldindicatethatCoral
SYSTEMATICS Sea and GBR populations are reproductively
isolated and as a result may have diverged over
time. The reefs of the Coral Sea are separated
Agauopsis Viets from the GBR by a >1,000m deep trench which
Agauopsis Viets, 1927: 94; 1956: 687. Newell, 1947: 21, mayconstituteasignificantbarrierforhalacarids
38, 184; 1971: 28; 1984: 215. Bartsch, 1986: 165; that lack planktonic life stages.
1993e:57; 1996a: 2;Otto, 1994:35.
The present material contains previously
TYPE SPECIES. Agaite brevipalpus Trouessart, 1889b, unknown males which differ from the female as
byoriginal designation.
follows: Idiosoma 372-400 long. 8-14 pgs
DIAGNOSIS. Body heavily armoured; setae on surrounding GO, inserted between cuticular
dorsal striated integument not distinctly longer callocities(Fig. pairofoutlyingsetaeinserted
than setae on dorsal plates. Anterior epimeral anterolateral to G1O);. GO with 5 pairs sgs, 2 pairs
plate entire, with 3 pairs ofsetae. Leg I heavier anterior and 3 pairs posterior, the middle pair of
than legs II-IV, with heavy spiniform setae on theposteriorgroupmuchheavierthantheothers.
telofemur,genu,tibiaandtarsus. SpineontarsusI Cuticle surrounding GO with irregular shaped
in medial position, much shorter than tarsus. pits.
HALACARIDS OF THE CORAL SEA 799
Agauopsis benziei sp. nov. margin ofplate, 3rd pair ofsetae approximately
(Figs 2, 3) halfwayalongplate. Pairofadanal setaeinserted
dorsally on reticulated anal cone. AE with very
ETYMOLOGY. In honour ofDr John Benzie who has faint reticulate ornamentation; pierced by
given hiscontinuoussupport forthe presentproject.
eanaliculi, those directly posteriorto the anterior
MATERIAL. HOLOTYPE: QMS105161, F, Great and posterior pairs of epimeral setae and post-
Barrier Reef Marine Park, Elizabeth Reef, 19°20.12'S eriortothepairofepimeralporesslightlycoarser
149°02.85'E, 25 Dec. 1997, coarse sand at 3m. than eanaliculi on rest ofplate; posterior margin
PARATYPES: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: with series ofpore-like structures (Fig. 2B). PE
QMS105162, F, ZMH, F, Elizabeth Reef 19°20.12S
dorsally with 3 pitted areolae, lateral to dorsal
149°02.85E,25 Dec. 1997,coarsesandand rubbleat3m;
QMS105164, F, Bramble Reef, 18 25.25'S 146°40.65'E seta, just posterior to dorsal seta and anterior to
1 Apr. 1998,mediumcoarsesandat3-6m;QMS105163.9 insertion of leg IV, respectively (Fig. 2A);
F, BrambleReef, L8°25.2S'S 146°40.65'E, 10Apr. 1998, ventrallywith 3-4areolae, ofwhich theposterior
chunksofcoral rubbleat3-6m; ANIC, F, LoadstoneReef. one is marked by relatively deep pits while the
18°42.03'S 147D06.54'E, 12 Apr. 1998, coarse sand & othersaremarkedby lineeanaliculi.GApunctate
rubbleat 12-15m;QMS105165-105166,2F,PandoraReef, and very faintly reticulate; few pore-like
QR1e8M°e4Sf9a'1nS0d51F17a45r6,aDd2Fa6,y,ERQ,eMe2fS2, 11J08a5°n.2136.716949M'7S., 1cb4oe7at°rw2se0ee.4ns2a,MnEdy,r1am3tiAdlpomrn.; mmaarrgkiinnsgs(Fiing.a2nBt)e;riaonrtehraollfatoefraplltaoteGGOaOlownitghlpaittetreadl
1998,fine-mediumcoarsesand,ai51m;QMS105169, M, areolae; cuticle posterolateral to thickened
Rosser Reef, ca 15°37,S 145°33'E, 8 Oct. 1998, sand at and roughened; position of3 pairs ofpgs as in
2m; QMS105174, F. No Name Reef, ca. 14°39,S Fig. 2B, anteriorpairwell removedfrom anterior
Q14M5°S401'0E5,1790O,ctF., Y19o9n8g,echRuenefk'yccao.ralL4r°u3b6b'lSe&14s5a°n3d8,aEt,9m2;0 end ofGO.
