Macrobiotus dariae, Pilato, Giovanni & Bertolani, Roberto, 2004

Pilato, Giovanni & Bertolani, Roberto, 2004, Macrobiotus dariae sp. n., a new species of eutardigrade (Eutardigrada, Macrobiotidae) from Cyprus, Zootaxa 638, pp. 1-7 : 2-5

Macrobiotus dariae sp. n.

Material examined: Holotype, 57 paratypes and 10 eggs: Cyprus, Trodos Mountains, 1350 m a.s.l., moss sample 10. 0 4.1974, leg. Mario Bertolani.

Description of the holotype: Body length, 455.0 µm ( Fig. 1 A); colourless, cuticle smooth but with small circular and elliptical pores; very obvious dots present on the legs and on the caudal end of the body. Eyes present. Buccopharyngeal apparatus of Macrobiotus type ( Fig. 1 B); rigid buccal tube with ventral lamina; 46.5 µm long and 7.3 µm wide (external diameter) (pt = 15.7). Ten peribuccal lamellae present; a narrow band of very small teeth (unfortunately difficult to see in all specimens), present in the caudal portion of the buccal cavity (an anterior band of teeth is not visible); also a posterior system of three dorsal and three ventral transverse ridges are present; medio­dorsal ridge thin; medio­ventral ridge short and thin. Stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube wall at 77.2 % of its length. Pharyngeal bulb (44.6 µm x 42.2 µm) with well developed apophyses, two rodshaped macroplacoids and microplacoid. First macroplacoid, with a central constriction, 15.5 µm long (pt = 33.3); second 10.2 µm long (pt = 21.9); microplacoid 3.7 µm long (pt = 8.0). Entire placoid row 29.6 µm long (pt = 63.6); macroplacoid row 25.8 µm (pt = 55.5).

Claws of hufelandi type ( Fig. 1 C, E); the basal portion, well developed, is narrower than the rest of the claw; well developed accessory points present on the main branches. Lunules present (small and smooth on the first three pairs of legs, larger and with crenate margin on the hind legs). A cuticular bar is present near the lunules on the first three pairs of legs.

Eggs laid freely ( Fig. 1 D), spherical, with small conical, flexible, processes (34–38 on the circumference); diameter 133,0 µm excluding processes, 150.0 µm including them; egg processes smooth, 7.0–7.5 µm high, basal diameter 6.3–7.3 µm. A crown of meshes surrounds the base of each process, therefore the egg shell has a reticular design ( Fig. 1 D).

Remarks: The paratypes are similar to the holotype as regards both qualitative and quantitative characters ( Table 1 ).

Etymology: The name dariae is in honour of Daria Bertolani Marchetti, Professor of Botany at the University of Modena, whose memory we wish to dedicate a species collected by her husband.

Differential diagnosis: Macrobiotus dariae sp. n. differs from Macrobiotus recens Cuénot, 1932 in the following features: less evident cuticular pores; weaker buccal armature (anterior band of teeth probably absent, thinner transversal ridges, less evident posterior band of teeth); stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube in a more cephalic position (pt = 77.2–77.9 in M. dariae sp. n. and 81.0– 82.6 in Macrobiotus recens ) ( Figs 1 B and 2A); more slender claws (with a longer basal portion) ( Figs 1 C, E and 2B). New species differs also in some characters of the eggs ( Figs 1 D and 2 C, D): (egg shell with a reticular sculpture and without dots; egg processes more numerous (34­38 on the circumference in M. dariae sp. n. and 21–22 in M. recens ), shorter (7.0–7.5 µm in M. dariae sp. n. and 12.5–13.8 µm in M. recens ), with narrower basal diameter (6.3–7.3 µm in M. dariae sp. n. and 10.6–11.4 µm in M. recens ). Besides, processes in M. dariae sp. n. are smooth (in M. recens they have ( Fig. 2 D) very small, flexible spikes, difficult to see, on the distal portion), and with less evident basal digitations.

The new species differs from Macrobiotus glebkai Biserov, 1990 by the presence of obvious dots on the legs and on the posterior portion of the body; and in some characters of the eggs which have more numerous processes on the circumference (34–38 in M. dariae sp. n. and 12–14 in M. glebkai ), and egg shell with a reticular design with small meshes.

M. dariae sp. n. differs from Macrobiotus mongolicus Maucci, 1988 in the following features: eyes present; stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube in a more caudal position (pt = 77.2–77.9 in M. dariae sp. n., about 72.0 in M. mongolicus ); claws very different in shape; and egg processes shorter (7.0–7.5 µm in M. dariae sp. n. and 15–17 µm in M. mongolicus ); Maucci (1988) did not specify if a reticular ornamentation was present on the egg­shell.

The new species differs from Macrobiotus kozharai Biserov, 1999 in having cuticular pores, buccal tube with a ventral lamina longer than half length of the tube, claws very different in shape, smaller lunules, lunules of hind legs crenate but not indented, and in some characters of the eggs (egg processes without reticular sculpture, and egg shell without dots but with a reticular design).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Macrobiotus dariae sp. n.: A, habitus (holotype); B, buccopharyngeal apparatus (paratype); C, claws of the third pair of legs (paratype); D, detail of the egg; E, claws of the fourth pair of legs (holotype). (A – E: phase contrast). A, scale bar = 30 µm; B, scale bar = 20 µm; C – E, scale bar = 10 µm.

FIGURE 2. Macrobiotus recens: A, Buccopharyngeal apparatus; B, claws of the third pair of legs; C, egg; D, detail of the egg. (A – D: phase contrast). A, scale bar = 20 µm; B – D, scale bar 10 µm.