Degmion Gąsiorek, Morek & Michalczyk, 2024

Gąsiorek, Piotr, Blagden, Brian, Morek, Witold & Michalczyk, Łukasz, 2024, What is a ‘ strong’ synapomorphy? Redescriptions of Murray’s type species and descriptions of new taxa challenge the systematics of Hypsibiidae (Eutardigrada: Parachela), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1), pp. 1-63 : 57

Degmion Gąsiorek, Morek & Michalczyk gen. nov.

ZooBank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B97D39A1-69B5-4E06-81F6-F671444BFFC6

Diagnosis: Cuticle distinctly sculptured in the caudal portion of the trunk; more anterior portions with a weaker sculpturing or smooth. Apophyses for the insertion of the stylet muscles (AISMs) in the shape of semilunar hooks. Buccal tube followed by a flexible annulated pharyngeal tube; the pharyngeal annulation is semi-complex (annuli single laterally and forking dorsoventrally). A DABT is present. There is a spherical pharynx with two macroplacoids and a septulum. Macroplacoids are arranged rhomboidally (◊). Claws of the Hypsibius type, i.e. asymmetrical both with respect to the sequence of primary and secondary branches (2-1-2-1) and with respect to their size, with external and posterior claws always evidently larger than the internal and anterior claws. Pseudolunulae below claws I–IV may be present; only basal cuticular bars below claws IV may be present, with the remaining types of bars absent.

Composition: Degmion burti comb. nov., Degmion nodulosum comb. nov., Degmion nuominense comb. nov., Degmion oculatum comb. nov. (type species), Degmion opisthoglyptum comb. nov., and Degmion rugocaudatum comb. nov. et nom. inq.

Etymology: The name honours Dr. Peter Degma, a renowned Slovakian tardigradologist and a great friend.

Differential diagnosis: Within the Pilatobiinae , Degmion gen. nov., Pilatobius , and Fontourion gen. nov. possess a pharyngeal tube (absent in Notahypsibius ) but:

• Degmion gen. nov. has the dorsal sculpturing restricted to the caudal part of the trunk or the caudal sculpturing is much better developed than that found anteriorly and lacks dorsolateral gibbosities, whereas Pilatobius either exhibits gibbosities and/or its dorsal cuticle is uniformly sculptured throughout the trunk;

• Degmion gen. nov. always exhibits an obvious caudal sculpturing, whereas the cuticle is smooth in Fontourion gen. nov.