A freshwater species of Pontarachna (Acari, Pontarachnidae) from South Africa with a discussion of genital acetabula in the family

Abstract

UNTIL RECENTLY THE FAMILY PONTARACHNIDAE WAS THOUGHT TO BE A STRICTLY MARINE GROUP. HOWEVER, COOK (1986) DESCRIBED A SPECIES OF LITARACHNA FROM A STREAM IN TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA AND THIS PAPER DESCRIBES A SPECIES A SPECIES OF PONTARACHNA FROM A RIVER IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA. ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN DIAGNOSED AS LACKING GENITAL ACETABULA, THESE STRUCTURES OR THEIR HOMOLOGS DO SEEM TO BE PRESENT.