A checklist of halacarid and pontarachnid mites (Acari: Halacaridae and Pontarachnidae) found in seagrass habitats

A compilation of marine halacarid and pontarachnid mites (Halacaridae and Pontarachnidae) found among seagrasses has been carried out based on published records. In this paper, we listed 92 halacarid and 8 pontarachnid mite species in seagrass habitats. These 92 halacarid species belong to 18 genera viz. Agaue (7 species), Agauopsis (10 species), Atelopsalis (1 species), Australacarus (1 species), Bradyagaue (1 species), Copidognathus (32 species), Halacarellus (3 species), Halacaropsis (2 species), Halacarus (5 species), Isobactrus (2 species), Lohmannella (2 species), Maracarus (1 species), Pelacarus (1 species), Rhombognathides (3 species), Rhombognathus (11 species), Scaptognathus (2 species), Simognathus (4 species), and Thalassarachna (4 species). Eight pontarachnid species belonging to two genera viz. Litarachna (4 species), and Pontarachna (4 species) are found in seagrass habitats. The real diversity and distribution of mites in seagrass habitats is far from being complete and future investigations may reveal further new taxa present in this environment.