In this study, we present descriptions of two new species of the genus Mesobiotus discovered in the tropical rainforest of Kibale National Park in Uganda, the first new tardigrade species from this location. Our research utilized morphological data obtained with phase-contrast and scanning electron microscopes and DNA sequences of four genetic markers (28S rRNA, 18S rRNA, CO1 and ITS-2). The main character distinguishing the new species, Mesobiotus ugandicus sp. nov., is the presence of egg processes in the shape of wide cones without filaments. The second new species Mesobiotus krystynae sp. nov. is distinguished mainly by having egg processes with long, slender endings with short filaments. However, both new species are properly differentiated from phenotypically similar species of the Mesobiotus harmsworthi morpho-group by morphological and morphometric details of animals and eggs. The genetic data allowed us also to conduct a phylogenetic analysis, which elucidated positions of the new taxa and extended our understanding of the relationships within the genus.
Warguła et al. (Wed,) studied this question.