Fynbosacarus Stekolnikov, 2025

Genus Fynbosacarus Stekolnikov , gen. nov.

Type species: Fynbosacarus cereris sp. nov., designated here.

Diagnosis. SIF = 4B-B-3-2111.0000; fPp = B/B/BBB; fCx = 1.1.2; fSt = 2.2; fsp = 7.7.7. Eyes 2 + 2, on ocular plate; first two rows of dorsal idiosomal setae double, humeral setae not separated. Scutum trapezoidal, with puncta of different size; posterior scutal margin lightly sinuous, not projected; PLs inserted on laterally projected scutal corners; bases of sensilla (trichobothria) situated anterior to level of PLs and close to each other, surrounded by crests; sensilla lost in all specimens. Cheliceral blade with tricuspid cap; galeal (deutorostral) setae branched; palpal claw (odontus) three-pronged; palpal tarsus with four branched setae and tarsala. Legs seven-segmented (with divided femur), short (Ip = 553–576), onychotriches absent; subterminala ( ζ) with one branch, parasubterminala ( z) absent (no seta present behind subterminala), 2 genualae I ( σ), microtarsala I ( ε) proximal to tarsala I ( ω), microtarsala II ( ε) distal to tarsala II ( ω); unspecialized setae (leg I, II, III): coxa 1, 1, 1; trochanter 1, 1, 1; basifemur 1, 2, 2; telofemur 5, 4, 3; genu 4, 3, 3; tibia 8, 6, 6; tarsus 22, 16, 15; mastisetae absent.

Etymology. The name of the new genus is combined from the name of Fynbos, a prominent ecoregion in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, and the word acarus meaning “mite”.

Remarks. The new genus is similar to Hexasternalaea Vercammen-Grandjean, 1960 by the shape of scutum (trapezoidal, with its posterior margin almost not projected, sinuous, with PLs inserted on laterally projected scutal corners, sensillary bases situated close to each other and surrounded by crests), by the two anterior post-humeral rows double, and by famulus I ( ε) situated proximal to tarsala I ( ω). Fynbosacarus gen. nov. differs from Hexasternalaea by the presence of four branched setae on palpal tarsus vs. six, two pairs of sternal setae vs. three, and by the absence of a dorsal hook on the cheliceral blade.

The presence of forked leg I subterminala ( ζ) and the absence of parasubterminala ( z) can be treated rather as a rare autapomorphy of F. cereris sp. nov., than a trait of generic level. Previously, the same character was recorded in Guntheria ( Domrowana) sphinx Domrow, 1972 ( Domrow 1972; Stekolnikov 2024b).