Sept. 1998,G.Diaz,mediumcoarsesandat7m.CoralSea: Ventral gnathosomal base with conspicuous
QMS10517LM, LihouReefNW,ca. L7°25'S 151°40'E, lateral protrusion (Fig. 2D); distinctly pitted
22 July 1998, D. Fenner, sand at 8m; QMS105168, M, throughout, most conspicuously on protrusion;
South Willis Islet, ca. I6°18'S 149°58'E, 15 Sept. I99S. pair of setae separated by <l/5th of width of
G.A. Diaz-Pulido coll., coral rubble (fine), 0-10m; gnathosomal base. Dorsal gnathosomal base
QMS105173, F, QMS105172, M. Chilcott Islet. roughened. Rostrum longer than gnathosomal
16°56.51'S 150°0.4'E, 14 Sept. 1998, G.A. Diaz-Pulido base; rostral sulcus extending along 2/3rd of
coll., coarsesand. 1-14m. rostrum. Medial spine on P-3 slender and
FAeDmaalned.PIDdicolsoosemlay4a1s2s-oc4i7a0teldon(Fgig(.ho2lAo)t;ypneo4s4e3t)a.e wtaapyerainlgo;ngP-s4egwmietnht,2osnleensdheorrtseerttaheanintsheertoetdhehra.lf
in membranous cuticle between them. Frontal
AD
spinestout,roughenedandmediallynotched. Telofemora and tibiae of legs with reticulate
posteriorly narrowing, truncate; areolashapedas ornamentation, most conspicuous on medial
inFig.2A,markedbydoublerowofdeeppitsand flanks(indicatedforleg1inFig.3A).TelofemurI
numerous fine eanaliculi in deeper cuticular with a sharp ventral ridge carrying a proximal
layers; transverse part of areola set off sharply protuberance, dorsally with a series of
from anterior part of plate; part of plate conspicuouspits.Chaetotaxy(trochanter-tibia): I
circumscribed byareola with thick cuticularbars l-2-9(10)-5-l 1 (Fig. 3A); II 1-2-7-4-8 (Fig. 3B);
forming conspicuous reticulate ornamentation, III 1-2-4-3-6 (Fig. 3C); IV 1-2-4-3-6 (Fig. 3D).
floorofeach polygonroughenedbyshallowpits; Leg I with the following complement ofheavy
restofplatepapillate;withapairofsetaeinserted spiniform setae: 1 ventral and 3 medial on
directlyanteriortoareola.OCwith2corneaeand telofemur, medial on genu, 3 medial and 2
1
transverse areola (marked by pits and in deeper ventral on tibia, 1 medial on tarsus; 2 of the 3
cuticular layers by numerous eanaliculi) on medialspiniformsetaeontibiaclosely associated
elevated part ofplate; posterior to corneae with (Fig. 3A). Tibia II with 3 spiniform apically
pore,anteriorlywithaseta;anteriorandposterior denticulatesetae,the2 distalones longerthanthe
parts pf plate papillate. PD with pair of proximal one (Fig. 3B). Tibiae 111 and IV with 2
prominently elevated costae, marked by double suchsetae,proximal onemuch shorterthandistal
rowofdeeppitsand indeepercuticularlayersby one (Fig. 3C,D). Tarsus I with pairofpas, pairof
numerouseanaliculi;eostaovermostofitslength double-pas.and 1 ventral seta.Tarsus II withpair
2pitswide,posteriorlyswollenandabout3-4pits ofdouble-pas,ventralmemberspur-like.Tarsi III
wide; remainder of plate conspicuously and IV with 1 ventral seta and pair ofpas, the
reticulated; 2 pairs of setae near anterolateral lateral pas spur-like. Paired claws on tarsus I
800 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
~4- l/*x
FIG.2.Agauopsisbenzieisp.nov.,adult: A,dorsal idiosomaoffemale;B, ventral idiosomaoffemale;C,genital
openingofmale; D, ventral gnathosoma. Scale lines: A,B = 100|iin; C = 25um; D = 50um
smooth, those of other legs with accessory narrow band in the shape ofan inverted bowl.A.
