Two new species of batillipes (tardigrada, arthrotardigrada, batillipedidae) from the argentinean atlantic coast, and a key to all known species

Abstract

In this paper, we describe two new species of marine tardigrades, Batillipes lingularum n. sp. and Batillipes amblypyge n. sp., both found in midlittoral sand sediments collected at Monte Hermoso beach (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). Batillipes lingularum n. sp. exhibits a single sharp caudal appendage, lateral processes, and the middle toes of legs IV equal in length. It differs from all other members of the genus by the presence of a tongue-like projection behind the common cirrophore bearing the primary clava and lateral cirrus on both sides of the head. Batillipes amblypyge n. sp. does not have lateral processes or caudal appendage, and the middle toes of leg IV are equal in length. Primary clavae as long as the lateral cirri is the main diagnostic character of this new species. With this contribution, the number of marine species recorded from Argentina increases to four: B. mirus, B. acuticauda, B. lingularum n. sp., and B. amblypyge n. sp.