Tumanov D.V. 2018. Mesobiotus nikolaevae sp.n. (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae), a new species of Tardigrada from Croatia // Invertebrate Zoology. Vol.15. No.4: 402–419 [in English].
Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Saint-Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia. E-mail: d.tumanov@spbu.ru
ABSTRACT: An illustrated description of Mesobiotus nikolaevae sp.n. (Mesobiotus harmsworthi-group) from Croatia is given. The new species has eyes, smooth cuticle, buccal armature with evident anterior band of teeth, a posterior crown of elongated triangular teeth and a system of three dorsal and three ventral transverse ridges, granulation on all legs and lunules of legs IV without dentation or crenation. This species belongs to Mesobiotus coronatus complex of species by having reticulated conical egg processes with basal ring of short ridges/thickenings. It differs from all known species of this group by having reticulation of the egg surface between the egg processes.
doi: 10.15298/invertzool.15.4.08
KEY WORDS: tardigrades, Mesobiotus harmsworthi group, Mesobiotus coronatus complex, Mediterranean, Europe, ex Yugoslavia.