Description of a new Tardigrade, Macrobiotus barbarae (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae) from the Dominican Republic

A moss sample collected in the Dominican Republic contained tardigrades and their eggs, including adults and eggs of a new species, Macrobiotus barbarae sp. nov. The new species belongs to the harmsworthi group and it is most similar to M. ovostriatus Pilato et Patanè, 1998 and M. pseudonuragicus Pilato et al., 2004 in the character of egg areolation. It differs from M. ovostriatus above all by larger body size and wider buccal tube, better developed oral cavity armature (the first band of teeth is present and the second band of teeth forms a ring of triangular teeth) and indentation of hind lunulae. M. barbarae sp. nov. differs also from M. pseudonuragicus in details of the egg projections (in M. pseudonuragicus the terminal portion of processes is short, not elongated and divided into several short points whereas in the new species the terminal parts are elongated and generally not divided). Differences between the new species and other similar members of the harmsworthi group are also discussed.