Macrobiotus huziori, a new species of Tardigrada (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae) from Costa Rica (Central America)
Author
Michalczyk, Łukasz
Author
Kaczmarek, Łukasz
text
Zootaxa
2006
2006-04-10
1169
47
59
journal article
27075
10.5281/zenodo.2645581
433bfc26-5b08-49bc-806c-bff705808511
1175-5326
2645581
68009476-AFD2-4133-A7B5-F7303D38AE2F
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
(
Figs. 1–5
,
7–43
)
Material examined.
8 adults
, 1 infant and
20 eggs
(prepared for both, DIC and SEM) from the
type
locality and from
Cartago
(
Costa Rica
; near the road from
Pacayas
to
Turrialba
,
27.5 km
before
Turrialba
; moss from soil;
17.12.2002
; leg.
Ł. Kaczmarek
)
.
Description.
Adult (measurements of the
holotype
): Body length 455.0 (
Fig. 1
, see also
Fig. 2
). Body transparent/white, eyes present. Cuticle smooth and without pores. Fine but evident, regular granulation present on all legs but developed better on IV pair (
Figs. 10–11
). Granules have a complex structure and with SEM they are visible as aggregations of small granules or cones (2 to 10 granules/cones on each aggregation) (
Fig. 11
).
Buccopharyngeal apparatus of
Macrobiotus
type
(
Figs. 3–5
). Mouth anteroventral, surrounded by ring of 10 peribuccal lamellae. Oral cavity armature with three bands of teeth (
Figs. 3–4
). Teeth of first band are smaller than those of the other two bands and are in the shape of small cones/granules. They are present in anterior portion of oral cavity just behind peribuccal lamellae and on them. This band of teeth is continuous and looks the same on all oral cavity walls. The teeth of the second band are intermediate in size between those of the first band and those of the third band of teeth. They are in the shape of small ridges parallel to the main axis of the buccal tube (ventral teeth are little larger than dorsal). They are positioned in the posterior portion of the oral cavity just behind the ring fold and just before the third band of teeth. The second band of teeth is continuous and arranged in one row. Some of the teeth are uniform and regular, in the shape of ridges but the rest are joined onebyone. Joined teeth are H, V and Wshaped. The teeth of the third band are larger than those in the other two bands and there are usually six. They are in the shape of transverse ridges/baffles. Teeth in this band are positioned in the rear of the oral cavity just behind the second band of teeth and just before the buccal tube opening. Usually this band is not continuous and is divided into two series: ventral and dorsal. Both series consist of one median and two lateral teeth. Dorsal teeth are more barshaped and ventral are more rectangular shaped. Medioventral tooth is very often divided into 2–5 smaller teeth.
FIGURES 1–2.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
1
, habitus (adult);
2
, hatching infant. (DIC).
FIGURES 3–5.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
buccal apparatus.
3
, ventral view (note ventral teeth of the bands I–III);
4
, mid section (note dorsal teeth of the second and third band);
5
, dorsal view. (DIC, scale on 4–5 same as on 3)
TABLE 1.
Measurements [in µm] and
pt
values of selected morphological structures of specimens of
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
mounted in Hoyer’s medium (Range refers to the smallest and the largest structure found among all measured specimens; N, number of specimens/structured measured, SD, standard deviation).
