Minibiotus scopulus, Claxton, 1998

Claxton, Sandra K., 1998, A revision of the genus Minibiotus (Tardigrada: Macrobiotidae) with descriptions of eleven new species from Australia, Records of the Australian Museum 50 (2), pp. 125-160 : 152-157

Minibiotus scopulus n.sp.

Figs. 15 , 20b ; Table 14

Type material. HOLOTYPE in AM ( AM KS41511 ): Australia, New South Wales: Galore , 35°0TS 146°4TE, 340 m a.s.l., 19 March 1994, S.K. Claxton, moss and lichen on dead trees, rock and soil in dense dry woodland . PARATYPES (7 specimens, 5 eggs in AM [ AM KS41512 - KS41521 ]; 39 specimens, 40 eggs in SKC): same data as holotype .

Additional material examined. AUSTRALIA, Western Australia: Ravenswood , 32°33'S 115°43'E, 18 February 1993, P.D. Claxton, crustose lichen on tree, 1 specimen in SKC . NEW ZEALAND: North Island, Tikitiki , 18 May 1971, D.S. Homing, 1 specimen in NZM .

Diagnosis. Smooth cuticle, yellow body cells, nine bands of pores around the body; two macroplacoids and an indistinct microplacoid; long robust claws with fine low accessory claws and thin smooth lunules.

Description. Body length 165-428 Ilm, pale yellow body cells, many specimens with red pigment granules in irregular bands. Eye spots present in posterior position. Cuticle smooth with round to elliptical pores (about 1 IJIll diameter) extending around the body in nine bands, and also on legs, becoming sparser towards the head. Buccal tube narrow (8.6% ofbuccal tube length). Stylet supports inserted at 66.1% of buccal tube length and ventral support long (53.2%). Pharyngeal bulb round to slightly oval, containing apophysis, two macroplacoids and a microplacoid. First macroplacoid short, solid with slight middle indentation, second macroplacoid granular with caudal bulb curved towards midline. Microplacoid indistinct and lies close to second macroplacoid. Claws robust (fourth pair of claws is 39.6% of buccal tube length) with very small refractive zone at base and short secondary branch; accessory claws short, fine and lie close to main branch. Lunules very small.

Eggs colourless to pale brown, often found in pairs, round, diameter without processes 60 1JIll, with processes 70 Ilm. Thirty-six processes around circumference and 120 in hemisphere. Processes long, thin, apparently flattened at least along the distal half. Processes mostly 6-11 Ilm long with a few on each egg up to 16 IJIll and then often bent at an acute angle; base diameter 2-3 IJIll and 4-6 IJIll between them. Shell surface dotted.

Etymology. Latin scopulus (masculine), observation point, projecting rock, which describes the type locality, a large monolith on the plains of western New South Wales.

Remarks. The species is similar to Minibiotus fallax Pilato et al., 1989 in having two macroplacoids, pores in the cuticle, no lunules and in the appearance of the egg. It differs from that species by not having gibbosities on the cuticle.

Habitat. The species was found in mosses and foliose lichens on rock in dense, dry woodland half way up Galore Hill but not in mosses and lichens from the top of the hill.

Minibiotus fallax Pilato, Claxton & Binda, 1989

Fig. 20c

Minibiotusfallax Pilato, Claxton & Binda, 1989: 23-26, fig. 2A-E.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE in MM (1139-38): Australia, New South Wales, Douglas Park , 34°11'S 150043'E, 11 January 1987, S.K. Claxton, moss and lichen on rock in open forest . PARATYPES (13 specimens, 1 egg in MM; 18 specimens, 2 eggs in SKC): same data as holotype but some also collected on 9 March 1986, 14 September 1986, 15 November 1986 .

Additional material examined. NEW SOUTH WALES: Barrengarry, 34°40'S 150030'E, 26 January 1986, S.K.c., moss on rock, cool temperate rainforest, 2 specimens. Blue Mountains, 33°43'S 150020'E, 1000 m, 26 December 1993, 8 August 1995, 26 November 1995, S.K.C., moss on trees and rocks in closed forest, 16 specimens. New England National Park , 30030'S 152°30'E, 1200 m, 18 December 1994, 20 April 1995, 7 January 1996, S.K.C., moss and lichen on rocks and trees in subalpine heath, 21 specimens. Jenolan, 33°49'S 150002'E, 14 December 1986, 26 December 1992, S.K.c., moss and lichen on trees in open forest, 7 specimens. Fitzroy Falls , 34°38'S 150030'E, 26 January 1986, S.K.C., moss and lichen in open forest, 2 specimens. Crookwell, 34°28'S 149°29'E, 29 August 1992, J. Lloyd, lichen on tree open trees, 15 specimens, 37 eggs. Taralga, 34°24'S 149°49'E, 26 April 1996, S.K.C., lichen on tree on street, 6 specimens, 1 egg. Apsley Falls , 31°03'S 151°46'E, 6 February

