New Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada) from Amber Mountain (Northern Madagascar)

A moss sample from the local biodiversity hotspot in lowland rainforest in the vicinity of Amber Mountain, Madagascar, yielded the discovery of two Echiniscus C.A.S. Schultze, 1840 species, of which one is new to science. Echiniscus succineus sp. nov. is related to other members of the spinulosus group, but differs from them by the highly complicated structure of the dorsal plates, with intricately thickened parts of the armour forming ornamented pattern. The validity of the intraporal dark rings as a taxonomic trait is discussed in the context of the recovered intraspecific variability for the new taxon. Besides, rare Echiniscus africanus Murray, 1907 is reported for the first time from the island