Marine tardigrades of the Bahamas with the description of two new species and updated keys to the species of Anisonyches and Archechiniscus
Author
Bartels, Paul J.
Author
Fontoura, Paulo
Author
Nelson, Diane R.
text
Zootaxa
2018
4420
1
43
70
journal article
30032
10.11646/zootaxa.4420.1.3
d865e117-4969-4011-8162-3c6e2ec13200
1175-5326
1253143
5509F944-4798-43A1-9179-02F97990FCDA
Batillipes
sp.
Material examined:
35 specimens from site 3, body size 81–147 µm.
Remarks:
These specimens are most similar to
B. similis
Schulz, 1955
. Similarities include the toe pattern (toe 3 shorter than toe 4 on leg IV), drumstick-shaped clavae, length of cephalic cirri, and long sensorial organ (P4) on legs IV. The Bahamian specimens are different from
B. similis
based on the shape and orientation of the lateral processes and a unique caudal appendage that consists of a short triangular projection with a small s-shaped distal portion.
This species appears to have a soft body and did not do well in the PVA mounting medium. For this reason, it was not possible to examine some structures and gender determination was not possible. The description of this species will be postponed until new material is collected.