Five new species of the genus Milnesium (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Milnesiidae) Tumanov, Denis V. Zootaxa 2006 1122 1 23 [264,519,284,310] Polychaeta Aphroditidae Milnesium Animalia Phyllodocida 11 12 Annelida species asiaticum sp. nov.    TypeMaterial. Holotype: sex indeterminate, slide number 194(14). Collected by A. V. Barabanov (Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) 17.06.1998, Kirghizia.  Paratypes: slide’s numbers 195(17, 19, 20, 22) from the same locality. Typelocality: Kirghizia, Chui Area, northern slope of the Kirghizian ridge, Turakaiyn canyon, vicinity of Turakaiyn village, near 2000 ma.s.l., moss from soil. 5 adultsand juvenile specimens and 1 exuvium with 9 eggswere found. Additional material: slide’s numbers 190(16, 17, 18). Collected by Dr. I. G. Danylov (Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) 16.06.1998, in Kirghizia, Osh Area, Karakuljin Distr., vicinity of Kylojun village, near 2000 ma.s.l., moss from stone ( 3 adults).   Etymology.This species is named after the region of its typelocality, Asia.   Description.Body length up to 911.1 µm; colour of living specimens slightly reddish or white, cuticle smooth, eyes present in most specimens. Six peribuccal and two lateral papillae present. The mouth has 6 peribuccal lamellae longitudinally striped in their basal portion. Claws long, slender. Main branch of each claw with two poorly developed accessory points. Complex basal claw+secondary branch with a rounded basal thickening. First three pairs of legs with elongated cuticular thickening near the claw bases. All dimensions are given in Table 4. Smooth eggs (white in incident light, colourless in preparation) deposited within exuviae. No mature males were found.  Differential Diagnosis.  Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. reticulatumby having smooth cuticle without gibbosities, more cephalic position of the insertion point of the stylet supports ( ptvalue 63.9–66.9 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 68.5–69.8 in  M. reticulatum) and longer claws with developed basal spurs on the outer claws ( ptvalue of the length of main branches of the claws of the IV pair of legs is 63.9–76.0 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 41.7–44.3 in  M. reticulatum).   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. katarzynaeby having smooth cuticle, more cephalic position of the insertion point of the stylet supports ( ptvalue 63.9–66.9 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 73.3–78.3 in  M. katarzynae) and longer claws with developed basal spurs on all claws ( ptvalue of the length of main branches of the claws of the IV pair of legs is 63.9–76.0 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 43.5–43.8 in  M. katarzynae).   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. dujiangensisby having main claw branches on all legs.   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. tardigradumby having more slender and longer claws, larger ptratio of the length of the claws of the IV pair of legs and less developed accessory points (for comparison see Tables 1and 4).   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. almatyense  sp. nov.by having longer buccal tube, longer claws (especially on the IV pair of legs) and developed basal spurs on all claws (for comparison see Tables 3and 4).   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. antarcticum  sp. nov.by having smaller buccal tube dimensions, more cephalic position of the insertion point of the stylet supports, more slender claws, larger ptratio of the length of the claws of the IV pair of legs, less developed accessory points (for comparison see Tables 2and 4).   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. tetralamellatumby having 6 peribuccal lamellae, larger buccal tube length, slightly more caudal position of the insertion point of the stylet supports ( ptvalue 63.9–66.9 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 63.9 in  M. tetralamellatum), longer claws with developed basal spurs on the outer claws, lesser ptratio of the length of the complex basal claw+secondary branch of the IV pair of legs ( 36.8–46.7 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 46.2 in  M. tetralamellatum) and larger ptratio of the length of the main branch of the IV pair of legs (63.9–76.0 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 54.7 in  M. tetralamellatum).   FIGURES 25–29.  Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.25—habitus, 26—bucco­pharyngeal apparatus, 27—claws of the I pair of legs, 28—claws of the IV pair of legs, 29—main branch of the claw of the I pair of legs (arrow points to the accessory points) (phase contrast; 25–28—holotype).   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. brachyungueby having larger ptratio of the length of the claws of the IV pair of legs ( ptvalue of the length of main branches of the claws of the IV pair of legs is 63.9–76.0 in  M. asiaticum  sp. nov.and 33.1 in  M. brachyungue) and longer claws.   Milnesium asiaticum  sp. nov.differs from  M. eurystomumby having typical configuration of buccal apparatus.