An integrative description of a new Richtersius species from Greece (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Richtersiusidae)

Justyna Pogwizd; Daniel Stec

doi:10.17109/AZH.68.1.1.2022

Justyna Pogwizd Department of Invertebrate Evolution, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3986-6007
Daniel Stec Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6876-0717

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17109/AZH.68.1.1.2022

Keywords: biodiversity, integrative taxonomy, systematics, Richtersius tertius sp. n.

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a new tardigrade species, Richtersius tertius sp. n., from Greece. The description is based on morphological and morphometric analysis using light and scanning electron microscopy as well as genetic analysis based on four molecular markers (DNA sequences of three nuclear, i.e., 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2 and one mitochondrial COI fragment). Morphological and morphometric differences, together with genetic comparisons, provide independent verifications of Richtersius tertius sp. n. as a species new to science. Phenotypically, the new taxon differs from Richtersius coronifer (Richters, 1903) and Richtersius ziemowiti Kayastha, Berdi, Miaduchowska, Gawlak, Łukasiewicz, Gołdyn, Jędrzejewski et Kaczmarek, 2020 mainly by the morphology and size of cuticular pores, present only in hatchlings (first instars), as well as some morphometric characters. The results presented herein contribute further to the recognition of the morphological variability and biodiversity within Richtersius, with Richtersius tertius sp. n. being the third species formally described within the genus.

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