Tardigrades of North America: Additions to Montana’s Biodiversity Including a New Species, <i>Platicrista loloensis</i> nov. sp. (Parachela, Hypsibioidea, Itaquasconinae)

Abstract

A total of 205 tardigrades representing two orders, five families, nine genera and ten species were extracted from a moss sample (104 tardigrades) and a lichen sample (101 tardigrades) collected near Missoula, Montana, in 2016. Three of the species are new to Montana and one is new to science, Platicrista loloensis nov. sp., which is distinguished by its smooth cuticle, the presence of internal cuticular bars at the base of the claws of legs II and III and a median cuticular bar between the claws of leg IV.

Keywords

• tardigrade
• distribution
• Montana
• new species