taxonID	type	description	language	source
03E1878D692AC40EFCD6F970FA6CF8A9.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis (from Kristensen, 1987; amended): Echiniscids with black crystalline eyes, flexible buccal tube and pseudosegmental plate IV’. Appendages A horn-shaped. Secondary clavae (cephalic papillae) ovoid, domed; peribuccal cirri typically bulbous (onion-shaped), but exceptionally may be formed typically for the vast majority of echiniscids, i. e. with antenniform, flexible flagellum and well-delimited cirrophore.	en	Gąsiorek, Piotr (2022): Water bear with barbels of a catfish: A new Asian Cornechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) illuminates evolution of the genus. Zoologischer Anzeiger 300: 47-64, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007
03E1878D692BC404FFE3FB62FA4AFE83.taxon	description	Figs. 2 – 7 C, 8 – 11, Tables 3 – 5. 3.3.1. Type locality and type series ca. 41 Ǫ 22 ′ 31 ′′ N, 72 Ǫ 15 ′ 21 ′′ E, 1046 m asl: Kyrgyzstan, Jalalabat Region, Tashk ¨ omür. Holotype (adult female, slide KG. 030.01) and allotype (adult male, slide KG. 029.12), and 28 paratypes: 15 adult females, eight adult males, five juveniles on slides KG. 028.01, KG. 029.01 – 15, KG. 030.02 – 03. Five paratypes on SEM stub no. 22.05. Three hologenophores preserved on slide KG. 029.17. All deposited in the Department of Invertebrate Evolution of the Jagiellonian University, with the exception of the following slides: KG. 028.01 (male), deposited in Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia; KG. 030.02 (female), deposited in University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy; KG. 030.03 (juvenile), deposited in University of Catania, Italy. 3.3.2. Etymology From Latin mystax = moustache. The name alludes to the significant prolongation of peribuccal cirri, especially of external ones, that calls to mind barbels of a catfish. An adjective in the nominative singular. 3.3.3. Adult females (i. e. from the third instar onwards; measurements and statistics in Table 3) Body massive and plump (Fig. 2 A, C, 3 A, C – D), yellow to dark orange in live specimens (Fig. 2 A – B). Large, round, black crystalline eyes (Fig. 2 A – C, 7 A, C). Mouth cone retractable, with a ring of granulation surrounding the peribuccal fissure (Fig. 7 B). Cephalic appendages fully developed; cirri interni and externi with reduced cirrophores (Fig. 2 A – C, 7 A – C, 8), being swollen extensions of extremely elongated flagellum with tufted tips (Fig. 7 A – C). Aberrant processes growing out of cirrophores may be present (Fig. 7 C). Cephalic papillae (secondary clavae) dome-shaped (Fig. 2 A, C, 7 A – C), with a peripapillary granulation (Fig. 7 A – C); papillae imperceptible in SEM (Fig. 8 A). Appendages A well-developed, with clearly delimited cirrophore (Figs. 5 A, 7 C and 8, 9 A – C). Outer sheath of appendages A thick and distinct from lumen; the inner striation visible in PCM at 1000 × magnification (Fig. 9 A and B). Aberrant additional, miniaturised processes may develop on cirrophores A (Fig. 9 B and C). Primary clavae conical (Figs. 5 A and 8 A), clearly separated from cirrophores A and encompassed by granulation (Fig. 9 A and B). Body appendage configuration A- (C) - (D) - (ps) - (E). All appendages in the form of short spines (Fig. 2 A, C, 9 D, F), only rarely some appendages may be formed as lobes (Fig. 9 E). Asymmetry in appendage development frequent in all trunk positions, spines C and ps frequently absent (Fig. 3 A, C – D). Sculpture covering densely the entire dorsal armour (Fig. 2 A, C, 3 A, C – D, 5, 10 A – C), comprising numerous endocuticular pillars protruding as polygonal / roundish granules on the epicuticle (Fig. 10 A – C). Granules differentiated in size, with a strong tendency towards merging in the posterior portions of plates (Figs. 3 A, 5 B – C, 10 A – B). Striae present only in some plate portions, typically clustered and densely arranged (e. g. cephalic plate – Figs. 5 A, 7 C and 9 B; lateralmost portions of intersegmental and paired segmental plates – Fig. 9 E). Cephalic plate well-developed, tripartite: two anterior halves demarcated from the posterior portion by a strongly convex ridge (Fig. 2 A – C, 3 A, 5 A, 7 C, 8 B). Cervical (neck) plate well-developed too, visible in PCM as a rectangular, sculptured belt preceding the scapular plate (Fig. 5 A), poorly discernible from the latter in SEM (Fig. 8 B). Scapular plate broad, with a weak W-suture (Figs. 2 A, 3 A, 5 A – B, 8 B, 10 A) that may be absent (Fig. 2 C). Pseudosegmental plate I ′ narrower than the scapular plate, merged with the scapular plate in lateralmost portions (Fig. 2 A, C, 3 C – D, 5 B). Median plates 1 – 2 bipartite, m 1 with slightly larger posterior portion (Fig. 10 A), whereas m 2 with much larger anterior