| abstract | This paper is the first part of a study on the oribatid mites collected from soils of the Cardoso Island, off São Paulo South coast. Ten species are described or recorded, namely Malaconothrus silvaticus n.sp., Epilohmannia dolosa n.sp., Teleioliodes zikani (Sellnick, 1930), Xenillus sanctipauli Pérez-Iñigo et Baggio, 1980, Dinoxenillus superbus Pérez-Iñigo et Baggio, 1980, Eremulus brasiliensis n.sp., Microtegeus cardosensis n.sp., Oribatella serrula n.sp., Lamellobates quadricornis n.sp. and Ceratobates fornerisae n.sp.
A short account is given on Cardoso Island, pointing out its main features concerning geographic situation, climate, vegetation, etc. The study of its soil fauna is very interesting because the island conserves the primitive vegetation, since it is a São Paulo State Reserve, practically untouched by man.
When it has been possible a key has been introduced to make clear differences between the species concerned and the other in the genus. Drawings are presented of all the new species and of Teleioliodes zikani, that complete Sellnickʼs figures. |