1993, D. Clark, lichen on tree, 3 specimens, 1 egg. Kosciusko, 36°30'S 148°19'E, 1 October 1992, P.D. Claxton, moss and lichen on rock, 3 specimens. QUEENSLAND: Cunninghams Gap , 28°03'S 152°25'E , 3 September 1985, S.K.c., moss and lichen on trees in closed forest, 3 specimens. Ravensbourne , 27°22'S 152°08'E , 3 September 1985, S.K.C., moss and lichen on trees in open forest, 8 specimens. Crows Nest , 27°15'S 152°05'E , 3 September 1985, S.K.C., moss on rock in open forest, 3 specimens. Eumundi , 26°28'S 152°57'E , 20 December 1986 [D.S. Homing ] , 18 March 1994 [S.K.C.], fern on soil, moss and lichen on trees in urban park, 7 specimens. Yarraman , 26°20'S 151°58'E , 3 September 1985, S.K.C., lichen on trees in open forest, 11 specimens. Cania Gorge , 24°40'S 150058'E , 1 April 1997, S.K.c., lichen on rock, 1 specimen. Cammoo Caves , 23°10'S 150027'E, bars = 10 /lm).

TODO September 1985, S.K.C., lichen on tree open field, 14 specimens. Capricorn Caves, 23°lO'S 15002TE, 2 April 1997, S.K.c., leaf litter on rock open forest, 1 specimen. All SKC.

Diagnosis. Cuticle with transverse bands of rounded gibbosities more prominent in posterior part of body, nine bands of pores around body; two macroplacoids and an indistinct microplacoid; long robust claws with high accessory claws and thin, smooth lunules.

Emended description. Eggs colourless, found singly, in pairs and sets of four; 59-SO!lm in diameter without processes, SO-lOO!lm with processes; 2S-30 around circumference, about 100 in hemisphere; processes are strap-like with swollen bases the distal ends of which appear flattened, quite variable in height between eggs and over a single egg, most 12-16!lm but may reach 22!lm, these longerprocesses often swollen or bent at an acute angle near distal end, processes 3-4!lm base diameter and 2-4!lm between. Shell surface strongly dotted.

Remarks. The description of eggs is based on two egg shells found at the type locality and on eggs (including embryonate eggs) found at other localities.

Habitat. The species occurs frequently but rarely in abundance. It seems to prefer lichens on trees in dry environments.

Minibiotus maculartus Pilato & Claxton, 1988

Minibiotus maculartus Pi 1ato & Claxton,1988: 86-88,figs.3A-D.

Type material examined. HOLOTYPE in MM (1019-39): Australia, New South Wales Douglas Park , 34°11'S 150043'E, 9 March 1986, S.K. Claxton, moss and lichen on rock in open forest . PARATYPES (7 specimens, 3 eggs in MM; 61 specimens, 11 eggs in SKC) same data as holotype but some also collected on 17 May 1986, 19 July 1986 , 13

September 1986, 15 November 1986 and 11 January 1987.

Additional material examined. AUSTRALIA, New South Wales: Jenolan , 33°49'S 150002'E, 14 December 1986, S.K.C., moss and lichen on rock in open forest, 8 specimens, 8 eggs . New England National Park , 30030'S 152°30'E, 18 December 1994, 20 April 1995, 7 April 1996, S.K.C., moss, lichen and liverwort on trees in closed forest, 26 specimens, 5 eggs . Montague Island , 36°15'S 150014'E, 22 January 1993, D. Clark, lichen on rock exposed to salt spray, 28 animals, 3 eggs .

bars = lO run).

All SKC. NEW ZEALAND : Weka Island , East Coast, 28 November 1971, G.!. Wilson, 3 specimens in NZM ( NZ 1136) .

Diagnosis. Cuticle smooth, granulation on all legs; 3 round macroplacoids and an indistinct microplacoid; robust claws with short, high accessory claws and toothed lunules on fourth pair of claws.

Emended description. Re-examination of the type material revealed the presence of tiny teeth on the lunules of the fourth pair of claws which are 29% of the length of the buccal tube (measurement in the original description included the accessory claw).

Eggs may be quite variable in shape of the processes. In the population from Montague Island, the processes are rounded not pointed.

Figures

Figure 15. Taxonomic details of Minibiotus scopulus n.sp. a, habitus (paratype); b, egg; c, ventral view of the buccal armature; d, claws of the first pair of legs; e, claws of the fourth pair of legs; f, detail of eggshell.

Figure 20. Eggs of a, Minibiotus aculeatus Phase; b, Minibiotus scopulus DIC; c, Minibiotus jallax DIC. (Scale