Ota Yuzo, Tanaka Katsuhiko, Hirose Euichi
Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Tyukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.
Zoolog Sci. 2007 Dec;24(12):1266-77. doi: 10.2108/zsj.24.1266.
Gnathia limicola sp. nov. is described from Okinawajima Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, southwestern Japan. Burrows of this species were found in a small intertidal creek bank on a muddy tidal flat near mangrove trees. Adult males differ from those of other Gnathia species in the following features: (1) fine setae cover peduncle articles 1 and 2 of antenna 1, peduncle articles 1-3 of antenna 2, and the erisma of the mandibles; (2) the ventral frontal border of the cephalon is medianly notched, and the lateral parts extend beyond the dorsal frontal border; and (3) the penes are fused into a thin rectangular blade directed posteriorly. Adult females and praniza larvae were also distinguished morphologically from other Gnathia species. Based on field and laboratory observations, the mating behavior of this species appears similar to that of Paragnathia formica (Hesse, 1862), which inhabits salt marshes in Europe and North Africa.
新种海滨颚虱（Gnathia limicola sp. nov.）是在日本西南部琉球群岛的冲绳岛发现的。该物种的洞穴位于红树林附近泥泞潮滩上的一条小型潮间带小溪岸边。成年雄性在以下特征上与其他颚虱物种不同：（1）触角1的柄节第1和第2节、触角2的柄节第1至3节以及下颚的刚毛上覆盖着细刚毛；（2）头部腹侧前缘在中部有缺刻，侧面部分延伸至背侧前缘之外；（3）阴茎融合成一个向后指向的薄矩形叶片。成年雌性和前茗荷幼虫在形态上也与其他颚虱物种不同。基于野外和实验室观察，该物种的交配行为似乎与栖息在欧洲和北非盐沼中的蚁形拟颚虱（Paragnathia formica (Hesse, 1862)）相似。
