A Case Study with Description of Milnesium pseudotardigradum sp.
nov. (Tardigrada)
In this contribution, we present a case study concerning
genus Milnesium, where
multiple claw configurations (CC) were found in a single lichen sample
from Iceland, indicating the presence of more than one species and/or
multiple phenotypes representing different ontogenetic stages. To
elucidate this puzzle, we utilised a range of integrative tools,
including detailed morphology, morphometry, barcoding and development
tracking. We present the workflow, which enabled us to collect the data
for each species/morphotype. As a result, we revealed the presence of
three species, two characterised by an ontogenetic CC change and one
with a stable CC. Finally, we provide a description of a new species, M. pseudotardigradum, which is
extremely similar to M. tardigradum,
but it can be phenotypically differentiated by a unique, double CC
change pattern.
Read the full article, published by Zoological
Studies, here
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