Integrative taxonomy elucidates phylogenetic position of a clawless African eutardigrade (Tardigrada) supporting the erection of a new genus.

ABSTRACT: In the presented study, we re-investigated the soil-dwelling clawless tardigrade species Apodibius nuntius (Binda, 1984) using an integrative taxonomic approach. Our analysis is based on detailed morphological comparisons between three populations from three different countries: Mozambique (type population), Australia and Uganda. The first two populations comprise historical specimens deposited in museum collections, whereas the third one is newly found and reported for the first time in this study. In addition to morphological analysis, we constructed a phylogenetic tree of Isohypsibioidea using two ribosomal gene fragments (18S rRNA and 28S rRNA). The obtained results enabled us to establish a new genus, Sinunguibius gen. nov., which is assigned to the family Hexapodibiidae. The new genu

SUBMITTER: Wargula J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12494984 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature