Scanning electron micrograph of tardigrade (Macrobiotus shonaicus) eggs. A-B: entire eggs with flexible filaments on the egg processes; C-D: egg processes with filaments; E-F: close-up of a single egg process. All scale bars in micrometersSTEC ET AL.
Researchers announced the discovery of a new species of tardigrade in PLOS ONE on Wednesday (February 28). The animal is named Macrobiotus shonaicus for the Shōnai region in Japan where it was collected. Study coauthor Kazaharu Arakawa, a molecular biologist at Keio University, collected the critter in a clump of moss he scraped from the surface of his apartment complex’s parking lot.
The new species was added to the hufelandi group of tardigrades, which was previously represented by just one other species, M. hufelandi. Hufelandi tardigrades’ eggs have similar characteristics, notably, structures on their surface called egg processes. M. shonaicus has thin, flexible filaments on the ends of the egg processes that most likely enhance the egg’s adhesiveness.
D. Stec et al., “An integrative description ...
