6926476475

ZESZYTY NAUKOWE UNIWERSYTETU SZCZECIŃSKIEGO

NR 791

ACTA BIOLOGICA 20

2013

TAPAS CHATTERJEE¹BHIKARICHARAN GURU²

NEW RECORDS OF HALACARID MITES (ACARI: HALACARIDAE) FROM THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA

Abstract

Two halacarid mites viz. Copidognathus australensis (Lohmann, 1909), and Rhombognathus validipes Bartsch, 2000 are reported from India for the first time. Copidognathus australensis was collected from Chatham Island (Anda-man Islands) and Rhombognathus validipes was collected from Wandoor, South Andaman (Andaman Islands) and Mus Island (Nicobar Islands). Earlier records of these species were from Australia.

Key words: new records, halacarid mites, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Introduction

Morę than 1100 species of halacarid mites (Acari: Halacaridae) in 63 genera are known from marinę and freshwater habitats worldwide. The first author of this study has already reported many new species and new records of halacarid mites from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India (eg. Chatterjee 1991, 1992, 1995,

' Department of Biology, Indian School of Learning, I.S.M. Annexe. P.O. - I.S.M., Dhan-bad-826004. Jharkhand. India, e-mail: drtchatteqee@yahoo.co.in.

Deartment of Zoology, Utkał University, Vani Yihar, Bhubaneswar 751004, Orissa, India.