The genus Echiniscus Schultze 1840 (Tardigrada) in Costa Rican (Central America) rain forests with descriptions of two new species

Authors:

• Łukasz Kaczmarek,
• Ł. Michalczyk

Abstract

In 46 mosses lichens samples collected in Costa Rica 10 Echiniscus Schultze 1840 species were recorded. Two of them were already known from Costa Rica, five are new to this country, further two (E. dariae n. sp. and E. kosickii n. sp.) are new to science, and one (Echiniscus sp.) could not be fully identified as only a single specimen was found. Echiniscus sp. is probably also new to science and therefore is described here in detail. E. dariae n. sp. differs from the most similar E. kosickii n. sp. by the absence of median plate 3, the presence of polygonal granulation on dorsal plates and the absence of pores, by longer lateral spines, shorter dorsal spines, cephalic papilla and clava and by a higher number of teeth on dentate collars. E. kosickii n. sp. also differs also from E. cavagnaroi Schuster & Grigarick 1966 by the presence of spines B, D, C^d, shorter cirri A and also by a smaller number of teeth on the dentate collars. Some zoogeographical and ecological remarks on the species are also given. Moreover, earlier records of the genus Echiniscus from Costa Rica are discussed.