Doryphoribius qinlingense, Li, Xiaochen, Su, Lina & Yu, Di, 2004

Li, Xiaochen, Su, Lina & Yu, Di, 2004, Biserovus xiae sp. n. and Doryphoribius qinlingense sp. n., new species of eutardigrades from China, Zootaxa 660, pp. 1-7 : 4-6

Doryphoribius qinlingense sp. nov.

( Fig.1 D–F)

Holotype: Adult, sex unknown (slide number Q04/05/004). The type is deposited at College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University.

Paratype: Four adults (slide number Q04/05/001, Q04/05/002, Q04/05/003, Q04/05/ 005).

Type locality: Qinling mountains, P. R. China.

Etymology: This species is named after the type locality Qinling mountains.

Diagnosis: Cuticle smooth; eyes present; three macroplacoids, increasing in length from first to third, microplacoid and septulum absent; two double claws same in size and shape on each leg, common basal tract well­developed, expanding at the base, principal branch strong with well­developed accessory points, secondary branch relatively longer than the one of other species with three macroplacoids of this genus.

Description of the holotype: A kind of middle­sized tardigrade ( Table 1 ); colorless; cuticle smooth; eyes present; buccopharyngeal apparatus of Doryphoribius ­ type, buccal tube rigid with ventral lamina, peribuccal lamellae absent, buccal armature simple, pharyngeal apophyses present, three macroplacoids short rod­shaped, increasing in length from first to third, microplacoid and septulum absent ( Fig.1 D); claws of Isohypsibius ­ type ( Fig.1 E–F), two double claws same in size and shape on each leg, common basal tract well­developed, expanding at the base, principal branch strong with well­developed accessory points, secondary branch relatively longer than the one of other species with three macroplacoids of this genus, lunules and other cuticular thickenings absent on the legs; eggs unknown.

. .....continued on the next page * Mn = minimum, Mx = maximum, SD = standard deviation; pt is the percent ratio between the length of a structure and the length of buccal tube ( Pilato, 1981).

There was variation in length of the macroplacoids. In all paratypes, the first macroplacoid and the third macroplacoid are almost equal in length, and longer than the second one.

Remarks: There are six species with three macroplacoids in the genus Doryphoribius . Doryphoribius qinlingense sp. nov. differs from all the six known species with three macroplacoids of this genus by having relatively longer secondary branch, average 68.5% with respect to the length of the primary branch, differs from Dor. zappalai Pilato, 1971 by having no lunules; differs from Dor. mariae Pilato & Binda, 1990 in having no dorsal undulations, gibbosities, and a polygonal (non reticular) sculpture; differs from Dor. bertolanii Beasley & Pilato, 1987 in longer claws, secondary branch of the claws relatively longer and not strongly curved, and in lacking dorsal tooth in the buccal armature; differs from Dor. gibber Beasley & Pilato, 1987 in smooth cuticle; differs from Dor. korganovae Biserov, 1994 in smooth cuticle and longer secondary branch of the claws; differs from Dor. turkmenicus Biserov, 1999 by having longer and well­developed secondary branch and basal tract, and by having no particularity in the buccal armature.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A – C, Biserovus xiae sp. nov.: A, bucco­pharyngeal apparatus; B, claws of the second pair of legs; C, claws of the fourth pair of legs. D – F, Doryphoribius qinlingense sp. nov.: D, buccopharyngeal apparatus, E, claws of the first pair of legs; F, claws of the second pair of legs. (Scale bars = 10 µm.)

Tables

TABLE 1. Dimensions (in µm) of some structures of Dor. qinlingense sp. nov. *

Items	Number of individuals measured	Mn–Mx	Mean ± SD	The smallest measured individual	The largest measured individual	Holotype
Body length	5	271.6–485.0	337.9±85.2	271.6	485.0	331.5
Buccal tube length	5	36.5–39.2	38.1 ± 1.4	36.5	39.2	36.5
Buccal tube width	5	2.9–3.9	3.4 ± 0.4	3.4	3.9	3.7
pt	5	7.3–10.0	9.1 ± 1.1	9.3	10.0	10.0
Stylet supports pt	5	66. 7–71.4	68.6 ± 2.6	71.4	66.7	71.4
Placoid row	5	11.5–14.4	12.7 ± 1.2	11.8	13.1	11.5
pt	5	31.4–36. 7	33.4 ± 2.0	32.1	33.3	31.4
First macroplacoid	5	2.9–5.2	4.0 ± 0.9	3.4	4.4	2.4
pt	5	7.9–13.3	10.4 ± 2.1	9.3	11.3	6.6
Second macroplacoid	5	2.6–3.9	3.0 ± 0.5	2.9	2.6	2.9
pt	5	6.7–10.0	7.8 ± 1.4	7.9	6.7	7.9
Third macroplacoid	5	3.5–5.2	4.1 ± 0.7	3.4	4.2	3.9
pt	5	9.3–13.3	10.8 ± 1.5	9.3	10.7	10.7
First pair of legs Internal claw length Primary branch pt Second branch pt External claw length Primary branch pt Second branch pt	5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5	20.9–28.7 57.1–73.3 15.7–18.3 42.9–46.7 20.9–28.7 57.1–73.3 15.7–18.3 42.9–46.7	25.1 ± 3.0 65.6 ± 5.8 17.2 ± 1.4 45.1 ± 2.1 25.1 ± 3.0 65.6 ± 5.8 17.2 ± 1.4 45.1 ± 2.1	20.9 57.1 15.7 42.9 20.9 57.1 15.7 42.9	26.1 73.3 18.3 46.7 26.1 73.3 18.3 46.7	23.5 64.3 15.7 42.9 23.5 64.3 15.7 42.9
Second pair of legs Internal claw length Primary branch pt Second branch pt External claw length Primary branch pt Second branch pt	5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5	20.9–28.7 57.1–73.3 15.7–18.3 42.9–46.7 20.9–28.7 57.1–73.3 15.7–18.3 42.9–46.7	25.1 ± 3.0 65.6 ± 5.8 17.2 ± 1.4 45.1 ± 2.1 25.1 ± 3.0 65.6 ± 5.8 17.2 ± 1.4 45.1 ± 2.1	20.9 57.1 15.7 42.9 20.9 57.1 15.7 42.9	26.1 73.3 18.3 46.7 26.1 73.3 18.3 46.7	23.5 64.3 15.7 42.9 23.5 64.3 15.7 42.9