process and pecten. All tarsi with median claw. benziei is a typical representative of the
Male. Idiosoma399-448 long.GOsurroundedby conjuncta group (see Bartsch, 1986) which is
ca. 22-24pgs(Fig.2C);genital valvewith 5 pairs characterised by the costae on the posterodorsal
ofsgs, 2 pairs anteriorly and 3 pairs posteriorly. plate carrying relatively deep pits, the antero-
REMARKS. Agauopsis benziei sp. nov. differs dorsal plate narrowing posteriorly and tibia I
from all its congeners by the shape ofthe areola possessing five spines. The other species in this
on the anterodorsal plate. In A. benziei it is a group are A. batkyalis Bartsch, 1989, A.
HALACARIDS OF THE CORAL SEA 801
ornamention formed by cutic-
n/rJ»)Oflv
ular bars surrounding pitted
v polygons. OC acuminate post-
eriorly, punctate and faintly
reticulate; with 2 corneae and
posterior to these with a pore;
transverse areola
inconspicuous, only represent-
ed by a few solid panels. PD
with reticulate ornamentation
similar to that on AD; pair of
narrow raised costae (con-
sisting of a single row of
quadrangular panels overlying
alveoli) strongly converging
posteriorly; 3 pairs ofsetae as
illustrated (Fig. 4C);
posteriorly with pair ofpores.
AE not extending beyond
insertion of legs III; posterior
margin slightly concave (Fig.
4A); punctate and with incon-
spicuous reticulate
ornamentation throughout;
posteriorto insertions oflegs I
and II with papillate areolae;
halfway along plate on either
FIG. 3. Agauopsis henzieisp. nov., adult: A. leg I, ventromedial; B, leg II sidewithgroupofseveralscars
ventromedial; C, leg III, ventral; D, leg IV, lateral. Scale lines = 50um. continuing underneath surface
as sickle-shaped sclerites. PE
conjuncta Viets, 1940, A. meteoris Bartsch, punctate, laterally with papillate areolae. GA
1973, and A. minor (Trouessart, 1894). punctate; 3 pairs of pgs, the anteriormost pair
GO
heavier than the others; lateral to with
Agauopsis capillosa sp. nov. papillate areolae.
(Figs4,5) Ventral gnathosomal base swollen postero-
lateral^; punctate; laterally with reticulate
ETYMOLOGY. Latin, capillosa= hairy; referringtothe ornamentation (Fig. 4B); pairofsetae insertedat
numerous finefilamentsonthe legsetae. distance <l/3rd of width of gnathosomal base.
Rostrum longer than gnathosomal base. Palp
MATERIAL. HOLOTYPE: QMS105176,^SF,SG^r'eaSt longer than rostrum; P-3 with slender and
B1a4r6r°i3e6r.9R4e'eEf, M1a6riAnper.Par1k9,98,PhimlulidpdsyRereufb,ble at 12m. tapering spine which is at least twice as long as
PARATYPE:QMS105177,F,GreatBarrierReefMarine P-3; P-4 subequal in length to P-2, with 2 fine
Park, Elizabeth Reef, 19°20.12'S 149°02.85,E, 25 Dec. tapering setae and 2 shorter blunt setae apically.
1997, coral rubbleat 10m. Chaetotaxy of legs (trochanter-tibia): I
Female. Idiosoma in holotype and paratype 410 1-2-8-5-8 (Fig. 5A), II 1-2-5-4-5 (Fig. 5B), III
long. Membranous cuticle with 1 pair of setae l_2-3-3-4 (Fig. 5C), IV 0-2-3-3-4 (Fig. 5D), all
AD AD
near posterolateral margin of (Fig. 4C). setae, except those that are spiniform, with
with prominent frontal spine ornamented with numerous fine filaments (Fig. 5). Leg I (Fig. 5A)
fewslightlyraisedpanels; lateral to frontal spine with the following arrangement of heavy
with pair ofprotuberances; lateral part ofplate spiniform setae: 2 ventral and 3 medial on
with pair ofareolae consisting ofa singlerow of telofemur, 1 medial and 1 much smaller ventral
quadrangularpanels, each panel associated with ongenu, 1 ventral and2medial ontibia, 1 medial
an alveolus in deeper cuticular layers; panels on tarsus, each spiniform seta with denticles
roughened by minute tubercles, not pierced by apically, some ofwhich are arranged in distinct
canaliculi; between areolae with reticulate rows. SetaeoflegsIII andIV longerthanthoseof
802 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
plate is not extending beyond
the level at which legs III are
inserted.
