Description and Molecular Characterization of Richtersius ziemowiti sp. nov. (Richtersiidae) from Nepal (Asia) with Evidence of Heterozygous Point Mutation Events in the 28S rRNA

Abstract

Applying an integrative taxonomy approach, we describe a new tardigrade species from Nepal. Light and scanning electron microscopy are used for morphological as well as morphometric analysis of the new species. Furthermore, multilocus molecular data (nuclear markers, i.e., 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2 and mitochondrial COI barcode sequences) were analysed to confirm the novelty of species. The p–distances enabled an independent verification of Richtersius ziemowitisp. nov. as species new to science and molecular data allowed us to determine the phylogenetic position of the new species. Morphologically, Richtersius ziemowitisp. nov. differs from nominal Ric. coronifer mainly by lower pores density on cuticle, smaller eggs and lower number of processes on the egg circumference. What is more, we identified double (overlapping) peaks in mutated loci in the 28S rRNA chromatograms and obtained heterozygous sequences.