Antarctic Halacaroidea

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Antarctic Research Series.

The Halacaroidea (Acari) from the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic (including Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, Kerguelen, Macquarie Islands, and Auckland Island) are described. Halacaroidea from north of latitude 50°S are treated when zoogeographically significant. Species from Chile and the southeast Pacific are included, and a few species recorded from Peru and South Africa. Mites were collected from a variety of intertidal and subtidal habitats to a depth of 4100 m. The sub-families Rhombognathinae Viets, Lohmannellinae Viets, and Halacarinae Murray are raised to the corresponding family ranks: Rhombognathidae, Lohmannellidae, and Halacaridae. The generic composition of the latter two groups is changed. Fifteen genera are diagnosed: Acatacarus Schulz, Agaue Lohmann, Agauopsis Viets, Arhodeoporus Newell, Bradyagaue Newell, Copidognathus Trouessart, Halacarus Gosse, Isobactrus Newell, Lohmannella Trouessart, Parahalixodes Laubier, Rhombosnathus Trouessart, Scaptognathus Trouessart, Simognathus Trouessart, Thalassarachna Packard, and Werthella Lohmann. Three new genera, Camactognathus, Mictognathus, and Winlundia, are proposed; 115 new species are described; six new synonymies are established; three subspecies are given specific status; and three species are renamed. Tabular keys to the genera and species are presented (including taxonomically important species groups from other regions). The structure of the Halacaroidea is reviewed. Techniques for collecting, sorting, and mounting Halacaroidea are given.