A. capillosa is most similar
to A. okinavensis, previously
theonlyknownmemberofthe
okinavensis group (see
Bartsch, 1986). Both species
share a number of otherwise
unusual characters on the
basis ofwhich A. capillosa is
here assigned to the
okinavensis group. These
characters,whichmaybeused
to define this species group
are: papillate areolae on
anterior and posterior
epimeralplates;narrowcostae
with quadrangular panels that
are not pierced by canaliculi;
projections lateral to the
frontal spine; avery long palp
tarsus with 2 filiform setae
apically; a spine on palp
segment P-3 that is at least
twice as long as the segment;
smooth claws on all tarsi and
relatively long leg setae, in
particular on legs III and IV.
Bartsch (1986) regardedthe
posteriorly extended anterior
epimeral plate of A.
okinavensis as a character by
which the okinavensis group
should be defined. However,
theabsenceofthischaracterin
A. capillosa indicates that the
FIG.4.Aganopsiscapillosasp.nov.,adult:A,dorsal idiosomaoffemale; B, extended plate is not a
ventral idiosoma offemale; C, ventral gnathosoma. Scale lines: A, B = common character of species
100um;C =25um.
in this group.
legs I and II. Tarsus I withpairofpas andpairof Bartsch(1986)wasuncertainwhetherornotto
ventral setae; tarsus II with 1 pas laterally, include A. pteropes Bartsch, 1986, in the
withoutventral setae; tarsiIIIand IVwithoutpas okinavensis group and postponed the decision
or ventral setae. All tarsi with pair of smooth until further material was collected. I do not
paired claws, those ofleg I smallerthanthose of regardA.pteropesasaspecies oftheokinavensis
legs II-IV; median claw on tarsus I present, on group since it lacks all of the aforementioned
characters.
othertarsi absent.
Male. Unknown. Agauopsis decorata sp. nov.
(Fig. 6)
pRaElpMAseRgKmSen.tIins aAtgaleuaosptsaisslocanpgialslopsaalpthseeagpmiecnatl ETYMOLOGY. Latin, decorata = adorned; referring to
P-2, which is known otherwise only for A. thegarland-likeornamentionoftheanteriorepimeralplate.
okinavensis Bartsch, 1986. A. capillosa differs MATERIAL. HOLOTYPE: QMS105178, F, Great
fromA. okinavensis in that the anterior epimeral Barrier Reef Marine Park, Elizabeth Reef, I9°20.12'S
HALACAR1DS OF THE CORAL SEA 803
QMS105186,F.NoNameReef,ca.
14°39'S 145°40'E, 9 Oct. 1998,
chunkycoralrubbleandsandat9m.
Female. Idiosoma 368-396
long (holotype 375). Outline
as in Fig. 6A,B. Membranous
cuticle between plates with
only 1 pairofsetae,situatedon
AD
small platelets (Fig. 6A).
with prominent pointed
frontal spine; posterior to
spine with slightly raised
areola pierced by groups of
canaliculi; laterally with pair
of sharp dorsolaterally
directed ridges, at their
anteriorendwithpairofsetae;
alongthe inside ofridgeswith
single row of rosettes of ca.
