We describe three new tardigrade species from Canada, i.e., one representing Paramacrobiotus richtersi complex, the other Macrobiotus hufelandi complex and one belonging to the genus Bryodelphax. Integrative analysis is made based on morphological and morphometrical data (using both light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) combined with multilocus molecular data (nuclear sequences, i.e., 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2 as well as mitochondrial COI barcode sequences). Paramacrobiotus sp. nov. differs from most species of the genus by a different type of the oral cavity armature, details of egg morphology (number of areoles around egg processes and shape of egg processes) and some morphometric characters of adults (presence or absence of eyes, presence or absence of granulation on legs, dentate lunules under claws IV). Based on COI molecular data, Macrobiotus sp. nov. is most similar to Mac. canaricus Stec, Krzywański & Michalczyk, 2018 (p-distance 17%). Bryodelphax sp. nov. is most similar to Bry. parvulus Thulin, 1928 (p-distance 16%). Moreover, both species differs also from their congeners in some morphological and morphometrical characters of adults and/or details of eggs. Additionally, a large population of Mesobiotus skorackii Kaczmarek, Zawierucha, Buda, Stec, Gawlak, Michalczyk & Roszkowska, 2018 was found in Canada and this is the first report of this species outside terra typica in Kirghizia. The original description of this species was based solely on the morphology. Here we provide an updated description of the species by means of integrative taxonomy.
Previous Article in event
Previous Article in session
Next Article in event
Integrative Descriptions of Three New Tardigrade Species along with the New Record of Mesobiotus skorackii Kaczmarek et al., 2018 from Canada
Published:
22 March 2021
by MDPI
in The 1st International Electronic Conference on Biological Diversity, Ecology and Evolution
session Animal Diversity
Abstract:
Keywords: DNA barcoding; Eutardigrada; Heterotardigrada; Tardigrada; Taxonomy; Water bears