Supplement to the knowledge of ptyctimous mites (Acari: Oribatida) from Australian Region

The supplement to the monographs on ptyctimous mites of Pacific Islands (Niedbala 1994, 1998) and Australian Region (Niedbala 2000), presents the species selected and identified from the samples collected at new localities in these regions. In total the supplement presents 107 species, including one of Protoplophoridae, 3 of Mesoplophoridae, 28 of Euphthiracaroidea and 75 of Phthiracaroidea. Analysis of these samples with ptyctimous mites from different areas of Australian Region (Pacific Islands included) has increased the number of species from the region by 23 ones new to science: Oribotritia paraincognita sp. nov., Microtritia paratropica sp. nov., Plonaphacarus toolangiensis sp. nov., Hoplophthiracarus mallacoolaensis sp. nov., Austrophthiracarus glennieensis sp. nov., A. parafusticulus sp. nov., A. parapilosus sp. nov., A. parapulchellus sp. nov., A. warburtonensis sp. nov., A. weldboroughensis sp. nov., Arphthicarus scuticus sp. nov., Notophthiracarus bonangensis sp. nov., N. brachys sp. nov., N. buffaloensis sp. nov., N. dandenongensis sp. nov., N. glennieensis sp. nov., N. parabonangensis sp. nov., N. paracapillatus sp. nov., N. pararavidus sp. nov., N. queenslandensis sp. nov., N. ravidus sp. nov., N. rotoitiensis sp. nov., Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) buffaloensis sp. nov. Following six synonyms are proposed: Acrotritia comteae Mahunka, 1983 (= Rhysotritia niedbalai Balogh et Balogh, 2002), Austrophthiracarus dissonus Niedbala et Colloff, 1997 (= Phthiracarus (Neophthiracarus) praeoccupatus Subias, 2004), A. largus Niedbata, 2000 (= Ph. (N.) repetitus Subias, 2004, A. sellnicki Niedbala, 1987 (= Ph. (N.) obsesses Su-bias, 2004), Notophthiracarus admirabilis Niedbala et Colloff, 1997 (= Notophthiracarus (N.) obsesses Subias, 2004), Atropacarus (Hoplophorella) singularis (Sellnick, 1959) (= Hoplophthiracarus marianus Aoki, 1994), and one nomen novum: Microtritia novazealandensis for Microtritia glabrata Niedbala, 1993. 23 new species together with a few species found at new localities in this region have enriched the fauna of Australian Region to 169 species, including 1 Protoplophoridae, 3 Mesoplophoridae, 30 Euphthiracaroidea and 135 Phthiracaroidea. From the other 83 already known species, new localities have been specified for 47 species, so for over a half (56%) of them, extending their hitherto geographical ranges. Moreover, 23 species have been known only from the original description and have been hitherto treated as endemites. The newly discovered localities have deprived them of this status. The greatest number of endemites has been found in South Australia, in particular in Victoria State. Some of species have been subjected to detailed morphological analysis revealing or allowing more accurate specification of some morphological features.