title: A new tardigrade Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov. (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae) from Kenya.
abstract: A new tardigrade, Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov., is described from a moss sample collected in Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. The new species is characterized by having a reticulate dorsal cuticle with small tubercles; nine transverse rows of dorsal gibbosities (configuration IX:4-6-4-6-4-6-4-4-2); pharyngeal bulb with two macroplacoids and no microplacoid; claws with short and thin accessory points; small, smooth lunules under the claws. The new species is most similar to Doryphoribius zyxiglobus (Horning, Schuster & Grigarick, 1978). Both exhibit two macroplacoids, similar cuticular pattern and the same configuration of gibbosities. However, in Doryphoribius maasaimarensis sp. nov. the cuticular tubercles are less close, buccal tube slightly longer with respect to the body length, more gradual curvature of the buccal tube, different claws shape and thinner accessory points.
authors.affiliation: Eco-Ethology Research Unit (FCT-331/94) and Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto. R. Campo Alegre s/FC4, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. pfontoura@fc.up.pt
authors.forename: Paulo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fontoura
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pilato
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D007630:Kenya; D009929:Organ Size; D058467:Tardigrada / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development