Histiostomatidae - Histiostoma nr. guanophilum undescribed species #1 & #2
Family Histiostomatidae
Histiostoma nr. guanophilum sp. #1 Size: Group Guild Status Eutroglophile Scavenger Rare Many species of Histiostoma inhabit naturally occurring water films, or are associated with manure (including guano) or decaying vegetable fungal substrates (OConnor 1982; 2009). An undescribed species of Histiostoma was reported from pool edges in a gypsum cave in southeastern New Mexico (Cokendolpher and Polyak 1996). Histiostoma nr. piloseta was reported associated with a fresh guano deposit of a maternity roost of Myotis austroriparius in South Carolina (Reeves 2001). Histiostoma have been recorded from bat guano deposits in other caves in Brazil (Ferreira et al. 2000) and Arkansas (Graening et al. 2006). We have two species of Histiostoma nr. guanophilum in the cave, this one, and the following species. Both are undescribed. H. nr. guanophilum sp. nov. #1 is the smaller of the two Histiostoma species. It has very small genital papillae, a trait associated with higher osmotic pressure habitats, such as guano or saline habitats, and because of this feature, is suspected of being better adapted to the guano ecosystem (BMOC). Histiostoma nr. guanophilum sp. #2 Size: X Group Guild Status Troglophile Scavenger Rare H. nr. guanophilum sp. #2 is a larger, undescribed species of histiostomatid mite. The ecology of this species is likely similar to that of H. nr. guanophilum sp. #1. |
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