Pseudechiniscus novaezeelandiae ( Richters, 1908 )

Pilato, Giovanni, Binda, Maria Grazia & Lisi, Oscar, 2005, Remarks on some Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada) from New Zealand with the description of two new species, Zootaxa 1027 (1), pp. 27-45 : 27-45

Pseudechiniscus novaezeelandiae ( Richters, 1908) ( Fig. 11 )

Material examined: North Island, Bruce Park, Scenic Reserve: 1 specimen from a sample of Echinodium hispidum (moss) on exposed live roots of Podocarpus totara .

The specimen we examined has the head plate faceted by the presence of folds; five facets are present, the median one has a finer sculpture than others ( Fig. 11 A ). The sculpture of the trunk plates is formed by dots of unequal size (the largest points in the central portion of each plate). The dots appear to be interconnected by very thin lines that are very difficult to see, almost invisible, ( Fig. 11 B ). A fine dense sculpture, with very small dots, is present on the ventral surface of the body.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Pseudechiniscus novaezeelandiae: A, B, details of the plate sculpture. Scale bar = 10 m.