Three new tardigrade species, Batillipes brasiliensis sp. nov., Batillipes dandarae sp. nov. and Batillipes potiguarensis sp. nov., are described from shallow subtidal sediments of the Brazilian coast. B. brasiliensis sp. nov. and B. dandarae sp. nov. have toes 3 and 4 on leg IV different in length, so they can be included in the D group of species, while B. potiguarensis sp. nov., with toes 3 and 4 on leg IV equal in length belong to the A group. Batillipes brasiliensis sp. nov. is characterized by having an ala-like caudal expansion; cuticular projections on the coxal region of legs I-III, and lateral projections. The lateral projection located between the third and fourth legs is fringed with digit-shaped expansions. Batillipes dandarae sp. nov. has a dorsal blunt enlargement in the scapular region; a pointed triangular caudal appendage, and no lateral projections. The new species exhibits a sensorial spine on legs I inserted posteriorly and turning forward, and anus surrounded by a peculiar cuticular structure constituted by six platelets. Batillipes potiguarensis sp. nov. is characterized by a unique combination of characters: scapular region well developed, protruding laterally at the level of the first pair of legs; lateral blunt processes between legs, and prominent roundish caudal protrusion. In addition, the new species exhibits cephalic appendages with swollen tips, evident secondary clavae, and very short sense organs on the legs IV.
Information about marine tardigrades in the Iberian Peninsula is very scarce. To improve our knowledge of this group, a sampling programme was started in 2010. The main coastal marine habitats of northern Portugal were explored. Eighteen species were found. Four species are new to science (the previously described Prostygarctus aculeatus Rubal, Veiga, Fontoura & Sousa-Pinto, 2013 and three species of the genus Batillipes), and another four species of the genera Batillipes, Echiniscoides, Halechiniscus and Wingstrandarctus are potentially new species. Moreover, six species (Stygarctus bradypus Schulz, 1951; Halechiniscus greveni Renaud-Mornant & Deroux, 1976; Styraconyx haploceros Thulin, 1942; Styraconyx sardiniae D'Addabbo Gallo, Morone De Lucia & de Zio Grimaldi, 1989; Anisonyches diakidius Pollock, 1975; and Batillipes tubernatis Pollock, 1971) were recorded in the Iberian Peninsula for the first time. Two species (A. diakidius and S. sardiniae) were recorded for the Atlantic Ocean for the first time and the distribution range of S. haploceros and B. tubernatis was extended to the south. The results showed the importance of collecting information from poorly studied regions to achieve a better understanding of the biogeography of marine tardigrades. Finally, intertidal rocky shores were shown to be more diverse than other habitats, probably due to the great habitat heterogeneity.
Three new marine tardigrade species from the deep-sea genus Coronarctus are described from the South-Western Atlantic Ocean: Coronarctus dissimilis sp. nov., C. neptunus sp. nov., and C. yurupari sp. nov. These, and C. laubieri Renaud-Mornant, 1987, are the first records of deep-sea tardigrades from this marine region. Specimens of those species were collected from two localities of the Brazilian continental slope (Potiguar and Campos basins) at depths comprised between 150 and 3000 m. Specimens of the three new species have short cephalic appendages and heteromorphic claws, belonging to the, here designated, C. tenellus group of species. Each of the new species can be distinguished from all the other species of the group by their peculiar-shaped secondary clavae and claws. The most relevant morphological characters used for the taxonomy of the genus: shape of cephalic cirri, shape of secondary-clavae, size and number of accessory spines on claws, and shape of seminal receptacles, are discussed and an identification key to all ten known Coronarctus species is provided.
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