comparative morphology, morphometry and molecular data

Based on morphological, morphometric and genetic data Scuto-vertex ianus sp. nov. is described as a new oribatid mite species. The traditional comparison with the morphologically most simi-lar congeneric S. minutus and S. sculptus demonstrated that the new species shares certain characters with both species, but can be clearly identified by indistinct cuticular notogastral foveae in combination with short spiniform notogastral setae. Further-more the eggs of S. ianus exhibit a different fine structure of the exochorion. The morphometric analysis of 16 continuous mor-phological variables separated the three species, S. minutus, S. sculptus and S. ianus with a certain overlap indicating minor size and shape differences in overall morphology. The molecular phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial COI gene sequences sup-ported the monophyly of all three investigated species and con