Minibiotus poricinctus, Claxton, 1998

Claxton, Sandra K., 1998, A revision of the genus Minibiotus (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) with descriptions of eleven new species from Australia, Records of the Australian Museum 50 (2), pp. 125-160 : 133

Minibiotus poricinctus n.sp.

Figs. 4, 18c; Table 3

Type material. HOLOTYPE in AM ( AM KS41585 ): Australia, Tasmania: Mount Cameron WestAboriginal Site , 41°52'S 144°42'E, 9 January 1996, A. Moscal, moss on rock . PARATYPES (10 specimens, 3 eggs in AM [ AM KS41586-41595 ]; 50 specimens, 5 eggs in SKC) same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Cuticle with eight bands of small round pores and granulation on all legs; three round macroplacoids ofthe same size and an indistinct microplacoid; long slender claws with short, close accessory claws and thick smooth lunules.

Description. Body length 135-277 /lm, colourless. Eye spots large in posterior position. Cuticle with eight bands of small, round (0.5 /lID) pores around the body, sparse on the ventral surface and on the outside of all legs. Fine granulation on top and both sides of legs I-Ill just above claws, also around claws on leg IV. Buccal tube narrow (7.6% of buccal tube length). Stylet supports inserted at 59.5% of buccal tube length, ventral support very short (35.8% of buccal tube length). Pharyngeal bulb almost round (24 /lm long by 22 /lm wide) containing large, triangular apophysis, three macroplacoids and a microplacoid. Macroplacoid row short (30.9% of buccal tube length); first macroplacoid slightly elongated anteriorly where it lies very close to and partly obscured by the apophysis; second and third macroplacoids round, same size as first. Microplacoid small and indistinct, lying close to third macroplacoid. Claws slender (fourth pair of claws is 27.3% of length of buccal tube) with long secondary branch and round refractive zone at base. Accessory claws short, lying close to main branch on all claws. Lunules small, smooth on first three pairs oflegs, thick and smooth on fourth pair of legs.

Eggs round, diameter without processes 49 /lm, with processes 60 /lm. 18-20 processes around circumference, 50 in hemisphere. Processes screw-like, each surrounded by a membrane, height 6.5-7 /lID, base 1.5 /lm, top 5.5 /lm, 6-8 /lm apart. Small dots visible on shell surface around each process where membrane appears to reach the surface.

Etymology. Latin, porus, masculine, hole and cinctus, Latin noun, girdle, belt.

Remarks. The species is superficially very similar to M. intermedius and M. taiti but differs from them by the presence of bands of pores in the cuticle.

Habitat. The type material was found in a single mixed sampleoftwo mosses (Lembophyliumdivulsumand Thuidium furfurosum) and a liverwort (Cheilolejeunea mimosa) on a sandstone boulder in a littoral flat with low shrubs and herbs. Minibiotus f/oriparus n.sp.

Tables

Table 3. Measurements (in flm) of adults of Minibiotus poricinctus n.sp.

Character	No.	Range	Mean	SD	SE Holotype
bodylength	20	174-290	240.3	30.0	6.7	270
BTlength	20	20.5-28.1	24.7	1.6	0.4	26.0
BTwidth	20	1.5-2.2	1.9	0.2	0.04	2.1
SIlength	20	12.2-16.8	14.7	1.0	0.2	15.4
VSlength	20	7.6-10.3	8.8	0.6	0.1	9.2
PRlength	20	7.0-10.0	8.7	0.7	0.2	8.7
MPRlength	20	6.0-8.9	7.6	0.7	0.2	7.6
m 1	20	1.6-2.5	2.1	0.2	0.04	2.2
m 2	20	1.4-2.4	1.9	0.3	0.1	1.9
m 3	20	1.4-2.4	1.9	0.3	0.1	1.9
microplacoid	20	0.5-1.0	0.6	0.2	0.1	0.5
PHlength	15	20.0-27.0	24.0	1.9	0.4	25.0
PHwidth	15	20.0-26.0	22.7	1.8	0.4	24.0
clawI	20	4.3-6.2	5.6	0.5	0.1	6.0
clawII-III	20	5.1-6.8	6.2	0.4	0.1	6.5
clawIV	20	5.7-7.6	6.8	0.5	0.1	7.0