New marine tardigrade species named after former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
National
Recently, researchers at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have identified a new species of marine tardigrade, which they have named after the late former President and scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.This newly discovered species from Mandapam in southeast Tamil Nadu belongs to the genus Batillipes.It is the second marine tardigrade to be discovered in Indian waters and the first one from the east coast.It is also the first taxonomically described species belonging to the genus Batillipes from India. It is the 37th species of the genus Batillipes. FeaturesSize-wise it averages 170 micrometres (0.17 mm) in length and around 50 micrometres (0.05 mm) in width.It has a trapezoid-shaped head with sharp-tipped filament-like appendages (cirri) extending from it. All four pairs of legs possess sensory spines of varying lengths.The females are slightly bigger compared to the males.
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