Limnohalacarus

Limnohalacarus View in CoL View at ENA species from the Afrotropical Region

The Limnohalacarus species recorded from the Afrotropical region are: L. africanus , L. cultellatus , L. fontinalis , L. major , L. marlieri , L. novus, and L. portmanni . Relying on often vague descriptions, the most specific morphological characters of the six African species are:

Key to adult Afrotropical Limnohalacarus species

1a. All ventral plates separated. .................................... 2

1b. All ventral plates fused to a single shield. ............... 3

2a. Claws on tarsus I with numerous distinct tines. ........ ................................................................... africanus

2b. Claws I apically and in middle with a few delicate tines, basally with narrow lamella bearing tines. ..... .................................................................. cultellatus

3a. Length of idiosoma exceeding 450 µm. L: W of gnathosoma 1.6:1. .......................................... major

3b. Length of idiosoma between 200–400 µm. L: W of gnathosoma 1.1–1.2:1. ........................................... 4

4a. Length of idiosoma about 300–400 µm. ... fontinalis

4b. Length of idiosoma between 200 and almost 300 µm. .................................................................. 5

5a. L: W of PD 2.1:1. Length ratio of PD: AD 3.1–3.3:1. .................................................................. portmanni

5b. L: W of PD 1.9:1. Length ratio of PD: AD 2.6–2.7:1. ......................................................................... novus