In this paper we describe Macrobiotus paulinae, a new species of the hufelandi group from the Kenyan highlands. In addition to the traditional taxonomic description, aided with morphometrics as well as light and scanning microscopy imaging, we also provide nucleotide sequences of three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragment of the new species. The sequences allowed not only a more accurate description but also provided an independent verification of the taxonomic status of Ma. paulinae sp. nov. Such integrative approach requires a considerable number of individuals and eggs, which we have partially subsidised by employing an in vitro culture of the new species. Our analyses revealed that Ma. paulinae sp. nov. is most similar to Macrobiotus madegassus Maucci, 1993 and Macrobiotus modestus Pilato & Lisi, 2009, however it differs from these species, as well as from all other known species of the hufelandi group, by the presence of seven paired dorso-lateral patches of cuticular granulation and the presence of chorionic filaments growing out of terminal discs of egg processes. Macrobiotus paulinae sp. nov. is an example of a species with a miniaturised buccal apparatus (i.e. with reduced peribuccal lamellae and oral cavity armature, and stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube more anteriorly than in typical Ma. hufelandi group species), and it therefore resembles two recently described two-macroplacoided Minibiotus species: Mi. acadianus Meyer & Domingue, 2011 and Mi. julianae Meyer, 2012. The re-examination of the type material for these two species confirmed that they are equipped with peribuccal lamellae and therefore we transfer them to the genus Macrobiotus, specifically to the hufelandi group.

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Despite the large number of studies on glaciers, knowledge regarding biota in cryoconite holes is limited. Cryophilic animals are often neglected in ecological studies on glacial habitats, but are important for the functioning of these environments. Owing to climate change and the melting of polar ice, cryophilic fauna could be threatened in the near future. We provide the first comprehensive survey of invertebrates inhabiting the cryoconite holes of Alpine, Antarctic, Arctic, Himalayan and Patagonian glaciers. At present, the list of taxa is rather short and includes five phyla (Rotifera, Annelida, Tardigrada, Nematoda and Arthropoda). Owing to generally poor knowledge of the fauna of cryoconite holes, there could be more than the 25 currently known species. In addition, we present the geographical distributions of the taxa and discuss the diversity of invertebrates living in cryoconite holes and make predictions regarding the faunal diversity of these habitats.

In this paper we present the Tardigrada Register (www.tardigrada.net/register): a free, comprehensive, and standardised online data repository for tardigrade taxonomy. We outline key problems of the modern tardigrade systematics and we propose the Register as a potential solution to some of them. We then describe the idea, structure and works of the service and discuss challenges it may face. However, most importantly, we hope to convince fellow Tardigradologists that sharing their data via the Register will benefit the entire community of the contemporary and future tardigrade researchers

Despite advances in molecular systematics, the taxonomy of tardigrades still depends largely on morphological and morphometric traits. The fact that the variability of any biological trait is determined by the interaction between genetics and environment prompts a very fundamental question: is it possible for tardigrades of the same genotype, but originating from various habitats that differ in environmental conditions, to have phenotypes so different that they would be erroneously classified as different species taxa by means of classical taxonomy? Here, we present the results of a broad and fully controlled laboratory experiment in which we investigated the phenotypic plasticity of a number of traits that are traditionally considered to be taxonomically important. In order to achieve this, we have cultured six tardigrade species belonging to four eutardigrade families (Milnesiidae, Hypsibiidae, Isohypsibiidae, and Macrobiotidae) under five experimental regimes, reflecting key environmental factors that are likely to vary in natural habitats (i.e. temperature and food availability). We then measured a number of key taxonomic traits and compared their dimensions between the treatments. Over two years of experimentation we have obtained more than 28 000 morphometric measurements for over 2300 individuals. Such an extensive data set allowed us to test some of the fundamental assumptions of classic tardigrade taxonomy. We found that in the five parachelan species analysed, the great majority of both absolute and relative traits differed significantly between the treatments, whereas there were no significant differences in the apochelan species. Overall, tardigrades grew largest under the low-temperature treatment, whereas the smallest specimens were observed under high-temperature and low-food regimes. However, the prevalent statistical significance resulted mainly from the considerable statistical power of our analyses, and not from effect sizes, which varied mostly between low and moderate. In other words, the differences, although consistent, were minor in terms of taxonomical significance, and probably would not be considered by classic taxonomists as sufficient to designate animals from different treatments as separate taxa.

This paper is the second monograph of nine that describes the global records of limno-terrestrial water bears (Tardigrada). Here, we provide a comprehensive list of non-marine tardigrades recorded from South America, providing an updated and revised taxonomy accompanied by geographic co-ordinates, habitat, and biogeographic comments. It is hoped this work will serve as a reference point and background for further zoogeographical and taxonomical studies.

Dividing the world into nine regions, this first paper describes literature records of the limno-terrestrial tardigrades (Tardigrada) reported from Central America. Updating previously published species lists we have revised the taxonomy and provided additional habitat, geographic co-ordinates, and biogeographic comments. It is hoped this work will serve as a reference point and background for further zoogeographic studies.