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During a faunistic survey in the Pieniny and Tatra Mountains three species of Echiniscidae new to Poland, including one new to science, were found. Bryodelphax instabilis sp. nov. is characterised by an instable number of ventral plates, deep faceting of the scapular plate, having dorsal plates covered either with pseudopores or pores, and striking sexual dimorphism. Two first records, namely Echiniscus militaris and E. spiniger, are rare taxa of upland-mountain character, which have already been reported from a few European countries since the original description at the beginning of the XXth century. The interspecific appendage length variability and development of pedal plates in the spinulosus group, to which E. spiniger belongs, and their taxonomic importance is discussed. Notes relating to sexual dimorphism within the newly recorded Pseudechiniscus facettalis, are also presented. Echiniscus testudo is reported from the Polish part of the Tatra Mountains for the first time. Succeeding findings confirm the high tardigrade α-diversity in the Polish mountain ranges. An amended key for Polish Heterotardigrada is provided.

36. Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840) [T] [m] Echiniscus testudo Doyère, 1840, Echiniscus testudo Doyère, 1840 subsp. tRifilis Rahm 1925 (Rahm 1936) Echiniscus muscicola (Iharos 1969a) Echiniscus testudo Doy. (Iharos 1978) E. testudo (Ramløv & Kristensen 1985) Echiniscus testudo (Doyére, 1840) (Kaczmarek & Michalczyk 2004a) Terra typica: France (Europe) Cameroon: • 04°12′N, 09°12′E; 2,900–3,000 m asl: Southwest Region, Mount Cameroon National Park, Mount Cameroon, moss on tree and lava blocks. Iharos (1969a) Israel and Palestinian National Authority: • 32°59′N, 35°45′E: Undefined locality, Golan Heights, moss. Jørgensen et al. (2007, 2013) • 31°53′N, 35°27′E; - 200 m asl: old Jericho, excavations, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°52′N, 35°26′E; 0 m asl: Jericho, Quarantania Mt. (The Mount of Temptation), rock, extreme arid, semi-arid or semihumid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°51′N, 35°25′E; - 100 m asl: near Jericho, St. George's Monastery, Wadi Qelt, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°50′N, 34°59′E; 250 m asl: Judean Mountains, Emmaus (Emmaus Nicopolis), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°50′N, 35°11′E; 900 m asl: Judean Mountains, Nabi Samwil (al-Nabi Samuil), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°50′N, 35°23′E; - 50 m asl: on the road to Jericho, Chan of the Samaritan, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°48′N, 35°13′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Tombs of the Sanhedrin [Tombs of the Judges], extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°48′N, 35°15′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Scopus Mt., The Hebrew University, rocks, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, temples walls, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, bark of olive trees, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, rocks from grave of Mary [Church of the Assumption (Mary's Tomb)], extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°47′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Scopus Mt., E [W] from The Hebrew University, Wadi et Tur [Wadi al-Joz], extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°47′N, 35°15′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Olives Mt., Pater Noster church, Russians tower, wall of church, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°46′N, 35°10′E; 650 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Ein Kerem, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°46′N, 35°12′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Monastery of the Cross, extreme arid, semi-arid or semihumid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°46′N, 35°12′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Monastery of the Cross, garden in Katamin?, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°46′N, 35°13′E; 800 m asl: Undefined locality, Betschar bei Kilometer 22, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°46′N, 35°14′E; 650 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Aceldama, rock, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°46′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Zion