Echiniscus madonnae

Echiniscus madonnae is a tardigrade species, in the family Echiniscidae. It was described by Polish zoologists Łukasz Michalczyk and Łukasz Kaczmarek from moss samples collected in Peru in 2006, and named in honor of American singer-songwriter Madonna.

Etymology

Echiniscus madonnae was described by Polish zoologists Michalczyk and Kaczmarek Łukasz and published in the international journal of animal taxonomy Zootaxa in March 2006. The species was named in honor of American singer Madonna. The scientists stated: "We take great pleasure in dedicating this species to one of the most significant artists of our times, Madonna Louise Veronica Ritchie".
It was subsequently transferred in 2019 to newly created genus Barbaria, which is named after Polish zoologist Barbara Węglarska.

Description

So far it is the only species within the Echiniscus bigranulatus group that does not have true pores in the dorsal plate cuticle.

Habitat

Apart from its type locality in Peru, Echiniscus madonnae is also found in Chile, mainly mosses on rocks and in Colombia, in lichen of sub-andean forests. This species belongs to a Neotropical and Antarctic bigranulatus group.