Platicrista brunsoni Miller & J.D. Miller, 2021

Material examined: Two individuals in total (originating from northern Wyoming; loaned by courtesy of Harry Meyer).

Amended description: Buccopharyngeal apparatus of the Platicrista type (Fig. 22A): OCA not visible under PCM; simple pharyngeal annulation composed of tightly arranged single annuli; stylet supports inserted at the junction between the buccal and pharyngeal tubes; furcae of the Platicrista type (cochlear); pharyngeal apophyses not visible; pharynx oval, with two bar-like macroplacoids: the first much shorter than the second (1 <2).

Claws massive, of the Hypsibius type (Fig. 22B–D). Accessory points divergent only on the primary branches of the posterior claws (Fig. 22D). Septa between claw parts absent. Pseudolunulae present at the internal and anterior claw bases. Irregular granulation on legs IV. Internal cuticular bars II–III with irregular margins (Fig. 22C). Internal, anterior, and posterior claw bases delicately indented (Fig. 22B–D). Basal portion of the posterior claws greatly broadened (Fig. 22D).

Dorsal cuticle with large polygonal granulation that extends to the lateral body parts (including legs). Granulation is most distinct in the cephalic (Fig. 23A) to median and more caudal portions of the cuticle (Fig. 23B). However, polygons may merge at the level of legs II–III, and form striae (Fig. 23C). Polygons are different in shape in the caudalmost body portion, being more convex and irregular in shape (Fig. 23D). Cribriform areas not visible under PCM.

Remarks: The original description contained several errors. The buccal tube width should not have been measured, at least not in the holotype, because it is evident from the photograph that the buccopharyngeal tube had collapsed (Miller and Miller 2021: fig. 2B). This occurs frequently during mounting of Platicrista, Astatumen, and Itaquascon specimens on permanent slides (P. Gąsiorek, pers. obs.) and might be related to their shared similarities in the ultrastructure of the apparatus. The claws of P. brunsoni are of the Hypsibius type, not the Isohypsibius type. Finally, the dorsal sculpturing is not uniform across the dorsum, because the caudalmost polygonal tubercles are disparate in form. This makes P. brunsoni similar to P. cheleusis .