Bryodelphax asiaticus, Kaczmarek & Michalczyk, 2004

Kaczmarek, Lukasz & Michalczyk, Lukasz, 2004, A New Species Bryodelphax Asiaticus (Tardigrada: Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) From Mongolia (Central Asia), Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 52 (2), pp. 599-602 : 599-601

Bryodelphax asiaticus , new species

( Figs. 1-6 )

Material examined. – Holotype – ( AMU) moss from rocks 1850 m asl., Chubsugul Region , Chubsugul Nuur National Park, Mongolia, coll. L. Kaczmarek, 29 Jul.2000.

Paratypes – 2 ex. ( AMU), moss from rocks 1850 m asl., Chubsugul Region , Chubsugul Nuur National Park, Mongolia, coll. L. Kaczmarek, 29 Jul.2000 ; 3 ex. ( CLM), moss from stone 1900 m asl., Chubsugul Region , Chubsugul Nuur National Park, Mongolia, coll. L. Kaczmarek, 29 Jul.2000 ; 2 ex. ( ZRC), moss from stone 1650 m asl., Chubsugul Region , Chubsugul Nuur National Park, Mongolia, coll. L. Kaczmarek, 29 Jul.2000 .

Description of holotype. – Total body length without hind

Table 1. Measurements [m] of selected morphological characters of all found specimens of Bryodelphax asiaticus , new species (in the body length order).

legs 147.2. Body transparent, eyes absent. Apart from head appendages, only lateral appendages A are present. Cuticle on ventral side of the body covered with very fine, regular granulation. Ventral plates absent. Dorsal plates covered with small granulation, distinctly larger on scapular and terminal plate (especially in the centre of them) and slightly larger irregularly distributed pores. Paired plates divided into two unequal anterior and posterior parts by a transverse stripe without granulation. In posterior parts slightly larger granules then in anterior ones present ( Fig. 1 and 4-6). Median plates 1 and 2 divided into two unequal parts ( Fig. 1 and 5-6 ). Median plate 3 undivided and in triangular shape. Granules on median plates distinctly smaller then those on other plates ( Fig. 1 ). Terminal plate without incisions but with two indentations situated laterally. Appendages A 34.2 long (23.2% of body length). Internal and external buccal cirri 5.7 and 11.4 long, respectively. Spine on the 1 st pair of leg and papilla on 4 th absent ( Figs. 2-3 ). Collar on 4 th pair of leg without teeth ( Fig. 3 ). Claws of 4 th pair of legs 6.6 long. External claws of all legs smooth, internal with very small spur 1.0 long ( Figs. 2-3 ).

Measurements of all specimens (holotype and paratypes) are given in Table 1.

Etymology. – The name ‘ asiaticus ’ refers to the continent where the new species has been found.

Remarks. – Bryodelphax asiaticus , new species, is the most similar in general appearance to the very common species B. parvulus but differs from it by lacking of spine on the 1 st pair of legs, papilla on the 4 th; shorter cirri A (22.2-27.5% of the body length in B. asiaticus , new species, and about 25.0- 33.0% in B. parvulus , according to Dastych, 1988); absence of eyes; shorter claws ( B. asiaticus , new species, 7.6 long in a specimen 171.0 long and B. parvulus 10.0 long in a specimen 155.0 long, according to Dastych, 1988). The new species has also minute granulation on the ventral side of the body which is not mentioned in the description of B. parvulus .

Figures

Figs. 1-3. Bryodelphax asiaticus, new species; 1 - Dorsal side of the body, 2 – The 1st. leg, 3 – The 4th. leg. Scale bars: 1 = 100 m; 2-3 = 10 m.

Figs. 5-6. Bryodelphax asiaticus, new species; Dorsal side of the body (DIC). Scale bars: 5-6 = 100 m.