Mt., wall behind the Church of Zion, extreme arid, semiarid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°46′N, 35°14′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Jerusalem, Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, rock, extreme arid, semiarid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°43′N, 35°17′E; 600 m asl: Judean Mountains, al-Ubeidiya, Monastery Deir Dosi (Monastery of St. Theodosius), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°42′N, 35°12′E; 800 m asl: Judean Mountains, Bethlehem, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°42′N, 35°20′E; 250 m asl: Great Lavra of St. Sabbas the Sanctified (Mar Saba), extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°40′N, 35°15′E; 750 m asl: Judean Mountains, Herodyon National Park, Herodion, extreme arid, semi-arid or semihumid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°33′N, 35°06′E; 1,000 m asl: Judean Mountains, Hebron, Mamre, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) Jordan: • 32°02′N, 35°44′E; 800 m asl: Balqa Governorate, As-Salt, extreme arid, semi-arid or semi-humid climate, mosses (SyntRichium sp., Hypnum sp. or ToRtula sp.), lichens or liverworts (FRullania sp.) on rock, stone walls or trees. Rahm (1936) • 31°50′N, 36°49′E; 500 m asl: Zarqa Governorate, Zarqa [Azarq Wetland Reserve], moss. Kaczmarek & Michalczyk (2004a) Libya: • 32°29′N, 20°50′E; 350 m asl: Marj District, Barce [Marj], moss. Pilato & Pennisi (1976) Morocco: • 32°36′N, 04°32′W; 1,900 m asl: Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Tizi-n-Talrhemt, moss or lichen. Jorgensen et al. (2007) • 31°35′N, 05°36′W; 1,650–1800 m asl: Souss-Massa-Drâa Region, Todra [Todgha] Gorge, sparse grass vegetation and few low bushes, moss on limestone cliffs (orthoceratite lime). Ramløv & Kristensen (1985) • 30°27′N, 07°32′W; 1,850 m asl: Souss-Massa-Drâa Region, Tizi-n-Taghatine, sparse vegetation, mosses and lichens on isolated basalt cliffs. Ramløv & Kristensen (1985), Jorgensen et al. (2007) Tunisia: • 36°46′N, 08°41′E; 700 m asl: Jendouba Governorate, surroundings of Ain Draham, moss on rock. Iharos (1978) • 36°07′N, 08°32′E; 450 m asl: Kef Governorate, along road from El Kef and Sakiet, 21 km W El Kef, “strongly insolated area”, lichen on soil. Iharos (1978) Record numbers. Cameroon: 1, Israel and Palestinian National Authority: 26, Jordan: 2, Libya: 1, Morocco: 3, Tunisia: 2; total: 35. Remarks. The very wide biogeographic range (McInnes 1994a, Jørgensen et al. 2007), suggests a species complex, however most of the reports of this species are Holarctic. Echiniscus testudo has mainly been reported from northern Saharan (= Palaearctic) Africa., Published as part of Kaczmarek, Łukasz, 2017, Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part IV: Africa, pp. 1-74 in Zootaxa 4284 (1) on pages 16-17, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4284.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/1010400, {"references":["Doyere, P. L. N. (1840) Memoire sur les Tardigrades. Annales des Sciences NatuRelles, Series 2 (Zoologie), 14, 269 - 362.","Rahm, G. (1936) Tardigraden aus Palastina. ZoologischeR AnzeigeR, 115, 65 - 76.","Iharos, G. (1969 a) Tardigraden aus Mittelwestafrika. Opuscula Zoologica (Budapest), 9, 115 - 120.","Iharos, G. (1978) Data to the knowledge of the Tardigrada fauna of Tunisia. Folia Entomologica HungaRica, 21, 175 - 177.","Ramlov, H. & Kristensen, R. M. (1985) Bjornedyr, Tardigrada. Marokko - 1985. Dansk NatuRhistoRisk FoRenings Rejse til MaRokko, 8 - 22 ApRil 1985, pp. 27 - 32.","Kaczmarek, L. & Michalczyk, L. (2004 a) The first record of water bears (Tardigrada) from Jordan. DiRasat (PuRe Sciences), 31 (2), 154 - 157.","Jorgensen, A., Mobjerg, N. & Kristensen, R. M. (2007) A molecular study of the tardigrade Echiniscus testudo (Echiniscidae) reveals low DNA sequence diversity over a large geographic area. JouRnal of Limnology, 66, 77 - 83. https: // doi. org / 10.4081 / jlimnol. 2007. s 1.77","Jorgensen, A., Faurby, S., Persson, D. K., Halberg, K. A., Kristensen, R. M. & Mobjerg, N. (2013) Genetic diversity in the parthenogenetic reproducing tardigrade Echiniscus testudo (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscoidea). Journal of Limnology, 72 (Supp 1 ment), 136 - 143. https: // doi. org / 10.4081 / jlimnol. 2013. s 1. e 17","Pilato, G. & Pennisi, G. (1976) Prime notizie sui Tardigradi della Cirenaica. Animalia, 3, 243 - 258.","McInnes, S. J. (1994) Zoogeographic distribution of terrestrial / freshwater tardigrades from current literature. JouRnal of NatuRal HistoRy, 28, 257 - 352. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939400770131"]}

