PRELIMINARY DATA ON TARDIGRADA FROM THE ARMENIAN FORESTED AREA

Anushik Khachatryan; Oleg Shcherbakov; Noushig Zarikian

doi:10.26842/binhm.7.2025.18.4.0859

Authors

Anushik Khachatryan Department of Invertebrate Ecology, Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Armenia
Oleg Shcherbakov Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Armenia
Noushig Zarikian Department of Invertebrate Ecology, Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia, Armenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26842/binhm.7.2025.18.4.0859

Keywords:

Tardigrada is a phylum that has never been studied in Armenia, along with many other arthropod groups. Our research is about terrestrial tardigrade species. This study is the first paper on tardigrades from Armenia. Six species of tardigrade were identified, belonging to five genera: Macrobiotus hufelandi C.A.S. Schultze, 1834; Paramacrobiotus areolatus (Murray, 1907); Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911); Ramazzottius cf. oberhaeuseri (Doyère, 1840); Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840; and Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840), which are present in lichen and moss from the northern forests of Tavush Province in Armenia. All the mentioned are new to the fauna of Armenia. Keywords: Armenia, Forest diversity , New records, Tardigrada, Water bears.

Abstract

Tardigrada is a phylum that has never been studied in Armenia, along with many other arthropod groups. Our research is about terrestrial tardigrade species. This study is the first paper on tardigrades from Armenia. Six species of tardigrade were identified, belonging to five genera: Macrobiotus hufelandi C.A.S. Schultze, 1834; Paramacrobiotus areolatus (Murray, 1907); Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911); Ramazzottius cf. oberhaeuseri (Doyère, 1840); Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840; and Echiniscus testudo (Doyère, 1840), which are present in lichen and moss from the northern forests of Tavush Province in Armenia. All the mentioned are new to the fauna of Armenia.