A NEW SPECIES OF SEPARATOPPIA MAHUNKA, 1983 (ACARI, ORIBATIDA, OPPIIDAE) FROM INDIA

S. G. Ermilov & V. Pesić. 2013. A new species of Separatoppia Mahunka, 1983 (Acari, Oribatida, Oppiidae) from India. Graellsia, 69(2): 243-246. A new oribatid mite species of the family Oppiidae –Separatoppia indica n. sp.– is described from India. This species is morphologically most similar to Separatoppia concava Ermilov & Rybalov, 2013 (Ethiopia), but differs from the latter by length of interlamellar and notogastral setae and development of humeral processes. The genus Separatoppia Mahunka, 1983 is recorded for the first time from India and the Oriental region.


Introduction
During taxonomic identification of oribatid mites from India we discovered a new species, belonging to the genus Separatoppia Mahunka, 1983.The main purpose of this paper is to describe and illustrate this Indian species under the name Separatoppia indica n. sp.
The genus Separatoppia comprises six species, which are distributed in the Ethiopian region (Subías, 2004(Subías, , online version 2012;;Ermilov & Rybalov, 2013).Hence, this genus is recorded for the first time from India and the Oriental region.The main generic characters of Separatoppia are summarized by Subías & Balogh (1989) and Ermilov & Rybalov (2013).An identification key to known species of the genus has been presented earlier (Ermilov & Rybalov, 2013).

Material and methods
Specimens were mounted in lactic acid on temporary cavity slides for measurement and illustration.All body measurements are presented in micrometers.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.Formulae for leg setation are given in parentheses according to the sequence trochanterfemur-genu-tibia-tarsus (famulus included).Formulae for leg solenidia are given in square brackets according to the sequence genu-tibia-tarsus.(le, 12), interlamellar (in, 12) and exobothridial setae (ex, 8) setiform, thin, slightly or indistinctly barbed, set on small or large (lamellar setae) tubercles.Sensilli (ss, 45-49) with long stalk and welldeveloped fusiform and smooth head.

Description of new species
Notogaster (Figs. 1, 3).Anterior margin convex.Humeral processes developed very poorly.Setae c absent, only represented by their alveoli.Nine pairs notogastral setae short (12), setiform, smooth or indistinctly barbed.Lyrifissures short; ia located near humeral processes, im located laterally to setae h 3 , ip located between p 1 and p 2 .Lyrifissures ih and ips visible in lateral view.Opisthonotal gland openings (gla) small, located posteriorly to setae h 3 .
. Body size 258-262 x 147-155.Transcostula concave medially.Rostral setae longer than similar in length the lamellar and interlamellar setae.Sensilli fusiform, smooth.Humeral processes poorly visible.Notogastral and anogenital setae short.Anterior four setae of each genital plate inserted in one row.
MATERIAL: Holotype (male) and paratype (male) of Separatoppia indica n. sp. were collected in India, Andhra Pradesh State, East Godavari District, Ravulapalem, bore well (water temp.30o C; pH 7.5), 10.06.2009, collected by Y. Ranga Reddy.The holotype is deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia; paratype is in the personal collection of the first author.DIAGNOSIS