Revision of the genus Afroleius Mahunka, 1984 (Acari: Oribatida)

English: The genus Afroleius Mahunka, 1984 originally comprised three species (A. deformis Mahunka, 1984 (type), A. minor Mahunka, 1984 and A. simplex Mahunka, 1984), but with an uncertain relationship, at first placed in the family Haplozetidae (Oripodoidea). In this study the genus is redescribed and its relationship investigated. Specimens from the acarology collection of the National Museum referable to new species are described, two species originally described in other genera are recombined, a key to the species of the genus is proposed and its phylogeny investigated on the basis of molecular data. It is concluded that Afroleius is a member of the superfamily Ceratozetoidea, based on the presence of the axillary saccule, genal tooth, and the shape of pedotectum I. Its relationship in the family Punctoribatidae is based on the presence of the posterior notogastral tectum and desclerotized hinge of the pteromorph. Nine new species are described (A. crassus Coetzee, 2013; A. decurvatus Coetzee, 2013; A. deformatoides Coetzee, 2013; A. natalensis Coetzee, 2014; A. caudatus Coetzee, 2014; A. amieae Coetzee, 2014; A. inae Coetzee, 2014; A. valerieae Coetzee 2014; A. lucidus Coetzee, In Press). Two species are recombined namely A. polygonatus (Mahunka, 1985) from the genus Kilimabates Mahunka, 1984 and A. floridus (Mahunka, 1985) from the genus Magyaria Balogh, 1963. Afroleius undulatus (Balogh, 1959) (previously recombined from Africoribates) from Tanzania is discussed. Juvenile instars of two species (A. floridus and A. polygonatus) are described. The genus now comprises 15 species. The phylogenetic analysis based on molecular data of 28S rDNA of A. floridus, A. deformis, A. minor en A. polygonatus, additional Ceratozetoidea sequences and outgroup sequences retrieved from GenBank, indicates Mycobates and Trichoribates as the sister genera of Afroleius. Ceratozetidae is shown to be paraphyletic. This analysis emphasises the need for a large-scale phylogenetic analysis of Ceratozetoidea including morphological and molecular data.