Platicrista horribilis Kaczmarek & Michalczyk, 2003

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 : 31-32

Platicrista horribilis Kaczmarek & Michalczyk, 2003

Material examined: 25 individuals in total (for details, see Supporting Information, Table S1 ).

Amended description: The OCA not visible under PCM; simple pharyngeal annulation composed of tightly arranged single annuli; pharyngeal apophyses absent ( Fig. 27A ). Large claws of the Hypsibius type ( Fig. 27B–D ). Accessory points divergent from both primary and secondary branches of all claws. Pseudolunulae present, indented only on legs IV. Internal, anterior, and posterior claw bases with delicate indentations ( Fig. 27B–D ). Cuticular bars absent.

Remarks: The indentation of claw IV bases is not always as well developed as depicted in the original description ( Kaczmarek and Michalczyk 2003). A more comprehensive morphometric dataset for the species is presented in Table 9 .

Figures

Figure 27. Detailed morphology of Platicrista horribilis Kaczmarek & Michalczyk, 2003 (PCM): A, buccopharyngeal apparatus in toto; B, claws I (white asterisk indicates internal pulvinus); C, claws III; D, claws IV (empty white arrowhead indicates pseudolunule). Scale bars are in micrometres.