Thulinius itoi ( Tsurusaki, 1980 ) Tsurusaki, 1980

Kaczmarek, Łukasz & Michalczyk, Łukasz, 2006, Thulinius itoi comb. nov. a new systematic position for Isohypsibius itoi (Tsurusaki, 1980) (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae), Zootaxa 1373, pp. 65-68 : 66

Thulinius itoi ( Tsurusaki, 1980) comb. nov. ( Figs 1–3 )

Isohypsibius itoi ( Tsurusaki, 1980) in Ramazzotti and Maucci (1983) Hypsibius (Isohypsibius) itoi Tsurusaki, 1980

Material examined: 4 paratypes: slides ZIHU 368, 369, 370, 371

Type locality: Ishikari, Hokkaido, northern Japan

Distribution: Known only from type locality in Japan.

Short diagnosis (based on the original description and re-examination of the paratypes):

Body length 175.0 – 407.0. Eyes absent. Cuticle smooth, without granulation or pores.

Mouth antero-ventral. Bucco-pharyngeal apparatus of Thulinius type ( Fig. 1 ) with 12 peribuccal lamellae and apophyses for insertion of stylet muscles in shape of crests (visible in lateral view). Peribuccal lobes not clearly visible. Buccal tube relatively short and wide with thick walls. Oral cavity armature composed of two bands of round teeth. Anterior band irregular, composed of a number of irregular rows of small teeth. Posterior band composed of one row of large teeth. At posterior end of buccal tube triangular pharyngeal apophyses present. Pharyngeal bulb oval with three rod shaped macroplacoids without constrictions. First macroplacoid longest and second one shortest. First two macroplacoids very close to each other and third one more distant. Microplacoid and septula absent. Claws of Isohypsibius type ( Figs 2 – 3 ). Large transversal cuticular bar below each doubleclaw pair on first three pairs of legs present ( Fig. 3 , arrowhead). Primary branches of claws with accessory points, better developed on external claws than in internal claws. Lunules on legs present.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 3. Thulinius itoi comb. nov. 1 — buccal apparatus (lateral view, arrow indicates the peribuccal lamellae, note also the crest-shaped apophyses for the insertion of the stylet muscles), 2 — claws III (note lunules and accessory points), 3 — claws III (arrowhead indicates the cuticular bar below the claws).