Tardigrades of the Canopy: Doryphoribius elleneddiei nov. sp. (Eutardigrada, Parachela, Hypsibiidae), a New Species from Eastern Kansas, U.S.A

A new species of the genus Doryphoribius of the phylum Tardigrada is described from eastern Kansas. Doryphoribius elleneddiei nov. sp. is a modest tardigrade (200–400 µm) without eyes but with three macroplacoids, polygonal tubercles on the cuticle, sixteen rows of dorso-lateral gibbosities and an additional gibbosity on legs IV. The species was recovered from moss habitat found in the canopy of walnut, cottonwood, and elm trees substrates more than 6 meters (20 feet) above the ground.