CHARACTER |
N |
RANGE |
MEAN |
SD |
µm |
pt |
µm |
pt |
µm pt |
Body |
6 |
315.0– |
455.0 |
787.5–
|
913.0
|
394.2 |
836.5
|
59.6 |
45.4
|
Buccal tube |
6 |
40.0– 54.0 |
– |
47.0 |
–
|
5.7 |
–
|
Stylet support insertion point |
6 |
31.5– |
42.0 |
77.8–
|
80.8
|
37.1 |
78.9
|
4.7 |
1.1
|
Buccal tube external width |
6 |
8.0– |
12.0 |
17.3–
|
22.2
|
9.3 |
19.8
|
1.5 |
1.6
|
Macroplacoid 1 |
6 |
5.5– |
9.0 |
13.8–
|
17.4
|
7.6 |
16.0
|
1.5 |
1.5
|
Macroplacoid 2 |
6 |
4.0– |
7.0 |
10.0–
|
13.0
|
5.8 |
12.2
|
1.1 |
1.1
|
Macroplacoid 3 |
6 |
6.0– |
12.0 |
15.0–
|
22.2
|
8.9 |
18.7
|
2.2 |
2.5
|
Macroplacoid row |
6 |
19.0– |
31.5 |
47.5–
|
58.3
|
24.8 |
52.6
|
4.4 |
3.6
|
Claw 1 primary branch |
3 |
10.0– |
12.5 |
25.0–
|
26.1
|
11.5 |
25.5
|
1.3 |
0.5
|
Claw 1 secondary branch |
3 |
8.0– |
10.0 |
20.0–
|
20.7
|
9.2 |
20.4
|
1.0 |
0.3
|
Claw 2 primary branch |
5 |
10.0– |
13.0 |
24.1–
|
26.1
|
11.6 |
25.3
|
1.3 |
0.8
|
Claw 2 secondary branch |
5 |
8.0– |
10.0 |
18.5–
|
21.3
|
9.2 |
20.1
|
0.9 |
1.1
|
Claw 3 primary branch |
5 |
10.0– |
13.0 |
24.1–
|
28.3
|
12.0 |
26.1
|
1.4 |
1.6
|
Claw 3 secondary branch |
5 |
8.0– |
10.0 |
18.5–
|
21.7
|
9.2 |
20.0
|
1.1 |
1.2
|
Claw 4 primary branch |
5 |
13.0– |
16.0 |
28.8–
|
32.7
|
15.0 |
31.1
|
1.2 |
1.8
|
Claw 4 secondary branch |
5 |
9.5– |
12.0 |
21.2–
|
24.5
|
10.9 |
22.6
|
1.1 |
1.3 |
FIGURES 6–7. 6
,
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
Third macroplacoids and the remnant microplacoids;
7
,
Macrobiotus
sp.
richtersi
group, third macroplacoids, microplacoids and yarnlike cuticular structures connecting third macroplacoids with microplacoids. (DIC, scale on 7 same as on 6).
TABLE 2.
Measurements [in µm] of selected morphological structures of eggs of
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
mounted in Hoyer’s medium.
CHARACTER |
N |
MIN |
MAX |
MEAN |
SD |
Diameter of egg without processes |
9 |
74.0 |
103.0 |
86.1 |
11.0 |
Diameter of egg with processes |
9 |
120.0 |
160.0 |
137.9 |
14.8 |
Processes height |
25 |
20.0 |
33.0 |
27.0 |
3.5 |
Processes base width |
24 |
20.0 |
30.0 |
24.3 |
2.6 |
Number of processes on the circumference of egg |
9 |
9 |
11 |
10.3 |
0.7 |
FIGURES 8–11.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
8
, claws of the I pair of legs;
9
, claws of the III pair of legs;
10
, claws of the III pair of legs and granulation;
11
, granulation in higher magnification (note that each granule consists of several smaller granules/cones. (8–9, DIC; 10–11, SEM).
Buccal tube 54.0 long and 12.0 [
22.2
] wide with one bend in anterior part of tube (visible in lateral view). Stylet supports inserted on buccal tube at 42.0 [
77.8
]. Pharyngeal bulb slightly oval with apophyses and three macroplacoids (
Figs. 3, 5
). Pharyngeal apophyses distinct, triangular, wider and indented posteriorly. First macroplacoid thinner anteriorly, 9.0 [
16.7
] long, second oval or rectangular 7.0 [
13.0
] long, both without constriction (second microplacoid may sometimes have slight constriction in anterior part). Third macroplacoid 12.0 [
22.2
] long, with constriction in subterminal part. Microplacoid absent, but there are faint cuticular matchlike structures growing out of the posterior ends of the third macroplacoids (
Fig. 6
, visible also on
Figs. 1–5
). These matchlike structures are slightly wider in their terminal parts (see also ‘Differential diagnosis’). Macroplacoid row 31.5 [
58.3
] long.
FIGURES 12–15.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
eggs. (DIC, scale on 13–15 same as on 12).
Claws of
hufelandi
type
, slender with very narrow bases (
Figs. 8–10
). Primary branches with distinct accessory points. Lunules on all legs smooth, better developed on IV pair of legs. Primary branch of external claw (pb) of II pair of legs 13.0 [
24.1
] long, secondary branch (sb) 10.0 [
18.5
] long; III pb 13.0 [
24.1
], sb 10.0 [
18.5
]; IV pb 16.0 [
29.6
], sb 12.0 [
22.2
]. Bars on legs absent but cuticular thickenings below claws present (
Fig. 8
).
FIGURES 16–21.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
eggs. (SEM, scale on 17–21 same as on 16).
Eggs.
