New species of Crotonia (Acari: Oribatida: Crotoniidae) from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands: further evidence of long-distance dispersal events in the biogeography of a genus of Gondwanan relict oribatid mites

Research identifies three new species of oribatid mites (Crotonia) from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, revealing distinct biogeographical patterns. Crotonia gorgonia, found on Lord Howe Island, aligns with the Capistrata group, predominantly Australian but absent in New Zealand. Meanwhile, C. norfolkensis and C. utricularia from Norfolk Island belong to the Cophinaria and Unguifera groups, respectively, showing closer ties to New Zealand species. This distribution suggests Crotonia's remarkable ability for long-distance dispersal across the South-west Pacific, reinforcing its role as a Gondwanan relict genus. The study employs morphological analysis to elucidate these relationships, providing fresh insights into the biogeography of oribatid mites.

COLLOFF, M. J. (2010). New species of Crotonia (Acari: Oribatida: Crotoniidae) from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands: further evidence of long-distance dispersal events in the biogeography of a genus of Gondwanan relict oribatid mites. Zootaxa, 2650(1). https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2650.1.1