Echiniscus bisetosus Heinis, 1908

Wang, Lizhi & Li, Xiaochen, 2005, Echiniscus taibaiensis sp. nov. and a new record of Echiniscus bisetosus Heinis (Tardigrada, Echiniscidae) from China, Zootaxa 1092 (1), pp. 39-45 : 43-45

Echiniscus bisetosus Heinis ( Fig. 3A–B , Table 2)

Material examined. Eight specimens (Slide numbers TB0505001, TB 0505002–0505004, TB0505007–0505007, TB0505010–0505011) were collected from the southern slope of Mt. Taibai at 2,200 m a.s.l. (33° 48 N, 107° 43 E). All specimens are deposited at the College of Life Sciences , Shaanxi Normal University .

Description. Colour red. Eyes present. Internal buccal cirrus, external buccal cirrus, cephalic papilla, cirrus A, clava, dorsal spine C, dorsal spine D, lateral cirrus D and lateral spine E present. The internal buccal cirrus with cirrophore and scapus. Armour consists of single cephalic plate, single scapular plate, first single median plate, first paired plates, second single median plate, second paired plates, and terminal plate with two usual notches; third median plate absent; dorsal plates decorated with small hexagons or circles with central small pits ( Fig. 3A ). A transverse ridge present in the paired plates I and II. A smooth band anterior to this ridge is also present on the paired plates I and II. Dorsal filament C very long; dorsal spine D short and rigid; cirrus D very long, only a little shorter than the dorsal spine C; spine E short ( Table 2). The dentate collar with 8–9 teeth. Papilla on the lateral surface of the fourth pair of legs present. Spurs present only on the internal claws of the first three pairs of legs, spurs present on the internal claws and small spurs present on the external claws of the fourth pair of legs; length of claws increases caudally ( Table 2).

* The number in bracket represents sample size.

Remarks. Our specimens differ from the specimens from other localities in Europe, North America, and Turkey by lacking spine C, or by having a long filament D instead of short spine D. Specimens with filament D were also found in Sardinia, Italy ( Binda & Guglielmino, 1982). The population we found is not accompanied by any other species of the “ blumi­canadensis ” group. This species has not been reported from China before, therefore our specimens represent a new record of this species for the tardigrade fauna of China.

Figures

FIGURE 3. A–B, Echiniscus bisetosus sp. nov.: A, habitus showing dorsal plates, cuticular sculpture, lateral and dorsal appendages (A: PCM); B, habitus showing dorsal plates, lateral and dorsal appendages. Scale bars = 50 m.