J. R. AUDY 
162 
an unique locus on the host. The presence of teeth in these two species may be related to 
a special feeding requirement; it is thus either a convergent development in two different 
groups or it is a special adaptation of a single group. (B) /z£«/a-subgroup ( Schongastiella ) 
with ceylonica , kalrata Traub and Evans 1953 (this Study pp. 98, 99), ligula, liota T. & E., 
in which the tongue carries an extra pair of posterior setae., presumably derived from the dorsal 
setae, placed marginally and subterminally. 
(3) bengalensis-group ( Schongastiella ) comprising bengalensis , brevis , coeca , dureni , erula, 
T. & E., helata T. & E., hipposideros , Phomunguis , gammonsi T. & E., kumaonensis , n. sp. CORU. 
R17506, plus three atypical members: arona T. & E. and birella T. & E. (which have the anus 
borne on a plate and a peculiar arrangement of dorsal setae; see this Study pp. 95, 96, 97), and 
possibly saduski (which to the writer appears to be a member of the bengalensis - group with 
a few extra setae on the scutum, variable in number). The possible relation of G. nanus to 
this group is noted below. 
(4) decora-group ( =Gahrliepia in part), with decora , insigne , ornata , four related species 
from Malaysia and Burma with honeycombed scuta, and cetrata. Mr M. Nadchatram in studying 
a series of freshly mounted G. cetrata , noted that the punctation of the scutum was of two kinds, 
the ordinary small punctae and also a number of large pits which gave a fenestrated appearance 
to the scutum. These pits or small fenestrae appear to represent the obvious honey- 
combing which reaches its full development in the other members of this group. It will be 
noted that this group in fact comprises the subgenus Gahrliepia , with the possible exception of 
nanus the genotype, which the writer has not examined. According to Fuller (1952:213), 
the type has been excessively cleared, so that the detection of unusual punctation would require 
a phase-contrast microscope and may no longer be possible. In any case, it would appear 
that nanus may either belong to the cetrata-decora group, which would then become sufficiently 
distinctive to be recognised as a genus ; or nanus may be placed with saduski , in the bengalensis- 
group, in which case it might become necessary to synonymise Schongastiella with Gahrliepia 
and raise a new name for the decora- group. The coxae III in members of this group are 
remarkably deep. This character is present to a lesser extent in the bengalensis - group but not 
in the ligula- group. Womersley (1952:301) includes saduski in the subgenus Gahrliepia 
although some of the setae are not marginal : it is either a Gateria or a member of the bengalensis- 
group as noted above. 
(5) fletcheri-group ( =Gateria ), with ciliata , crocidura, fletcheri, hirsuta, lancearia , 
longipili , r util a, P saduski, spinulosa. Fuller (1952:217) notes that crocidura and lancearia 
cannot at present be properly distinguished. The relationship between the bengalensis - group 
and the fletcheri - group requires careful study : it might be a mistake to draw a line between 
the two simply on scutal setal counts. 
(6) longiscutullata-group ( Giroudia Jad. & Verc.), with two African species Giroudia 
longiscutullata and G. brennani. These have the characters of Gateria but also have teeth on 
the chelicers. 
Type species. — In view of these uncertainties, the writer prefers not to list and give diagnoses for either 
the accepted or the tenuously tentative subgenera/genera. A list of the type species is given for reference, 
and the appended list of Old World species simply follows the accepted classification. 
Gahrliepia Oudemans, 1912:273, Ent. Ber. Amst., 3, 272-278. Type Typhlothrombidium nanus Ouds., 
1910:105, idem , 3, 103-109. From a bat, South Africa. 
Schongastiella Hirst, 1915-188, Bull. ent. Res., 6, 183-190. Type Schongastiella bengalensis Hirst, 1915-188, 
idem. From rats, India. 
Walchia Ewing, 1931:11, Proc. U.S. nat. Mus., 80, 1-19. Type {Thrombidium glabrum Walch, 1927:926, 
Geneesk Tijd. Ned-Ind. 67, 922-933, homonym, not Thrombidium glabrum Duges) = Walchia pingue 
Gater, 1932:173, Parasitology , 24, 143-174. From rats, Indo-Malaysia. 
Gateria Ewing, 1938:295,^. Wash. Acad. Sci ., 28, 288-295. Type Gahrliepia fletcheri Gater, 1932:161, 
loc. cit. From rodents & insectivores, Malaya. 
STUD. INST. MED. RES. 
