Diphascon (Diphascon) serratum, Pilato & Binda & Bertolani & Lisi, 2005

Pilato, Giovanni, Binda, Maria Grazia, Bertolani, Roberto & Lisi, Oscar, 2005, Four new species of the Diphascon nobilei group (Eutardigrada, Hypsibiidae), Journal of Natural History 39 (14), pp. 1029-1041 : 1032-1034

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930400001590

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E42549-FFDB-FFE7-DFFE-E11742C3D490

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Diphascon (Diphascon) serratum
status

sp. nov.

Diphascon (Diphascon) serratum View in CoL sp. n.

( Figure 2 View Figure 2 ; Table I)

Material examined

Mt Etna : Serra La Nave (1715 m): two specimens: holotype (slide N. 1877) and paratype.

Description of the holotype

Body length 217 M m, colourless, cuticle smooth without pearls; eyes seem to be absent. The specimens were mounted in polyvinyl lactophenol more than 30 years ago, and no specification about the presence of eyes is indicated on the label.

The bucco-pharyngeal apparatus is shown in Figure 2A View Figure 2 . The bucco-pharyngeal tube, measured from the anterior margin of the stylet sheaths to the base of the pharyngeal apophyses, is 49.9 M m in length; the buccal tube, measured from the anterior margin of the stylet sheaths to the end of the drop-shaped thickening is 21.6 M m in length (pbf 543.3) and 2.5 M m wide (ptd 511.6). The stylet supports are inserted on the buccal tube at 67.2% of its length (ptd 567.2). The pharyngeal bulb has apophyses, three rod-shaped macroplacoids and microplacoid; the septulum is absent. The entire placoid row is 18.5 M m in length (ptd 585.6) including the microplacoid, 16.5 M m (ptd 576.4) excluding it; the first macroplacoid is 4.9 M m long (ptd 522.7), the second 4.6 M m (ptd 521.3), the third 6.9 M m (ptd 531.9), the microplacoid 1.8 M m (ptd 58.3).

The claws ( Figure 2B, C View Figure 2 ) have wide branches and as a consequence they appear stout. The claws of the hind legs (particularly the posterior claws) have an enlarged basal portion medially and laterally prolonged in a cuticular thickening and basal spines ( Figure 2C View Figure 2 ). Basal spines are also present on the external claws of the first three pairs of legs (the basal margin of the internal claws is smooth). Well-developed accessory points are present on the main branches of all claws. The internal claws are 6.4 M m long (ptd 529.6) on the second and third pair of legs, the external claws of the same pairs of legs are 8.6 M m long (ptd 539.8); on the hind legs the anterior claws are 7.3 M m long (ptd 533.8) and the posterior claws 9.2 M m (ptd 542.6).

On the first three pairs of legs a cuticular bar is present near the base of the internal claws.

Eggs not found.

The paratype is similar to the holotype; in Table I the dimensions of some structures of the holotype and of the known paratype are indicated.

Etymology

The name serratum refers to the indentation of the basal margin of the claws.

Remarks

Diphascon serratum sp. n. differs from D. nobilei in having a longer bucco-pharyngeal tube with respect to the body length, stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube in a more caudal position ( Table I), longer placoids both with respect to the body size and to the buccal tube length ( Table I), shorter claws with less-evident basal spines (absent on the internal claws of the first three pairs of legs) ( Figures 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 ).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Tardigrada

Class

Eutardigrada

Order

Parachela

Family

Hypsibiidae

Genus

Diphascon

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