6-8 canaliculi, underneath
each rosette in deeper
cuticular layers an alveolus;
part between ridges strongly
elevated over lateral portions
of plate, with cuticular bars
forming reticulate ornament-
ation pattern, cuticle within
each polygon pitted; posterior
margin of plate almost
straight. OC with 2 corneae,
posterior to these an incon-
spicuous pore; transverse
areola consisting of few
canaliculi rosettes overlying
an alveolus; areola and
corneae on elevated part of
plate; posterior part of plate
FIIIGI., d5.orAsgaal;uoDp,silsegcIaVp,ildloorssaals.p.Sncoavl.e,laidnuelst:=A5,0ule,gm.I.ventral; B, legII;C, leg wiintchonpsappiicluloaeusforretmiicnuglaatne
149°02.85'E, 25 Dec. 1997, coral rubble at 10m. pattern. PD fused with anal
PARATYPES: Great Barrier ReefMarine Park: QMS- cone; with pair ofnarrow, slightly raised costae
105179,F,dataasforholotype;QMS105180-105181,2F, consisting of single (in short sections doubled)
d1a6t-a2a6smf;orQhoMloSty1p0e5e1x8c7e,pt:F,24FDaenct.o1m9e97,I.,cor1a8l°r4u2b.b1l4e'aSt row of canaliculi rosettes, underneath each
146°30.48'E,6Apr. 1998,coralrubblecoveredwithmud; rosette an alveolus; area between costae with
QMS105182,F, FantomeI., 18°42.H'S 146°31.5rE, 15 conspicuous reticulate ornamentation, lateral to
Apr. 1998,chunksofcoralrubbleat2m;ANIC,F,Pandora costae with papillae arranged in polygons and
Reef, 18°48.92'S 146°25.76'E, 22 Jan. 1998, chunks of forming a less conspicuous reticulated pattern;
coral rubble with rich epifaunaAflora, 0.5m; ZMH, F, anteriorto anal cone with a transverse thickened
Loadstone Reef, 18°42.03,S 147°06.54,E, 12 Apr. 1998,
coral rubble at 12-15m; QMS105183, F, Townsville, areola, pierced by canaliculi rosettes and well
MagneticL, 16Nov. 1996,sandat2-6m;QMS105184,F, separated from costae; with 1 pair of setae at
Bramble Reef, 18 25.25'S 146°40.65'E, 10 Apr. 1998, anterolateral margin of PD, another pair
chunksofcoral rubbleat3-6m; QMS105185, F, between approximatelyhalfway alongPD, and a 3rdpair
Myrmidon and Faraday Reefs, 18°23.64'S 147°20.03,E, on anal cone. AE very faintly reticulate, over
13 Apr. 1998, fine-medium coarse sand at 51m; most parts with scattered canaliculi; rosettes of
ca. 13-17 conspicuous canaliculi arranged to
804 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
FIG. 6. Agauopsis decorata sp. nov., adult; A, dorsal idiosoma offemale; B, ventral idiosoma offemale; C,
ventral gnathosoma; D, legI, ventral; E, leg II, medial; F, leg III, ventrolateral; G, leg IV, ventrolateral. Scale
lines: A, B = lOO^im; C-G = 50^m.
.
HALACARIDS OF THE CORAL SEA 805
formgarland-likeornamentationpatternwhichis plate. Other members of this group are A.
interrupted just posterolateral^ of anterior pair bacescui Konnerth-lonescu. 1977, A
of epimeral setae (Fig. 6B); posterior margin bermudemis Bartsch and Iliffe, 1985,A. inflatus
medially with bulged area containing an areola Newell, 1984, A. ornata (Lohmann, 1893), A.
consisting of several canaliculi rosettes. PE pseudoornata Bartsch, 1985. and A. ornatella
vcntrally with at least 4 areolae consisting of Bartsch, 1996a.
GA
canaliculi rosettes. slightly indented A. decoratadiffers fromA. bacescuibyhaving
anteriorly; 3 pairsofpgspositionedasin Fig. 6B. threeinsteadoffourspiniformsetaeontelofemur
anteriormost pair level with anterior margin of I, from A. inflatus by having a relatively shorter
GO; anterolaterally and posterolateral^ with rostrum, from A. bermudensis, A. ornata and A.
areola consisting ofcanaliculi groups and faint pseudoornata by having much narrower areolae
polygonal panels. andcostae on AD andPDrespectively, andfrom
Ventralgnathosomalbase laterallywithpairof A. ornatellabyhavingaraisedareolaposteriorto
areolae consisting of few inconspicuous poly- the frontal spine.
gonal panels with canaliculi; circular scar on
eithersidewithout canaliculi (Fig. 6C); between Agauopsis fenneri sp. nov.
areolae pitted; anteriorly with pair of setae (Figs 7,8)
sReopsatrrautmedbshyor<tle/r2tthheanwigdtnhatohfogsnoamtahlosboamsael. bPaasle.p ETYMOLOGY. In honour of Dr Doug Fenner, who
collected the holotype.
withslenderandtaperingspineonP-3;P-4with2
setae in proximal half, both ofsubequal length. MATERIAL HOLOTYPE: QMS105188, F, Coral Sea,
Legs chaetotaxv (trochanters-tibia): Lihou Reel NW, ca 17°25'S 151WE, 22 July 1998, D.
