Description of a new marine tardigrade species, Batillipes nioensis sp. nov. (Heterotardigrada: Batillipedidae) from the north eastern Indian coast

A new species of marine tardigrade, Batillipes nioensis sp. nov., has been described from the coastal sediments of the Bay of Bengal, Northern Indian Ocean. This species is readily distinguishable from its congeners based on a unique combination of morphological traits, including the presence of six pairs of dorsolateral body projections, a distinct dorsal indentation in the anterior cephalic region, structure of lateral cirri, unsegmented dorsal body cuticle, elongated leg IV sensory organ with a van der Land’s organ, prominent hook-shaped caudal lateral processes, toe pattern of leg IV and the presence of blunt cuticular projections on the coxal regions of legs II and III.