Coprozerconidae, a new family of zerconoid mites from North America (Acari: Mesostigmata: Zerconoidea)

Abstract

RESUMEN: Se describe una nueva familia de acaros Mesostigmata, Coprozerconidae, basad a en material procedente de heces de la rata de bosque, Neotomafloridana magister Baird, de una cueva de Kentucky, E.U.A. Coprozercon gen. n. se describe como genero tipo de esta familia, basandose en el material que representa a la especie tipo, Coprozercon scopaeus sp. n. Se discuten las caracteristicas de esta familia con relaci6n alas demas de la cohorte Epicriina, incluyendo una discusi6n de Coprozerconidae como el "grupohermanado" de Zerconidae. Se traslada el genero Halozercon Wisniewski, Karg y Hirschmann, 1992, desde la familia podoespermica Halolaelapidae a la familia tocoespermica Zerconidae.

SUMMARYA: new family of mesostigmatic mites, Coprozerconidae, is described on the basis of material collected from feces of the wood rat, Neotomafloridana magister Baird, in a cave in Kentucky, U.S.A. Coprozercon n. gen. is described as the type genus of the family, based on material representing the type species, Coprozercon scopaeus n. sp. The characteristics and relationships of this family among others of the cohort Epicriina are discussed, including a rationale for Coprozerconidae as the sister group of Zerconidae. The tocospermous genus Halozercon Wisniewski, Karg and Hirschmann, 1992, is transferred from the podospermous family Halolaelapidae to the tocospermous family Zerconidae.