Two new actinedid mites are described from the gravel plain of the Nam
ib desert : Namibarbutia seelyae n. gen., n. sp. (Barbutiidae) and Lin
otetranus mirabebensis n. sp. (Linotetranidae). The definitions of the
genus Barbutia and the family Barbutiidae are modified accordingly. I
dentification keys are provided for both families. The high value of t
he ratio length-width of the new species is related to habitat.