Echiniscus testudo (Doy��re, 1840) Localities and number of specimens. XXXI (10) Remarks. Species known mainly from Holarctic with the locus typicus in France. However, it is also recorded from many non-Holarctic localities, which can suggest a cosmopolitan taxon or a complex of cryptic species (Kaczmarek et al. 2015)., Published as part of Roszkowska, Milena, Stec, Daniel, Ciobanu, Daniel Adrian & Kaczmarek, ��ukasz, 2016, Tardigrades from Nahuel Huapi National Park (Argentina, South America) with descriptions of two new Macrobiotidae species, pp. 243-260 in Zootaxa 4105 (3) on page 246, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4105.3.2, http://zenodo.org/record/266164, {"references":["Doyere, L. M. F. (1840) Memoire sur les Tardigrades. I. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Paris, Series 2, 14, 269 - 362."]}

47. Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840) sensu lato [T] [m] Echiniscus spec. (Heinis 1914) Echiniscus testudo Doy., 1840 var. trifilis Rahm, 1925 (Rahm 1931, 1932) Echiniscus testudo Doy. (Iharos 1969) E. (E.) testudo (Doy, 1840) (Rossi & Claps 1989) E. testudo (Garitano-Zavala 1996) Terra typica: France (Europe) Argentina: • 43 ° 42 ′S, 66 ° 29 ′W; 150 m asl: Chubut Province, Dique Florentino Ameghino, mosses on rocky soil (2 samples). Rossi & Claps (1989) • 49 ° 20 ′S, 72 ° 53 ′W; 400 m asl: Santa Cruz Province, El Chaltén, Hosteria Fitz Roy, lichens and mosses on soil. Rossi & Claps (1989) • 50 ° 28 ′S, 73 °01′W; 300 m asl: Santa Cruz Province, Los Glaciares National Park, Perito Moreno glacier, lichens and mosses on soil. Rossi & Claps (1989) Bolivia • 16 ° 11 ′S, 68 ° 35 ′W; 3,680–4,000 m asl: La Paz, Cordillera de la Real de los Andes, Huarina, moorland floor, cushion moss. Garitano-Zavala (1995, 1996) Brazil: • 23 ° 32 ′S, 46 ° 38 ′W; 750 m asl: São Paulo State, neighbourhood of São Paulo, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) Chile: • 18 ° 11 ′S, 69 ° 13 ′W; 4,800 m asl [4,550 m asl]: Region XV Arica y Parinacota, Laguna La Cotacotani, leaf litter. Iharos (1969) • 36 ° 36 ′S, 72 °06′W; 150 m asl: Region VIII Biobío (Región del Biobío), neighbourhood of Chillán, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) • 36 ° 48 ′S, 73 °01′W; 0 m asl: Region VIII Biobío (Región del Biobío), neighbourhood of Concepción, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) • 38 ° 44 ′S, 72 ° 35 ′W; 100 m asl: Region IX Araucania (Región de la Araucanía), neighbourhood of Temuco, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) • 42 ° 37 ′S, 73 ° 49 ′W; 100 m asl: Region X Los Lagos (Región de Los Lagos), Chiloé Island, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) • 55 °03′S, 68 °09′W; 0 m asl: Region XII Magallanes (Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena), Navarino Island, Puerto Wualaia [Puerto Wulaia], mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) Colombia: • 07°09′N, 75 ° 23 ′W; 1,400 m asl: Antioquia Department, Cafetal La Camelia, mosses (Leucobryum sp.) and Brachythecium stereopama (Spruge) (2 samples). Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) • 06° 16 ′N, 75 ° 31 ′W; 2,550 m asl: Antioquia Department, laguna above Medellín, hepatic (Plagiochila ovifolia Steph.) on dry leaves. Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) • 04° 24 ′N, 76 ° 12 ′W; 1,600 m asl: Valle del Cauca Department, El Canon near El Aguacate, hepatics (Frullania longicolla L. & G. and Taxilejeunea prominata (Gottsche)). Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) • 02° 44 ′N, 76 ° 50 ′W; 2,000 m asl: Cauca Department, above Tambo, moss (Thuidium sp.) and hepatic (Frullania coalita Steph.). Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) Record numbers: Argentina: 3, Bolivia: 1, Brazil: 1, Chile: 6, Colombia: 4; total: 15. Remarks: Specimens from Columbia were cited by Heinis (1914) as Echiniscus spec. and later attributed by Marcus (1936) to E. testudo. A very wide geographic range (McInnes 1994 a, Jørgensen et al. 2007), suggests a species complex and, therefore, all South American records should be verified.

