Echiniscus testudo ( Doyère, 1840 )

Kaczmarek, Łukasz, 2017, Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part IV: Africa, Zootaxa 4284 (1), pp. 1-74 : 16-17

36. Echiniscus testudo ( Doyère, 1840) [T] [m]

Echiniscus testudo Doyère, 1840 , Echiniscus testudo Doyère, 1840 subsp. trifilis Rahm 1925 ( Rahm 1936) Echiniscus muscicola ( Iharos 1969a)

Echiniscus testudo Doy. ( Iharos 1978)

E. testudo ( Ramløv & Kristensen 1985)

Echiniscus testudo ( Doyére, 1840) ( Kaczmarek & Michalczyk 2004a)

Terra typica : France (Europe)

Cameroon:

• 04°12′N, 09°12′E; 2,900–3,000 m asl: Southwest Region, Mount Cameroon National Park, Mount Cameroon, moss on tree and lava blocks. Iharos (1969a)

Israel and Palestinian National Authority:

• 32°59′N, 35°45′E: Undefined locality, Golan Heights, moss. Jørgensen et al. (2007, 2013)

• 31°53′N, 35°27′E; - 200 m asl: old Jericho, excavations, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°52′N, 35°26′E; 0 m asl: Jericho, Quarantania Mt. (The Mount of Temptation), rock, extreme arid, semi-arid or semihumid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°51′N, 35°25′E; - 100 m asl: near Jericho, St. George's Monastery, Wadi Qelt, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°50′N, 34°59′E; 250 m asl: Judean Mountains, Emmaus (Emmaus Nicopolis), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°50′N, 35°11′E; 900 m asl: Judean Mountains, Nabi Samwil (al-Nabi Samuil), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°50′N, 35°23′E; - 50 m asl: on the road to Jericho, Chan of the Samaritan, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°48′N, 35°13′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Tombs of the Sanhedrin [Tombs of the Judges], extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°48′N, 35°15′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Scopus Mt., The Hebrew University, rocks, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, temples walls, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, bark of olive trees, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, rocks from grave of Mary [Church of the Assumption (Mary's Tomb)], extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Scopus Mt., E [W] from The Hebrew University, Wadi et Tur [Wadi al-Joz], extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°47′N, 35°15′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Olives Mt., Pater Noster church, Russians tower, wall of church, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°46′N, 35°10′E; 650 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°46′N, 35°12′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Monastery of the Cross, extreme arid, semi-arid or semihumid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°46′N, 35°12′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Monastery of the Cross, garden in Katamin?, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°46′N, 35°13′E; 800 m asl: Undefined locality, Betschar bei Kilometer 22, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°46′N, 35°14′E; 650 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Aceldama, rock, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°46′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Zion Mt., wall behind the Church of Zion, extreme arid, semiarid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°46′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, rock, extreme arid, semiarid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°43′N, 35°17′E; 600 m asl: Judean Mountains, al-Ubeidiya, Monastery Deir Dosi (Monastery of St. Theodosius), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°42′N, 35°12′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Bethlehem, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°42′N, 35°20′E; 250 m asl: Great Lavra of St. Sabbas the Sanctified (Mar Saba), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°40′N, 35°15′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Herodyon National Park, Herodion, extreme arid, semi-arid or semihumid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°33′N, 35°06′E; 1,000 m asl: Judean Mountains, Hebron, Mamre, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

Jordan:

• 32°02′N, 35°44′E; 800 m asl: Balqa Governorate, As-Salt, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (Syntrichium sp., Hypnum sp. or Tortula sp.), lichens or liverworts ( Frullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936)

• 31°50′N, 36°49′E; 500 m asl: Zarqa Governorate, Zarqa [Azarq Wetland Reserve], moss. Kaczmarek & Michalczyk (2004a)

Libya:

• 32°29′N, 20°50′E; 350 m asl: Marj District, Barce [Marj], moss. Pilato & Pennisi (1976)

Morocco:

• 32°36′N, 04°32′W; 1,900 m asl: Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Tizi-n-Talrhemt , moss or lichen. Jorgensen et al. (2007)

• 31°35′N, 05°36′W; 1,650–1800 m asl: Souss-Massa-Drâa Region, Todra [Todgha] Gorge , sparse grass vegetation and few low bushes, moss on limestone cliffs (orthoceratite lime). Ramløv & Kristensen (1985)

• 30°27′N, 07°32′W; 1,850 m asl: Souss-Massa-Drâa Region, Tizi-n-Taghatine, sparse vegetation, mosses and lichens on isolated basalt cliffs. Ramløv & Kristensen (1985), Jorgensen et al. (2007)

Tunisia:

• 36°46′N, 08°41′E; 700 m asl: Jendouba Governorate, surroundings of Ain Draham , moss on rock. Iharos (1978)

• 36°07′N, 08°32′E; 450 m asl: Kef Governorate, along road from El Kef and Sakiet, 21 km W El Kef, “strongly insolated area”, lichen on soil. Iharos (1978)

Record numbers. Cameroon: 1, Israel and Palestinian National Authority: 26, Jordan: 2, Libya: 1, Morocco: 3, Tunisia: 2; total: 35.

Remarks. The very wide biogeographic range ( McInnes 1994a, Jørgensen et al. 2007), suggests a species complex, however most of the reports of this species are Holarctic. Echiniscus testudo has mainly been reported from northern Saharan (= Palaearctic) Africa.