Integrative description of Macrobiotus anshui sp. nov. from the Madeira Island and new record of Macrobiotus dolosus Bertolani, Cesari, Giovannini, Rebecchi, Guidetti, Kaczmarek and Pilato, 2022 (Macrobiotidae; persimilis-polonicus complex) from England
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Tardigrades from England and Madeira are poorly known and up to now only a few species of the genus Macrobiotus have been reported from both regions. In this paper we describe a new species, Macrobiotus anshui sp. nov. from Madeira, as well as a new population of Macrobiotus dolosus Bertolani, Cesari, Giovannini, Rebecchi, Guidetti, Kaczmarek & Pilato, 2022 from England, both belonging to the persimilis-polonicus complex. Species are characterized using an integrative taxonomy approach, including morphological and morphometric analyses using phase contrast microscopy (PCM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), as well as multilocus molecular analysis based on nuclear sequences (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and ITS-2) and mitochondrial COI barcode sequences. Based on COI sequences, Macrobiotus anshui sp. nov. is most similar to Macrobiotus dolosus. Also, based on adult and egg morphology, Macrobiotus anshui sp. nov. is most similar to other Macrobiotus species in the persimillis-polonicus complex but it differs from them by the granulation on the legs, different types of oral cavity armature and number of egg processes on the circumference.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EAA4B686-025C-4C4E-B323-52EDE31CC9C9
Source: The European Zoological Journal
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funder: Narodowym Centrum Nauki
OpenAlex ID: W4414330985