47. Echiniscus testudo (Doy��re, 1840) sensu lato [T] [m] Echiniscus spec. (Heinis 1914) Echiniscus testudo Doy., 1840 var. trifilis Rahm, 1925 (Rahm 1931, 1932) Echiniscus testudo Doy. (Iharos 1969) E. (E.) testudo (Doy, 1840) (Rossi & Claps 1989) E. testudo (Garitano-Zavala 1996) Terra typica: France (Europe) Argentina: ��� 43 �� 42 ���S, 66 �� 29 ���W; 150 m asl: Chubut Province, Dique Florentino Ameghino, mosses on rocky soil (2 samples). Rossi & Claps (1989) ��� 49 �� 20 ���S, 72 �� 53 ���W; 400 m asl: Santa Cruz Province, El Chalt��n, Hosteria Fitz Roy, lichens and mosses on soil. Rossi & Claps (1989) ��� 50 �� 28 ���S, 73 ��01���W; 300 m asl: Santa Cruz Province, Los Glaciares National Park, Perito Moreno glacier, lichens and mosses on soil. Rossi & Claps (1989) Bolivia ��� 16 �� 11 ���S, 68 �� 35 ���W; 3,680���4,000 m asl: La Paz, Cordillera de la Real de los Andes, Huarina, moorland floor, cushion moss. Garitano-Zavala (1995, 1996) Brazil: ��� 23 �� 32 ���S, 46 �� 38 ���W; 750 m asl: S��o Paulo State, neighbourhood of S��o Paulo, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) Chile: ��� 18 �� 11 ���S, 69 �� 13 ���W; 4,800 m asl [4,550 m asl]: Region XV Arica y Parinacota, Laguna La Cotacotani, leaf litter. Iharos (1969) ��� 36 �� 36 ���S, 72 ��06���W; 150 m asl: Region VIII Biob��o (Regi��n del Biob��o), neighbourhood of Chill��n, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) ��� 36 �� 48 ���S, 73 ��01���W; 0 m asl: Region VIII Biob��o (Regi��n del Biob��o), neighbourhood of Concepci��n, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) ��� 38 �� 44 ���S, 72 �� 35 ���W; 100 m asl: Region IX Araucania (Regi��n de la Araucan��a), neighbourhood of Temuco, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) ��� 42 �� 37 ���S, 73 �� 49 ���W; 100 m asl: Region X Los Lagos (Regi��n de Los Lagos), Chilo�� Island, mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) ��� 55 ��03���S, 68 ��09���W; 0 m asl: Region XII Magallanes (Regi��n de Magallanes y de la Ant��rtica Chilena), Navarino Island, Puerto Wualaia [Puerto Wulaia], mosses. Rahm (1931, 1932) Colombia: ��� 07��09���N, 75 �� 23 ���W; 1,400 m asl: Antioquia Department, Cafetal La Camelia, mosses (Leucobryum sp.) and Brachythecium stereopama (Spruge) (2 samples). Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) ��� 06�� 16 ���N, 75 �� 31 ���W; 2,550 m asl: Antioquia Department, laguna above Medell��n, hepatic (Plagiochila ovifolia Steph.) on dry leaves. Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) ��� 04�� 24 ���N, 76 �� 12 ���W; 1,600 m asl: Valle del Cauca Department, El Canon near El Aguacate, hepatics (Frullania longicolla L. & G. and Taxilejeunea prominata (Gottsche)). Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) ��� 02�� 44 ���N, 76 �� 50 ���W; 2,000 m asl: Cauca Department, above Tambo, moss (Thuidium sp.) and hepatic (Frullania coalita Steph.). Heinis (1914), Marcus (1936) Record numbers: Argentina: 3, Bolivia: 1, Brazil: 1, Chile: 6, Colombia: 4; total: 15. Remarks: Specimens from Columbia were cited by Heinis (1914) as Echiniscus spec. and later attributed by Marcus (1936) to E. testudo. A very wide geographic range (McInnes 1994 a, J��rgensen et al. 2007), suggests a species complex and, therefore, all South American records should be verified., Published as part of Kaczmarek, ��ukasz, Michalczyk, ��ukasz & Mcinnes, Sandra J., 2015, Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part II: South America, pp. 1-107 in Zootaxa 3923 (1) on pages 21-22, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3923.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/241936, {"references":["Doyere, P. L. N. (1840) Memoire sur les Tardigrades. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Series 2 (Zoologie), 14, 269 - 362.","Heinis, F. (1914) Die Moosfauna Columbiens. Memoires de la Societe des Sciences Naturelles de Neuchatel, 5, 713 - 724.","Rahm, G. (1931) Tardigrada of the South of America. