Nothridae
Berlese, 1896
Genus Guides
1Nothridae is a of oribatid mites comprising at least 3 and approximately 70 described . The family includes the genera Nothrus (semi-), Novonothrus (Gondwanan distribution), and Trichonothrus (previously known only from South Africa, now recorded from Australia). Members are primarily associated with moist forest , particularly cool temperate rainforests. Australian Nothridae show relict Gondwanan biogeographical affinities, with high diversity of sexual species in temperate rainforests contrasting with thelytokous parthenogenetic species in the Northern Hemisphere.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Nothridae: /nɔˈθrɪdeɪ/
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Identification
Nothridae can be distinguished from other oribatid by features of the Nothrus and related genera, including specific patterns of notogastral setation and body sculpturing. Novonothrus are characterized by particular arrangements of setae and body surface structures used to define three species groups: Barringtonensis, Puyehue, and Flagellatus. Trichonothrus is distinguished by morphological features separating it from Novonothrus, with T. hallidayi representing a new generic record for Australia. Specific identification requires examination of notogastral setae distribution, body size, and cuticular .
Habitat
wet forests, particularly cool temperate Nothofagus rainforest in Australia. Also recorded from native forest including Nothofagus in New Zealand, Valdivian temperate rain forest in Chile, and moss, soil, litter, and detritus from stones and rocks in high-elevation Andean (2800–3900 m a.s.l.) in Ecuador.
Distribution
Relict Gondwanan distribution: Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania), New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa. Additional records from Ecuador (Neotropical) and Northern Hemisphere localities. GBIF records indicate presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Host Associations
- Nothofagus - associationAustralian and New Zealand associated with Nothofagus rainforest
Life Cycle
stages have been described for multiple Novonothrus , including nymphal and larval . Morphological ontogeny documented for at least Nothrus palustris.
Similar Taxa
- other Crotonioidea familiesNothridae belongs to superfamily Crotonioidea; distinguished by specific notogastral setation patterns and Gondwanan distribution of Novonothrus and Trichonothrus
- Nothrina (subgroup)Nothridae includes Nothrina; Australian Nothrina contrast with Northern Hemisphere Nothrina in reproductive mode (sexual vs. )
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- Wikipedia
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Morphological Ontogeny, Ecology and Biogeography of Nothrus palustris (Acari: Oribatida: Nothridae), and Comments on Nothrus C.L. Koch
- A new species of Nothrus (Acari: Oribatida: Nothridae) from Ecuador and remarks on N. becki
- A review of the oribatid mite family Nothridae in Australia, with new species of Novonothrus and Trichonothrus from rain forest and their Gondwanan biogeo-graphical affinities (Acari: Oribatida)