Integrative taxonomy reveals four new species in the superdiverse genus Macrobiotus (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae)

This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Stec, Daniel (2026): Integrative taxonomy reveals four new species in the superdiverse genus Macrobiotus (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 1055: 1-57, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2026.1055.3277, URL: europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3277/14474 Abstract. Four new species of the genus Macrobiotus are described from Asia and Africa: Macrobiotus witalinskii sp. nov., M. dalaticus sp. nov., M. surmaczi sp. nov., and M. hoianicus sp. nov.

Species delimitation is based on detailed morphological and morphometric analyses using phase-contrast light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, complemented by molecular data from four commonly used genetic markers. Phylogenetic analyses consistently place all four species within Macrobiotus clade C, each forming a distinct, well-supported monophyletic lineage. The newly described taxa expand the known morphological and ecological diversity of clade C and show that egg and body coloration characters previously considered diagnostic for this lineage are not evolutionarily conserved.