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, 35, 118 - 141.","Rahm, G. (1932) Freilebende Nematoden, Rotatorien und Tardigraden aus Sudamerika (besonders aus Chile). Zoologisher Anzeiger, 98, 94 - 128.","Iharos, G. (1969) The scientific results of the Hungarian soil zoological expeditions to South America: 15. Tardigraden aus den Sammlungen der ersten und zweiten Expedition. Opuscula Zoologica, Budapest, 9, 279 - 289.","Rossi, G. C. & Claps, M. C. (1989) Contribucion al conocimiento de los Tardigrados de la Argentina V. Revista de la Sociedad Entomologica Argentina, 47, 133 - 142.","Garitano-Zavala, B. A. (1996) Efecto de la humedad microambiental y la altura, sobre la distribucion de la Tardigradifauna Muscicola (Phylum Tardigrada) en la vertiente occidental de la Cordillera Real de los Andes (La Paz, Bolivia). Ecologia en Bolivia, 26, 1 - 48.","Garitano-Zavala, A. B. (1995) Primer reporte de las especies de tardigrados muscicolas (Phylum Tardigrada) presentes en la vertiente occidental de Cordillera Real de los Andes (La Paz - Bolivia), Ecologia en Bolivia, 24, 1 - 39.","Marcus, E. (1936) Tardigrada. Das Tierreich, 66, 1 - 340.","McInnes, S. J. (1994 a) Zoogeographic distribution of terrestrial / freshwater tardigrades from current literature. Journal of Natural History, 28, 257 - 352. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222939400770131","Jorgensen, A., Mobjerg, N. & Kristensen, R. M. (2007) A molecular study of the tardigrade Echiniscus testudo (Echiniscidae) reveals low DNA sequence diversity over a large geographic area. Journal of Limnology, 66, 77 - 83. http: // dx. doi. org / 10.4081 / jlimnol. 2007. s 1.77"]}

It is not rare to find in references that anhydrobiotic tardigrades can survive for more than a century. However, a closer look at the empirical evidence provides very little support that tardigrades are capable of surviving dried for such a long time. In order to resolve this discrepancy, we carried out a study to evaluate the long-term survival of naturally dried tardigrades. A large fragment of dry lichen (Xanthoria parietina) was collected in the field two days after a rainy day in 1999. The dry lichen was stored inside a paper bag in the laboratory at room temperature and humidity and under atmospheric oxygen exposure. Replicates of the dry lichen were re-hydrated after various time periods of storage, with all tardigrades extracted and the survivors enumerated. Five species of tardigrades were found, but two of them only occasionally. Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri, Echiniscus testudo and Echiniscus trisetosus were sufficiently represented for statistical analysis. At the beginning of the experiment 91.1% of R. oberhaeuseri and 71.7% of Echiniscus spp. were alive. R. oberhaeuseri survived up to 1604 days, while Echiniscus spp. lived up to 1085 days. Recovery after four years of anhydrobiosis has to be considered a very good long-term survival, which is important from an ecological and evolutionary point of view.

Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840) Material examined in this study: 16 specimens in sample A. Remarks: Species known from many localities in Turkey but this is the first record for the Konya Province. This species is known from many localities throughout the world (McInnes 1994).

Echiniscus testudo (Doy��re, 1840) Material examined in this study: 16 specimens in sample A. Remarks: Species known from many localities in Turkey but this is the first record for the Konya Province. This species is known from many localities throughout the world (McInnes 1994)., Published as part of Kaczmarek, ��ukasz, Jakubowska, Natalia & Michalczyk, ��ukasz, 2012, Current knowledge on Turkish tardigrades with a description of Milnesium beasleyi sp. nov. (Eutardigrada: Apochela: Milnesiidae, the granulatum group), pp. 49-64 in Zootaxa 3589 on page 50, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.213616, {"references":["Doyere, L. M. F. (1840) Memoire sur les Tardigrades. I. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, Paris, Series 2, 14, 269 - 362.","McInnes, S. J. (1994) Zoogeographic distribution of terrestrial / freshwater tardigrades from current literature. Journal of Natural History, 28, 257 - 352."]}

Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840) Material examined. Localities: Nos. 1, 2, 26 and 29 (29 specimens). Specimens both with and without the filament B were found in the locality Nos. 1 and 2. In locality Nos. 26 and 29 only specimens without B were found. This species, already reported for Palestine (both Israel and Jordan), is considered cosmopolitan., Published as part of Pilato, Giovanni, Lisi, Oscar & Binda, Maria Grazia, 2010, Tardigrades of Israel with description of four new species, pp. 1-28 in Zootaxa 2665 on page 10, {"references":["Doyere, M. L. (1840) Memoire sur les Tardigrades. Annales des sciences naturelles, Serie 2, 14, 269 - 361."]}