White, laid freely (
Figs. 12–21
, see also
Fig. 2
). Spherical, areolated, with 9–11 processes on circumference. Processes generally in the shape of cones, elongated in terminal part, however the shape is highly variable (
Figs. 24–36
, see also
Figs. 12–21
). The elongated terminal part may be missing or be thin and long or split in the end. If the terminal part is present it is usually covered by irregular tubercles (
Figs. 30–32
and
34–
36). Processes consist of double wall with transverse supporting walls forming ‘cells’ visible in DIC as a dense reticular design (‘reticulation’ slightly elongated vertically) (
Figs. 22–23
). External walls of processes smooth or slightly wrinkled (wrinkles in form of rings around a process), without pores. Internal walls strongly porous (visible in SEM only). Surface between processes areolated. Areolation complex (
Figs. 37–44
). Areolae in the shape of holes which branch into smaller holes closer to the egg surface (see
Figs. 43– 44
and
37–38
). This kind of areolation has not been described so far.
FIGURES 22–23.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
surface of egg processes with the ‘reticulation’.
(DIC, scale on 23 same as on 22).
Remarks.
Adults: Results of simple statistical analysis of measurements and
pt
values of selected morphological structures for six specimens are given in
Table 1
. Eggs: Statistics for all measurable eggs are provided in
Table 2
.
Type
locality.
Costa Rica
,
Cartago Province
, slope of the
Irazu Volcano
;
Irazu Volcano National Park
; moss from a tree;
ca.
3400 m
a.s.l.
;
17.12.2002
; leg.
Ł. Kaczmarek.
Type depositories.
Holotype
and
16 paratypes
(
6 adults
, 1 infant hatching out of egg and
9 eggs
) are deposited in the Natural History Collections,
Faculty of
Biology
, A. Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, 61–614 Poznań,
Poland
.
Etymology.
The new species was named after the first author’s dear friend Paweł ‘
ihs
’ Huzior.
Differential diagnosis.
The eggs of
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
have a unique, never described before,
type
of multilevel areolation (
Figs. 37–44
) unlike other species’ eggs which have areolation in the form of ovals or polygons with just one bottom (‘one level’ areolation). This character excludes the new species from any of the known species groups within the genus
Macrobiotus
(like the
areolatus
group, for example) and makes
M. huziori
sp. nov.
easily distinguishable from all the known species. However, the adults of the new species are similar to
Macrobiotus areolatus
Murray
,
Macrobiotus crenatus
Maucci, 1991
,
Macrobiotus csotiensis
Iharos, 1966
and species of the
Macrobiotus richtersi
group. Also the eggs of these species (except for
M. csotiensis
) are similar to the eggs of
M. huziori
sp. nov.
with the respect to the conical shape of the processes and the presence of areolation between the processes.
FIGURES 24–32.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
variability of egg processes, shapes and sizes (mid sections). (DIC, scale on 25–32 same as on 24).
Adults of
M. huziori
sp. nov.
are similar to adults of
M. areolatus
,
M. crenatus
and
M.
csotiensis
by the presence of three rodlike macroplacoids and lack of the microplacoid. However, the adults of the new species differ from
M. crenatus
and
M. areolatus
by the absence of teeth on the lunulae of IV pair of legs. Due to the poor description of
M.
csotiensis
we were unable to find any differences in the adult morphology, but the eggs of
M. csotiensis
are very different from the eggs of the new species (hemispherical ornamentations positioned very near to each other covered with a hyaline layer, which is concaved between the processes) (
Iharos 1966
). Additionally
M. huziori
sp. nov.
has larger eggs than
M. areolatus
(80.0–100.0 in
M. areolatus
and 120.0–160.0 in the new species) (
Ramazzotti & Maucci 1983
).
FIGURES 33–36.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
—variability of egg processes. (SEM).
FIGURES 37–38.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
—egg areolation (the same part of egg chorion while focusing down, see also
Figs. 43–44
). (DIC, scale on 38 same as on 37).
FIGURES 39–42.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
—egg areolation. (SEM).
FIGURE 43–44.
Macrobiotus huziori
sp. nov.
semischematic drawing explaining the areolation appearance in Light Microscope while focusing down through the egg chorion. Three focusing levels on Fig.
43
() refer to three bird’seye views on Fig.
44
(also marked as); p processes, e egg interior. See also Figs. 37–38 and 39–42.
It is also worth noting that the matchlike structures growing out of the third macroplacoids in
M. huziori
sp. nov.
and in
M. areolatus
terminate where the microplacoid is placed in the species of the
Macrobiotus richtersi
group (see
Figs. 6–7
). In the
richtersi
group the microplacoid is connected with the third macroplacoid by a thin cuticular yarnlike structure. This, and also similarity in the buccal apparatus structure and the egg shell appearance may suggest that both
M. huziori
sp. nov.
and
M. areolatus
are closely related to the
richtersi
group but have probably lost the microplacoids and the matchlike structures are the microplacoids remnants.