Some Tardigrades from Nepal (Asia) with Integrative Description of Macrobiotus wandae sp. nov. (Macrobiotidae: Hufelandi Group)

Abstract

Global knowledge of tardigrade diversity is limited, and there still are regions with poorly studied fauna, such as Nepal. We applied an integrative taxonomy approach to describe a new tardigrade species from this area. The presented analysis was based on morphological and morphometrical data (using both light and scanning electron microscopy) and combined with multilocus molecular data (nuclear barcode sequences, i.e. 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2, and one mitochondrial COI sequences). The p-distances enabled an independent verification of Macrobiotus wandaesp. nov. as a species new to science. Molecular data allowed us to determine the phylogenetic position of Mac. wandaesp. nov. within the hufelandi group. Based on egg morphology, i.e. porous egg chorion and processes in shape of cones with terminal discs, new species is most similar to Mac. biserovi, Mac. denticulus, Mac. diversus, Mac. glebkai, Mac. macrocalix, Mac. maculatus and Mac. ramoli. But it differs from them mainly by some morphological and morphometrical characters of eggs (number of egg processes on circumference, details of egg shell sculpture, and morphology of terminal discs of eggs) and adults (oral cavity armature type, morphology of lunule and presence or absence of leg granulation). Moreover, we report from Nepal six other tardigrade taxa: Calohypsibius cf. maliki, Echiniscus blumi, Echiniscus nepalensis, Mesobiotus cf. furciger, Richtersius coronifer and Stellariscus cf. latifasciatus.