portion containing central epicuticular extension (Fig. 10 B); m 1 flanked by the first pair of weakly sclerotized, supplementary lateral plates (Figs. 2 C, 3 C – D, 10 A). First paired segmental plate tightly joined with the pseudosegmental plate II ′, separated by epicuticular extension devoid of pillars (a smooth line in PCM; Figs. 2 C, 3 A and 10 B). The second pair of supplementary lateral plates flanking the most distal margins of m 2 (Figs. 2 C, 3 C – D, 5 C, 10 B). Second paired segmental plate and pseudosegmental plate III ′ arranged similarly to the first pair on the dorsum (Figs. 2 C and 3 A). Median plate 3 undivided and triangular (Figs. 2 C, 3 A and 10 C). Pseudosegmental plate IV’ centrally divided, often with a smooth posterior margin that is never lobated (Figs. 2 C and 3 A, C – D, 10 C). Caudal (terminal) plate with deep incisions, continuous with base of spine E (Fig. 2 A, C, 3 A, C – D, 10 C). Venter without grooves typical for Cornechiniscus; aggregations of endocuticular pillars present at the level of legs I – III, fainter and smaller pillars dispersed throughout the remaining parts of venter (Fig. 4 B). Legs broad and short (Fig. 2 A, C, 3 C – D). Pedal (leg) plates I – IV present and densely encrusted with minute endocuticular pillars (Fig. 2 A – C, 11 A – B). Spine I short and robust (Fig. 2 A – C, 10 D, 11 A). Minute papilla on legs IV present (Fig. 2 A, C, 3 C – D). Large tooth on legs IV present (Figs. 2 A and 3 D), sometimes formed only as a sclerotised triangular ridge. Two teeth present only in the holotype (Fig. 2 C). Claws strongly heteronych, spurless (Fig. 10 D – F, 11). Gonopore hexapartite. 3.3.4. Adult males (measurements and statistics in Table 4; instar unknown since it is difficult to ascertain whether males develop from juveniles or from larvae based on body length ranges) Body more slender than in females (Figs. 2 D and 3 B), and much smaller on average. Gonopore circular, with an arc-shaped slit. No other qualitative differences between males and females, thus sexual dimorphism is negligible. 3.3.5. Juveniles (i. e. the second instar; measurements and statistics in Table 5) Clear morphometric gap between juveniles and females, but ranges overlap in the case of juveniles and males. Typically all trunk spines present (Figs. 4 A and 6 C). Epicuticular granules widely spaced (Fig. 6), with striae developed in few plate portions (e. g. central part of the caudal plate – Fig. 6 C). Gonopore absent. 3.3.6. Larvae and eggs Not found. 3.3.7. Type sequences Single haplotypes were obtained in all nuclear markers, and two were recovered in COI (Table 2).	en	Gąsiorek, Piotr (2022): Water bear with barbels of a catfish: A new Asian Cornechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) illuminates evolution of the genus. Zoologischer Anzeiger 300: 47-64, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007
03E1878D692BC404FFE3FB62FA4AFE83.taxon	diagnosis	3.3.8. Differential diagnosis	en	Gąsiorek, Piotr (2022): Water bear with barbels of a catfish: A new Asian Cornechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) illuminates evolution of the genus. Zoologischer Anzeiger 300: 47-64, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007
03E1878D692BC404FFE3FB62FA4AFE83.taxon	description	• the mode of reproduction (sexual in C. mystacinus sp. nov. vs parthenogenetic in C. tibetanus). Moreover, C. tibetanus usually exhibits two teeth on leg IV (Biserov (1999) noted a variability in this trait in the Turkmen populations, in which some individuals showed 1 – 3 teeth per leg, yet stated that the majority had two teeth as described by Maucci (1979 )), and C. mystacinus sp. nov. – only one. This criterion can be therefore treated as an additional, auxiliary character in the species identification. 3.3.9. Associated species Four taxa co-occurred in the samples KG. 028 – 30: C. imperfectus, E. testudo, and unidentified Milnesium and Ramazzottius species.	en	Gąsiorek, Piotr (2022): Water bear with barbels of a catfish: A new Asian Cornechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) illuminates evolution of the genus. Zoologischer Anzeiger 300: 47-64, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007
03E1878D6920C402FCB5FE79FEDAFA5E.taxon	description	Figs. 7 D and 12 – 16, Tables 6 – 8. 3.4.1. Type locality 82 Ǫ 12 ′ N, 31 Ǫ 30 ′ W, 75 m asl: North Greenland, Peary Land, Brønlund Fjord.	en	Gąsiorek, Piotr (2022): Water bear with barbels of a catfish: A new Asian Cornechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) illuminates evolution of the genus. Zoologischer Anzeiger 300: 47-64, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007
