| abstract | A new species of oribatid mite belonging to the genus Eporibatula Sellnick is described from litter of larch plantation in Mt. Yatsugatake, Yamanashi Prefecture, Central Japan. The new species, Eporibatula variabilis sp. nov. differs from other species of the genus by the presence of ten pairs of notogastral setae, the short median and posterior notogastral setae, the wide lamellae, the well-developed humeral projection, and the weakly arched dorsosejugal suture. Two known species, E. tuberosa Fujikawa, 1972 and E. prominens Bayartogtokh et Aoki, 1998 from Japan and Mongolia, respectively are redescribed. In addition a revised diagnosis of the genus Eporibatula is proposed, and the taxonomic problems of some species belonging to this genus are discussed. The following new combinations are proposed : Eporibatula venusta (Berlese, 1908) comb. nov. and Eporibatula sakamorii (Aoki, 1970) comb. nov. A key to the known species of the genus Eporibatula is given. |