Macrobiotus harmsworthi

Kaczmarek, Łukasz, Gołdyn, Bartłomiej, Prokop, Zofia M. & Michalczyk, Łukasz, 2011, New records of Tardigrada from Bulgaria with the description of Macrobiotus binieki sp. nov. (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae) and a key to the species of the harmsworthi group, Zootaxa 2781, pp. 29-39 : 35-36

Key to the species of the harmsworthi group

1. Cuticle either with pores, or granulation, or stripes of pigmentation............................................. 2

-. Cuticle smooth....................................................................................... 9

2(1). Pores in cuticle present, granulation and stripes of pigmentation absent........................................... 3

-. Pores in cuticle absent, granulation or stripes of pigmentation present............................................ 4

3(2). Egg shell smooth, processes in the shape of low cones (mammillate-like) without finger-like structures at the process base, bubble-like structures at the top of processes present, 16–21 processes on the egg circumference........................

....................................................................... M. krynauwi Dastych & Harris, 1995 -. Egg shell covered with dots, processes in the shape of high cones with finger-like structures at the process base, bubble-like structures at the top of processes absent, 6–8 processes on the egg circumference.............. M. liviae Ramazzotti, 1962

4(2). Nine bands of brown pigmentation on cuticle present*................................... M. baltatus McInnes, 1991

-. Cuticle without bands of pigmentation..................................................................... 5

5(4). Granulation on cuticle in the shape of large tubercles (1.5–2.0), present only on the caudal end of the body........................................................................................ M. arguei Pilato & Sperlinga, 1975

-. Granulation present on the entire dorsal side of the body....................................................... 6

6(5). Granulation on cuticle in the shape of small tubercles, eyes present.............................................. 7

-. Granulation on cuticle in the shape of fine dots; eyes absent................................................... 8

7(6). First band of teeth in the oral cavity armature and granulation on legs I–III absent, lunules IV smooth.............................................................................................. M. perfidus Pilato and Lisi, 2009

-. First band of teeth in the oral cavity armature and granulation on legs I–III present, lunules IV dentate......................................................................................... M. pseudocoronatus Pilato et al., 2006

8(6). Areolae around the bases of egg processes absent, egg processes smooth, in the shape of spines with a wide base and a sharp apex, processes smooth, 22–23 processes on the egg circumference....................... M. contii Pilato & Lisi, 2006

-. Areolae around the bases of egg processes present, egg processes in the shape of cones with a blunt apex, processes reticulated, 10–12 processes on the egg circumference.................................... M. pseudonuragicus Pilato et al., 2004

9(1). Spurs on claws present....................................................... M. armatus Pilato & Binda, 1996

-. Spurs on claws absent................................................................................. 10

10(9). Egg processes situated very close (in contact) one to another................. Macrobiotus neuquensis Rossi et al., 2009

-. Spaces between egg processes present.................................................................... 11

11(10). Areolation on eggs present............................................................................. 12

-. Areolation on eggs absent.............................................................................. 19

12(11). Each process inside a single areola...................................................... M. mauccii Pilato, 1974

-. A number of areolae present around each process........................................................... 13

13(12). Egg areolation poorly visible (areolae with thin walls), sometimes not fully developed, processes with a blunt apex...... 14

-. Egg areolation fully developed and well visible, processes with a sharp or indented apex............................ 15

14(13). Eyes present, bubble-like structures at the top of processes absent, egg processes in the shape of cones, egg shell covered by delicate stripes........................................................ M. harmsworthi obscurus Dastych, 1985

-. Eyes absent, bubble-like structures at the top of processes present, egg processes in the shape of a bells (domes), egg shell cov- ered by delicate dots.............................................................. M. peterseni Maucci, 1991

15(13). Body red, the oral cavity armature of the echinogenitus - type, lunules IV not thickened and without indentations, a crown of dots around the bases of processes present.................................... M. ovostriatus Pilato & Patanè, 1998

-. Body transparent, the oral cavity armature of the harmsworthi - type, lunules IV thickened or with indentations, a crown of dots around the bases of processes absent..................................................................... 16

16(15). Sixteen areolae around the base of each egg process............................. M. pseudoliviae Pilato & Binda, 1996

-. Six areolae around the base of each egg process........................................................... 17

17(16). Process top divided into a number of points, more than 13 processes on the egg circumference............................................................................................... M. nuragicus Pilato & Sperlinga, 1975

-. Process top with 1–2 points, less than 13 processes on the egg circumference..................................... 18

18(17). Eyes and granulation on legs I present, lunules IV thickened, pt of stylet supports less than 76%, egg processes without a flex- ible upper portion........................................................ M. hieronimi Pilato & Claxton, 1988

-. Eyes and granulation on legs I absent, lunules IV with indentations, pt of stylet supports more than 77%, egg processes with a flexible upper portion...................................................... M. barbarae Kaczmarek et al., 2007

19(11). Egg processes hemispherical............................................................................ 20

-. Egg processes conical................................................................................. 21

20(19). Egg shell with reticular sculpture.................................................... M. montanus Murray, 1910

-. Egg shell without reticular sculpture............................................... M. mottai Binda & Pilato, 1994

21(19). A well visible crown of swellings, dots or stripes around the bases of egg processes present......................... 22

-. A crown of swellings, dots or stripes around the bases of egg processes absent.................................... 28

22(21). Egg processes smooth....................................................... M. australis Pilato & D'Urso, 1976

-. Egg processes reticulated or with small round bubbles....................................................... 23

23(22). A crown around the bases of egg processes composed of rectangular swellings, processes in the shape of spines with a wide base, more than 25 processes on the egg circumference.......................................... M. binieki sp. nov.

-. A crown around the bases of egg processes composed of dots or stripes, processes in the shape of low cones, less than 20 pro- cesses on the egg circumference........................................................................ 24

24(23). A crown around the bases of egg processes composed of radiate stripes forming a larger radiate crown, processes with a blunt, indented apex.................................................................. M. radiatus Pilato et al., 1991

-. A crown around the bases of egg processes composed of dots, processes with a sharp apex.......................... 25

25(24). Weakly visible granulation present only on legs IV, terminal portion of egg processes not flexible................................................................................................... M. rigidus Pilato & Lisi, 2006

-. Evident granulation present on legs I–IV, terminal portion of egg processes flexible................................ 26

26(25). Eyes absent................................................................... M. patiens Pilato et al., 2000