A new freshwater eutardigrade, Dactylobiotus luci sp. nov., is described from a permanent marsh pool (Zaphania's Pool) at 4225 m elevation in the Alpine zone of the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. The new species is most similar to D. dervizi Biserov, 1998 in the shape of the egg processes, absence of papillae and absence of eyes, but differs from it mainly by a different appearance of macroplacoids, by having tips of the egg processes usually sharp, not divided and more slender, and by several morphometric characters of eggs and adults. The new species was found in fairly acidic (pH < 6) Sphagnum-Carex fens bordering/extending into the pool. So far, it has only been recorded in one other high-elevation water body in Rwenzori in a similar habitat.
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1 October 2008
Dactylobiotus luci, a new freshwater tardigrade (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae) from the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda
Łukasz Kaczmarek,
Łukasz Michalczyk,
Hilde Eggermont
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African Zoology
Vol. 43 • No. 2
October 2008
Vol. 43 • No. 2
October 2008
alpine pool
Dactylobiotus dervizi
Dactylobiotus luci sp. nov
Rwenzori
Tardigrada
Uganda