Mites of the new species group nitidus (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae: Geckobia), parasites of lizards in South America.

A new species group nitidus is established within the genus Geckobia Mégnin, 1878 (Acariformes: Pterygosomatidae) based on an analysis of morphological characters of two newly described species from Chile: Geckobia nitidus n. sp. from Liolaemus nitidus (Wiegmann) and Geckobia zapallarensis n. sp. from Liolaemus zapallarensis Müller and Hellmich (Sauria: Liolaemidae). Mites of this new species group differ from species in the ovambica group in the presence of a movable cheliceral digit without basal spur, the absence of propodonotal shield and eyes, and in having shorter legs of the second pair, five setae on genua and femora I, four setae on genua and femora II, three setae on genua and femora III and two or three setae on genua and femora IV. Additionally, the third pterygosomatid species from Chile, Geckobia gerrhopygus n. sp. from Phyllodactylus gerrhopygus (Wiegmann) (Sauria: Phyllodactylidae) belonging to indica species group is described. This species is morphologically closely related to G. indica Hirst, 1917 but differs in the presence of 14 setae on the transversely elongated propodonotal shield and spur-like palp femoral setae dF and in the presence of leg setae vFIV and vTIV. Species of the genus Geckobia are recorded on hosts of the infraorder Iguania for the first time.