Three new species and one new record of the genus Doryphoribius Pilato, 1969 (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae) from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee, USA)

Abstract

Three new eutardigrades, Doryphoribius longistipes sp. nov., Doryphoribius minimus sp. nov. and Doryphoribius tergumrudis sp. nov., are described from stream periphyton, rock lichen and cave soil and leaf litter samples collected in the limestone‐based Cades Cove area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee, USA. Doryphoribius longistipes sp. nov. differs from other species mainly by the higher ratio of the secondary to the primary claw branches. Doryphoribius minimus sp. nov. differs from D. gibber, D. mariae and D. vietnamensis mainly by its smaller body size and different arrangement of dorsal gibbosities. Doryphoribius tergumrudis sp. nov. differs from D. evelinae by the absence of gibbosities and tubercles on legs I–III, the presence of lunulae and the absence of eyes. Additionally the three new species differ from other congeners by some other morphological and morphometric characters. Another species, Doryphoribius doryphorus Binda and Pilato, 1969, is a new record for Tennessee.

Keywords:

• taxonomy
• Doryphoribius longistipes sp. nov.
• Doryphoribius minimus sp. nov.
• Doryphoribius tergumrudis sp. nov.
• Doryphoribius doryphorus

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Professor Giovanni Pilato (University of Catania), who kindly loaned us two specimens of Doryphoribius doryphorus (Binda and Pilato, 1969). Dr Mark Brenner (Warren Wilson College) collected the samples from Abram's Creek, and Ms Suzy Dobbertin collected the lichen samples from Gregory's and Bull Caves. Nora Purcell created the map for Figure 5. The research was partially supported by funds from Discover Life in America to P.J.B. and the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) to Ł.K. We also appreciate the slide‐making expertise of our ETSU laboratory technician, Gilbert Hale.