Tardigrada of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China

Abstract

Relatively little is known of the Tardigrada fauna of China, and there are no previous tardigrade records for Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China's largest administrative division. Moss specimens of the Missouri Botanical Garden Herbarium (St. Louis, U.S.A.) were used as a source of tardigrades from this region. Of the 270 moss specimens sampled, 78 yielded tardigrades. Species found were Bryodelphax asiaticus, Cornechiniscus holmeni, Echiniscus blumi, Echiniscus canadensis, Echiniscus granulatus, Echiniscus testudo, Echiniscus trisetosus, Macrobiotus alekseevi, Macrobiotus mauccii, Milnesium asiaticum, Milnesium longiungue, and Milnesium tardigradum. Of the species found, the Heterotardigrada are better represented, which is probably a reflection of the higher altitudes at which the samples were taken and the arid environment of the region; the species found are primarily ones considered to be xerophilic or montane. Seven species new to China are reported.