Minibiotus xavieri, a new species of tardigrade from the Parque Biologico de Gaia, Portugal (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae)

A new tardigrade, Minibiotus xavieri sp. nov., is described from lichen and moss samples collected in Parque Biologico de Gaia, Avintes, Portugal. The new species has variously shaped pores forming transverse bands around the cuticle; granulation on legs absent. Peribuccal lamellae absent, peribuccal papulae present as in all species of Minibiotus. Buccal tube narrow with an anterior bend; pharyngeal bulb with apophyses, three small macroplacoids and microplacoid. Minibiotus xavieri sp. nov. differs from the species of the genus with a similar cuticular ornamentation (with pores of variable shape forming transverse bands) (M. eichorni Michalczyk & Kaczmarek, 2004, M. orthofasciatus Fontoura, Pilato, Lisi & Morais, 2009, M. vinciguerrae Binda & Pilato, 1992, M. furcatus (Ehrenberg, 1859)) in some qualitative or quantitative characters of the bucco-pharyngeal apparatus, and/or claws and of the eggs. The new species is also similar to two species today ascribed to the genus Macrobiotus but whose systematic position needs to be better analyzed, Macrobiotus lazzaroi Maucci 1986 and Macrobiotus pseudofurcatus Pilato, 1972. Minibiotus xavieri sp. nov. differs from them in some characters of the animal (narrower buccal tube, some characters of the claws) and of the eggs.