Integrative Descriptions of Three New Tardigrade Species along with the New Record of &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;Mesobiotus skorackii &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;Kaczmarek et al., 2018 from Canada

Pushpalata Kayastha,Monika Mioduchowska,Milena Roszkowska,Magdalena Gawlak,Łukasz Kaczmarek

doi:10.3390/bdee2021-09521

Abstract

Two new tardigrade species from a moss sample collected in Canada, one representing Macrobiotus hufelandi complex and the second one belonging to the genus Bryodelphax, are described. Integrative analysis was undertaken based on morphological and morphometric data (using both light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) combined with multilocus molecular analysis (nuclear sequences, i.e., 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2 as well as mitochondrial COI barcode sequences). Based on COI sequences, Macrobiotus birendrai sp. nov. is most similar to Mac. canaricus (p-distance 17%), whereas Bryodelphax mareki sp. nov. is most similar to Bry. parvulus (p-distance 16%). Both species differ also from their congeners in some morphological and morphometric characters of adults and/or details of egg chorion. Additionally, a large population of Mesobiotus skorackii was found in the sample and this is the first report of this species outside its terra typica in Kirghizia. The original description of this species was prepared based solely on the morphology and morphometry, therefore, here we provide updated data for this species enclosing morphometric and molecular data for the Canadian population.

Highlights

The phylum Tardigrada, commonly called water bears, inhabit terrestrial and aquatic environments
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
Paramacrobiotus sp. nov. differs from most species of the genus by a different type of the oral cavity armature, details of egg morphology and some morphometric characters of adults

Summary

Introduction

The phylum Tardigrada, commonly called water bears, inhabit terrestrial and aquatic (freshwater and marine) environments. They are found in mosses, lichens, soil, leaf litter, sediments and on aquatic plants [1,2,3]. 1300 species of tardigrades have been described throughout the world [4,5,6,7]. Tardigrade fauna of Canada is rather poorly known and up to now only ca. 120 species have been reported from this region [8,9]. We applied integrative taxonomy for description of three new species from Canada belonging to Paramacrobiotus richtersi complex, Macrobiotus hufelandi complex and the genus. Bryodelphax, and update description Mesobiotus skorackii Kaczmarek, Zawierucha, Buda, Stec, Gawlak, Michalczyk & Roszkowska [10]

Material and Methods

Results

Conclusions