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Issue: Vol. 4317 No. 3: 5 Sept. 2017
Type: Article
Published: 2017-09-05
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4317.3.6
Page range: 541–558
Abstract views: 84
PDF downloaded: 1

Two new species of Eutardigrada from Victoria Land, Antarctica

Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, Catania.
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, Catania.
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, Catania.
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, Catania.
Tardigrada Antarctica Mixibius felix sp. nov. Milnesium validum sp. nov.

Abstract

Two new species are recorded from Victoria Land (Antarctica): Mixibius felix sp. nov. and Milnesium validum sp. nov. A third species, Diphascon sanae Dastych, Ryan & Watkins, 1990, is a new report for this region of the Antarctic continent. Mixibius felix sp. nov. has a smooth cuticle, eyes present, bucco-pharyngeal apparatus of the Mixibius type (rigid buccal tube without ventral lamina and with hook-shaped asymmetrical apophyses for the insertion of the stylet muscles); stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube at 65.7–68.0% of its length; pharyngeal bulb with apophyses and two macroplacoids; microplacoid and septulum absent; as is characteristic of the genus, the external claws are of Isohypsibius type and the internal are a modified Isohypsibius type. Milnesium validum sp. nov. has smooth cuticle; eye spots present; six triangular peribuccal lamellae with basal stripes; stylet supports inserted on the cylindrical buccal tube at 61.1–64.8% of its length; claw configuration [3-3]-[3-3] (i.e. all secondary claws with three points); secondary claws stout, with distal portion clearly wider than the basal portion and each with a rounded basal thickening (lunule); primary claws with accessory points; a long cuticular bar present under claws I–III. Adding the three above mentioned species, the list of species present in Victoria Land rises from 12 to 15; 11 of these are recorded exclusively to this region of the Antarctic continent.

 

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