Integrative Descriptions of Two New Mesobiotus Species (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Macrobiotidae) from Vietnam

To date, 34 tardigrade taxa have been recorded from Vietnam and this includes only two macrobiotid species belonging to the genus Mesobiotus. In this paper, two additional species of this genus, one of the M. harmsworthi group and one of the M. furciger group, are reported and described as new for science (Mesobiotus imperialis sp. nov., Mesobiotus marmoreus sp. nov.). Both descriptions have an integrative character providing detailed morphological and morphometric data collected by phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy that are linked to genetic data. The latter constitute DNA sequences of molecular markers that are commonly used in tardigrade taxonomy. The genus phylogeny is also provided, elucidating the phylogenetic position of the newly discovered taxa.

Automated summary

The study reports two new Mesobiotus species with detailed morphological and genetic data, including DNA sequences and phylogenetic position.