03E1878D6920C402FCB5FE79FEDAFA5E.taxon	materials_examined	3.4.2. New material 46 Ǫ 30 ′ 29 ′′ N, 11 Ǫ 49 ′ 41 ′′ E, ca. 3000 m asl: Italy, Province of Trento, Dolomites, Piz Bo`e. 15 adult females, 14 juveniles and 18 larvae on slides IT. 339.06 – 25. All larvae hatched from eggs deposited in four exuvia that were maintained on a glass cube in a laboratory. 12 females on SEM stub no. 20.11. Five hologenophores preserved on slide IT. 339.01. Found together with Echiniscus granulatus (Doy`ere, 1840), Diaforobiotus hyperonyx (Maucci, 1982), and members of Pseudechiniscus and Richtersius that will be addressed in future studies. All deposited in the Department of Invertebrate Evolution of the Jagiellonian University. 3.4.3. Adult females (i. e. from the third instar onwards; measurements and statistics in Table 6) Body dark orange to red, massive (Figs. 12 and 13). Spines E can be doubled (Fig. 12), or elongated as far as they resemble filamentous cirri (Fig. 14 A). Dorsal sculpturing consists of epicuticular granules with a surrounding ring of thin wrinkles (Fig. 15 A), the latter imperceptible in PCM (Fig. 14 A). Large and robust spine I and tooth IV (Figs. 12 – 14 A, 15 B). Claws strongly heteronych and robust (Fig. 15 B and C, 16). 3.4.4. Juveniles (i. e. the second instar; measurements and statistics in Table 7) Dorsal spiniform appendages can be particularly massive (Fig. 14 B). Smaller than adult females. 3.4.5. Larvae (i. e. the first instar; measurements and statistics in Table 8) All trunk appendages formed as in older life stages (Fig. 14 C). Larvae were pale yellow alive, crawling vigorously in a caterpillar-like manner. 3.4.6. DNA sequences Single haplotypes were obtained in all four markers (Table 2).	en	Gąsiorek, Piotr (2022): Water bear with barbels of a catfish: A new Asian Cornechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) illuminates evolution of the genus. Zoologischer Anzeiger 300: 47-64, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007
03E1878D6920C402FCB5FE79FEDAFA5E.taxon	description	3.4.7. Comparison between populations from the Holarctic and concluding remarks The species has preferences towards polar / high mountain habitats in the Holarctic (Jørgensen and Kristensen, 1991; Gąsiorek and Michalczyk, 2020), what inclined Maucci (1982) to hypothesise that it is a tardigrade postglacial relic. When examining specimens originating from Caucasus, Dastych (1979 b) concluded that slight disparities in the dorsal sculpturing between the population from Axel Heiberg Island (Canadian Arctic; Węglarska and Kuc, 1980) and Western Palaearctic representatives, and sporadic spurs directed upwards found in the Caucasus population, could warrant dividing C. holmeni into subspecies. Although the level of inter-population diversification remains to be investigated with the application of molecular techniques in this case, a relatively low genetic diversity has already been demonstrated for a member of the genus Cryoconicus inhabiting Central Asian glaciers (Zawierucha et al., 2018), which is consistent with other widely distributed tardigrade species (Jørgensen et al., 2007; Gąsiorek et al., 2019 a). Consequently, it could be expected that C. holmeni is another tardigrade stenothermic species with poorly differentiated genetic structure. Irrespectively of the factual genetic diversity within the species, its morphological variability does not deviate from that of an average echiniscid (e. g. Gąsiorek et al., 2019 b). Two other Cornechiniscus species, C. lobatus and C. madagascariensis, for which at least two populations originating from distant locales were shown as conspecific, exhibit comparably minor dorsal plate sculpturing variability (Maucci, 1993; Abe and Takeda, 2000; Gąsiorek and Michalczyk, 2020). This would mean that the differences in the size of granules and development of striae caught by Dastych (1979 b) constitute a significant intraspecific variation as for the genus. Both Dastych (1979 b) and Beasley and Miller (2007) collated the dorsal ornamentation of C. holmeni with that of the Echiniscus blumi-canadensis complex, suggesting their similarity. In fact, epicuticular granules of C. holmeni fall within the morphotype variability known for the genus (Gąsiorek and Michalczyk, 2020), and do not resemble large pores with thick polygonal edges typical for e. g. E. blumi Richters, 1903, but rather sculpturing described in E. weisseri from Afghanistan (Maucci, 1978). To summarise, recorded populations of C. holmeni form a morphological continuum and most probably are an evidence of relictual character of this species, which means a low dispersal potential.	en	Gąsiorek, Piotr (2022): Water bear with barbels of a catfish: A new Asian Cornechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) illuminates evolution of the genus. Zoologischer Anzeiger 300: 47-64, DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.06.007
