A NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS TEGEOCRANELLUS BERLESE , 1913 ( ACARINA : ORIBATIDA : TEGEOCRANELLIDAE ) FROM TRIPURA , INDIA

Berlese (1913) established the genus Tegeocranellus with T. laevis Berlese, 1905 as the type under the family Tectocepheidae Grandjean, 1954. Later on, in the year 1987 P. Balogh placed this genus in a separate family Tegeocranellidae. In 1992 Balogh shifted the family Tegeocranellidae from the superfamily Carabodoidea to Polypterozetoidea Grandjean, 1959. They included only one genus Tegeocranellus Berlese, 1913 under the family Tegeoceranellidae.


INTRODUCTION
established the genus Tegeocranellus with T. laevis Berlese, 1905 as the type under the family Tectocepheidae Grandjean, 1954.Later on, in the year 1987 P. Balogh placed this genus in a separate family Tegeocranellidae.In 1992 Balogh shifted the family Tegeocranellidae from the superfamily Carabodoidea to Polypterozetoidea Grandjean, 1959.They included only one genus Tegeocranellus Berlese, 1913 under the family Tegeoceranellidae.
The genus Tegeocranellus differs markedly from the genus Tectocepheus Berlese, 1913 in having dorsosejugal suture and shoulders on the antero-Iateral sides of the notogaster.Grandjean (1962) redescribed Tegeocranellus laevis Berlese, 1905 and in the same year Csiszar and leleva reported the species TegeoCranellus laevis for the first time from Bulgaria.Kok (1968) described two new species, T. knysnaesis from Knysria and T. sacchareus from lululand.Balogh and Mahunka (1969) described another new species, T. bolivianus from South Africa.In the year 1983, Balogh and Balogh described T. concavus and T. conoexus.According to key of Balogh and Balogh (1992) in the book 'The Oribatid Mites Genera of the World' 8 species were recorded under the genus Tegeocranellus.Generic Diagnosis : Rostrum almost straight, prodorsum squarish, translamella mayor may not be present, if present then thick, and situated apically; rostral and lamellar setae very short, arise from anterior margin of rostrum; interlamellar setae on lamella proper, sensillus longer than prodorsal setae, dorsosejugal suture present; notogaster rounded with humeral appendages; 10 pairs of simple notogastral setae; genital and anal plates large, placed close; legs monodactylous.Distribution: INDIA : Orissa, Tripura.Elsewhere: Bulgaria, England, France, South Africa, U.S.A.
In the present paper a new species T. punctatus sp.nov. is described from the South District of Tripura.The genus Tegeocranellus Berlese, 1913 is reported here for the first time from India.
The measurements of the specimens have been given in micron (J..1m).
The type specimens are deposited in the National Zoological Collection, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES
Tegeocranellus punctatus sp.nov.
Notogaster : Notogaster rounded, separated from prodorsum by a convex thick dorsosejugal suture, lenticulus like flat hollow area at anterior margin; minute punctations and scattered foveolae along posterior margin of hollow portion; notogastral setae 10 pairs, moderately long (28-33), setae ta, te, ti, ms, r3, r2 smooth with blunt tip, arranged laterally in a line, rl and all setae of the series p minute; middle portion of notogaster smooth, posterior part punctated with a few foveolae; im placed laterally near middle of notogaster.
Material examined: HOLOTYPE: Adult female, India: Tripura,Karbuk (Amarpur), l.iii.1992,from humus beside a narrow stream, colI.S. Saha.PARA TYPES : 5 adult females, data same as for holotype.Remarks: Tegeocranellus punctatus sp.nov.comes close to T. laevis Berlese, 1905 in general body shape, form of lamellae, shape and position of rostral and interlamellar setae and position of notogastral setae.The new species however, differs from T. laevis by rough stalk and broadly club-shaped sensillus, beset with bristles at the tip, shape of notogastral setae (with blunt tips), punctation and foveolation on prodorsum and notogaster.The new species also differs from all other species under this genus in the structure of prodorsum, shape of notogastral setae and body ornamentation.