1 Fenner. sand at 8m. PARATYPES: Great Barrier Reef
1-2-8-5-8 (Fig. 6D),'II 1-2-5-5-5 (Fig. 6E), III MarinePark:QMS105190,F,AN1C,F,ZMFLF,LizardL,
1-2-3-3-5(Fig.6F), IV0-2-3-3-5(Fig. 6G). Leg I Coconut Beach, 13 Oct. 1998, medium coarse sand at
withthe followingsetofheavyspiniform setae: 2 0.5m; QMS105189, M, QMSI05I91, F, Lizard I.,
ventral and 1 anterioronbasifemur, 1 ventral and CoconutBeach, 13Oct. 1998,mediumcoarsesandatmid
1 longer medial on genu, 1 ventral and 2 medial tide level, sedimentdepth 10cm.
on tibia, 1 medial on tarsus, all with minute Female. Idiosoma 327-341 long (holotype 333).
denticles attip; basifemur I with distinct ventral Outline as in Fig. 7A,C. Membranous cuticle
vpernottruablefrialnicfeorm(Fsiegt.a o6nD)a.prToitbuibaeeranIcIe-,IVonwittihbiae1 boentswmeaelnlppllaatteeslewtistahnotenrliyor1 tpoaiOrCof(sFeitga.e,7sAi)t.uaAteDd
III and TV flanked distally by a lamella and with prominent pointed frontal spine;
proximally by a second smaller protuberance; posterolateral to spine with pair ofconspicuous
with pair ofbipectinale setae, the shorter medial oblongroughenedswellingswhicharcpiercedby
one clavate, the longer ventral one pointed. fewcanaliculi; posteriortoswellingswithpairof
Tibiae III and IV with pair ofslightly thickened sharp laterally directed ridges that carry at their
and slightly denticulate setae, the lateral one anterior end a pair ofsetae; along the inside of
longer than the medial one. Tarsus I with pair of ridgeswithsinglerow ofcanaliculi rosettes,each
double-pas and 2 ventral setae; tarsus II with 1 overlying an alveolus; part between ridges
ventral setaand 1 lateral pas;tarsi III and IV with strongly elevated overlateral parts ofplate, with
1 medial pas. Paired claws on tarsus I smooth, cuticular bars forming reticulate ornamentation
without pecten or accessory process; claws of pattern, cuticle within each polygon pitted;
tarsi II-IV with pecten (more conspicuous on posterior margin of plate almost straight. OC
tarsus II than on tarsi III and IV) and with2 corneaeandsmallareolaconsistingoffew
inconspicuous accessory process. Median claw canaliculi rosettes on elevated part ofplate. PD
on tarsus I present, on II-IV absent. fused with anal cone; pair of narrow costae
Male. Unknown. consisting of double row of canaliculi rosettes
each overlying an alveolus; area between costae
REMARKS. Agauopsis decorata sp. nov. elevated over remainder ofplate, with cuticular
belongs to the ornata group (see Bartsch, 1986, bars forming conspicuous reticulate
1996a), which is common in tropical and ornamentation similartothat ofAD;justanterior
subtropical waters but apparently absent in to anal cone with transverse thickened areola,
cooler regions (Bartsch, 1996a). Species of this pierced by canaliculi rosettes, not distinctly
group are recognisable by their garland-like separated from costae; 1 pair of setae at
ornamentation pattern on the anterior epimeral anterolateral margin of PD, another pair
806 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
FIG.7.Agauopsisfennerisp.nov.,female:A,idiosoma,dorsal;B,gnathosoma,ventral;C,idiosoma,ventral;D,
legI,ventromedial;E,legII,lateral;F,legIII,lateral;G,legIV,lateral.Scalelines:A = 100|im;B=50n,m;C-G
= 100u.m.
