Hebesuncus mollispinus (Eutardigrada, Hypsibiidae), a new species from maritime Antarctica

• Main Authors: Pilato, Giovanni, McInnes, Sandra J., Lisi, Oscar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Magnolia Press 2012
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Charcot; Charcot Island; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/16989/; http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/

A new species of eutardigrade, Hebesuncus mollispinus, sp.nov. is described from Charcot Island, maritime Antarctica. The three knowm species of Hebesuncus are either widespread with questionable reports from the Antarctic (H. conjungens) to endemic to maritime and continental Antarctica (H. ryani and H. schusteri). Hebesuncus mollispinus ap. nov. differs from its congeners in terms of egg morphology and is further differentiated from H. ryani via a loner bucco-pharyngeal tube, claw shape and length; and from H. schusteri via a marrower buco-pharyngeal tube and shorter claws.