JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology 

Distribution of oribatid mites in the mangrove forests of north Kerala, India

Authors: P.K SYAMJITH AND N. RAMANI

Abstract:

Mangroves are the most fragile ecosystems in tropical and subtropical areas. This intertidal region supports a rich diversity of flora and fauna on regional and global scales. The present study is focused on the occurrence of oribatid mites from various North Kerala, India, mangrove ecosystems based on the samples collected for four years. Results of field cum laboratory studies enabled the recovery of 22 oribatid mite species that were found to belong to 21 genera, 16 families, and 10 Superfamilies. Results of the taxonomic analysis showed that out of the 22 species, five species representing five genera, six families and three superfamilies were new to science. The new taxa identified were Haplacarus sp. (Lohmanniidae), Selenoribates sp. (Selenoribatidae), Phauloppia sp. (Oribatulidae), Protoripoda (Protoripoda) sp. and Trachyoribates (Rostrozetes) sp. (Haplozetidae). The species viz. Annectacarus unilateralis Hammer, 1973; Heptacarus hirsutus Wallwork, 1964; Javacarus (Javacarus) porosus Hammer, 1979; Acrotritia clavata Markel, 1964; Hoplophprella (Hoplophorella) vitrina (Berlese, 1913); Afronothrus arboreus Ramani & Haq 1992; Archegozetes. longisetosus Aoi 1965; Carabodes (Klapperichus) penicillus Mahunka, 1979; Lamellobates. (Paralamellobates) bengalensis Bhaduri and Raychaudhuri 1968; Siculobata (Siculobata) malabarica Ramani & Haq, 1998; Protoribates (Protoribates) capucinus Berlese, 1908; Indoribates (Indoribates) punctulatus (Sellnick, 1925) and Galumna (Galumna) paragibbula Weigmann, 2011 were recorded for the first time from the mangrove ecosystems of Kerala. Members of the truly intertidal oribatid family Selenoribatidae could be recorded for the first time from the mangrove ecosystems of the oriental region, especially from the Indian subcontinent.

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