Echiniscus dikenli Maucci, 1973

Gąsiorek, Piotr & Vončina, Katarzyna, 2023, Atlas of the Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada) of the World-part I: West Palaearctic Echiniscus species, Zootaxa 5344 (1), pp. 1-72 : 16-17

7. Echiniscus dikenli Maucci, 1973

Figure 6

Locus typicus: ca. 38°04’18”N, 30°09’56”E: Turkey, Aegean region , Dinar.

Etymology: From Turkish dikenli = spiny. An adjective in nominative singular.

Shortened description: Small to medium-sized (180–250 μm). Body appendage configuration A-B-C-Cd- D-Dd- E, all trunk appendages are spines except for cirri E. Dorsal spines are generally longer than lateral ones. Dorsal plate sculpturing comprises pores (the spinulosus type) of two types: similar in size and regularly distributed pores in most plate portions and slightly larger, densely packed pores in denser cuticular matrix in anterior portions of paired segmental plates I–II ( Fig. 6 ). Claws massive, but with minute, needle-like spurs positioned closely to claw bases.

Remarks: This is currently the only Echiniscus species which can be considered as likely endemic of Asia Minor. The unusual presence of cirri, instead of spines, in position E makes this species clearly distinct from all remaining members of the spinulosus morphogroup. The presence of strongly sclerotised anterior portions of paired segmental plates with a different type of pores, contrasting with the rest of dorsal sculpturing ( Gąsiorek & Michalczyk 2020), and large claws, suggest that E. dikenli is closely related to the clade E. spiniger + E. spinulosus (Figs 1–2).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Echiniscus dikenli from Turkey (PCM): dorsal plate sculpturing. Insert shows claws I, and arrowhead points out primary spur. Scale bar = 10 μm.