Two new species of the genus Caminacarus (Acarina: Cloacaridae) from turtles in Louisiana.
Caminacarus chrysemys sp. n. and Caminacarus terrapenae sp. n. are described from the cloaca of Chrysemys scripta elegans and Terrapene carolina in Louisiana. The former species is very similar to Caminacarus deirochelys but differs in the form of the dorsal shield which has longer lateral elongations and the median dorsal elongation does not extend to the genital sclerite, structure of the anterodorsal wall of the gnathosomal base which is closed forming a ringlike apodeme, and structure of the tarsal setae as well as the presence of one additional seta on the dorsal surface of tarsus III. Caminacarus terrapenae differs from the above species by the form of the dorsal shield which extends more anteriorly but lacks anterior winglike elongations and has rounded anterolateral margins, the posteriorly concave shape of the genital sclerite and more sclerotized vaginal wall, the anterodorsal wall of the gnathosomal base which is not ringlike but open with lateral sclerotizations and interior punctations in this species, and structure of the tarsal setae with the presence of smaller heavier setae. The host specificity and biology of these species are discussed in relation to other members of the Cloacaridae.
D000818:Animals; D002988:Cloaca / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D008145:Louisiana; D008925:Mites / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*; D014426:Turtles / Q000469:parasitology*