Description of a new species of Tardigrada Hypsibius nivalis sp. nov. and new phylogenetic line in Hypsibiidae from snow ecosystem in Japan.

ABSTRACT: Snow ecosystems are an important component of polar and mountainous regions, influencing water regime, biogeochemical cycles and supporting snow specific taxa. Although snow is considered to be one of the most unique, and at the same time a disappearing habitat, knowledge of its taxonomic diversity is still limited. It is true especially for micrometazoans appearing in snow algae blooming areas. In this study, we used morphological and molecular approaches to identify two tardigrade species found in green snow patches of Mt. Gassan in Japan. By morphology, light (PCM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and morphometry we described Hypsibius nivalis sp. nov. which differs from other similar species by granular, polygonal sculpture on the dorsal cuticle and by the presence of cuticular

SUBMITTER: Ono M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9440035 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature