New record of Copidognathus andhraensis (Acari: Halacaridae) from the west coast of India, Arabian Sea

Copidognathus andhraensis Chatterjee, Annapurna & Chang, 2004 is reported here from Anjuna beach, Goa, west coast of India (Arabian Sea) among algal sediment. This is the first report of this species from west coast of India and also from the Arabian Sea. Nowe stwierdzenie Copidognathus andhraensis (Acari: Halacaridae) z Zachodniego wybrzeża Indii, Morze Arabskie Słowa kluczowe Copidognathus andhraensis, zachodnie wybrzeż Indii, Morze Arabskie Streszczenie Copidognathus andhraensis został stwierdzony na plaży Anjuna, (Goa, zachodnie wybrzeża Indii, Morze Arabskie) pośród osadów alg. Jest to pierwsze stwierdzenie tego gatunku z zachodniego wybrzeża Indii, a także z Morza Arabskiego.

Copidognathus andhraensis was first described from Palm beach, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, east coast of India among phytal samples (macroalgae) . This species was also recorded from Singapore among colonies of Bryozoa (Bartsch, 2013).
The specimen of C. andhraensis used in the present study was collected from Goa, India, among macro algae, makes it the first recording of the species from west coast of India and also first report from the Arabian Sea.
After preliminary observation specimen was processed for SEM study. Specimen for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was prefixed overnight at 4°C in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, followed by post fixation in 2% cold osmium tetroxide. After dehydration through a graded series of ethanol (50-100% at 10% interval) for 30 minutes each, the material was critical point dried, and coated with a platinum-palladium mix in a high evaporator, and then examined with a scanning electron microscope.

Copidognathus andhraensis Chatterjee, Annapurna & Chang 2004
Copidognathus andhraensis - Chatterjee et al. 2004, 75-78, Figs Copidognathus andhraensis - Bartsch 2013, 111-119, Figs. 1-20. Brief Description: Small median elevated area (areola) on AD; setae ds 1 on posterior side of median areola and pair of gland pores on anterior side of this areola. Distance between two gland pores almost (or more than) twice than that of two setae of ds 1 . A pair of middle costae restricted to posterior third of the posterior dorsal plate. Anterior cornea on OC large, posterior cornea subdivided into two small corneae; ds 2 on near anteromedian corner of OC. Pair of oblong punctate areolae present within area representing first pair of epimera on AE ( Figure 1B). Magnified view of epimeral pore on AE shown in Figure 1C. In male paragenital areolae enlarged anteriorly and occupying almost entire length of GA, but not touching anterior end of GA. In present male, distance between anterior end of GO and that of GA equaling about 1.2 times of GO length ( Figure 1A). In male about 40 PGS present, about 5 pairs close to and about 30setae in a wide ring around GO (Figures 1A, D). Legs slender ( Figure 1A). Pectinate setae on leg I-IV: 0-2-1-0 (Figures 2A, B). Tarsus I with 2 doublets eupathid PAS. Tarsus II with 2 singlet eupathid PAS. Paired claws II to IV with pectines extending along inner flank of claws ( Figures 2C-E).
Distribution: Indian Ocean -Andhra Pradesh, east coast of India, Bay of Bengal ; Goa, west coast of India, Arabian Sea (Present report); Pacific Ocean -Singapore (Bartsch, 2013).
Remarks: Bartsch (2013) commented about pair of gland pores on the AD and pair of ds 1 shown in Fig 1B of   'distance between pores about the same as between the pair of setae', but in Fig 1B of   and in present specimen showing that the distance between two gland pores more than twice than that between two setae of ds 1 as found in Singapore specimens. The position of ds 2 in the present study is found near anteromedian corner of OC similar with Bartsch (2013). Claws also found similar with Singapore specimens in present study.