Echiniscus quitensis, a new species of tardigrade from Ecuador (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae)

Abstract

A new species of tardigrade, Echiniscus quitensis sp. n., is described. The third unpaired plate is absent but the corresponding area is sculptured; terminal plate unfaceted; cirrus A is the only trunk appendage present; the cuticular plates have small dots, joined to one another by very thin stripes difficult to see, and light points; the anterior portion of the paired plates II and III, the anterior portion of the median plate 2 and the area corresponding to the median plate 3 have only large polygonal dots. Internal claws with a spur. Echiniscus quitensis sp. n. differs from E. rufoviridis in lacking a delimited third median plate, in having the terminal plate unfaceted, shorter claws, a spur on the internal claws and in some characteristic of the plate ornamentation. The new species is very similar to E. charrua but it differs from it in some characteristics of the plate ornamentation.