Phylogeography and morphological evolution of Pseudechiniscus (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae).

ABSTRACT: Tardigrades constitute a micrometazoan phylum usually considered as taxonomically challenging and therefore difficult for biogeographic analyses. The genus Pseudechiniscus, the second most speciose member of the family Echiniscidae, is commonly regarded as a particularly difficult taxon for studying due to its rarity and homogenous sculpturing of the dorsal plates. Recently, wide geographic ranges for some representatives of this genus and a new hypothesis on the subgeneric classification have been suggested. In order to test these hypotheses, we sequenced 65 Pseudechiniscus populations extracted from samples collected in 19 countries distributed on 5 continents, representing the Neotropical, Afrotropical, Holarctic, and Oriental realms. The deep subdivision of the genus into the cosmopoli

SUBMITTER: Gasiorek P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8027217 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature