identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
C8E81C9B6A1753F990B31561B79C43FC.text	C8E81C9B6A1753F990B31561B79C43FC.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Xerobiotus euxinus Pilato, Kiosya, Lisi, Inshina & Biserov 2011	<div><p>3.3. 1. Xerobiotus euxinus Pilato, Kiosya, Lisi, Inshina &amp; Biserov, 2011</p><p>Figures 4, 5, 6, 7</p><p>Type locality.</p><p>Volyzhyn forest, Black Sea Biosphere Reserve (Pilato et al. 2011; Polishchuk et al. 2024)</p><p>Material examined.</p><p>Type material: holotype and five paratypes mounted in a permanent slide with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide number 5431). — Topotypic material: 25 animals mounted in permanent slides with Hoyer’s medium (Tardigrade collection preserved in Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań; slide numbers: CHEK 1 / 4, CHEK 1 / 5, CHEK 1 / 8, CHEK 1 / 44. — Additional material: Sample V 1 (locality reported in Table 1): 23 specimens and 4 eggs mounted in permanent slides with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide numbers: 6101–6115); 4 specimens and 2 eggs used for SEM analysis (SEM stubs numbers: 16, 18, 77); 9 specimens used for genetic analysis. Sample SN 2 (locality reported in Table 1): 18 specimens and 19 eggs mounted in permanent slides with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide numbers: 6116–6119); 4 specimens and 3 eggs used for SEM analysis (Pilato and Binda collection; SEM stub numbers: 69, 72); 2 specimens used for genetic analysis.</p><p>Amended description of Xerobiotus euxinus .</p><p>The species was described by Pilato et al. (2011) from a small population found in Ukraine, and redescribed by Polishchuk et al. (2024). The general morphology of the animals and eggs examined in the present contribution (samples V 1 and SN 2, see Table 1) fits to both mentioned publications. Below we describe and report characters that deviate from the current species diagnosis, constituting an amendment of the species description. In the newly analyzed populations and in the topotypic specimens, the dorsal crest of the oral cavity armature (OCA) appears as three slightly separated teeth (ridges) under PCM in bigger specimens (Fig. 4 B, D; Fig. S 1 D). A pulvinus-like structure is present in legs II and III (Fig. 4 G). The specimens of both newly found populations exhibit granulation in dorsal cuticle and cuticular pores both clearly visible under PCM (Figs 4 F, 5; Fig. S 1 D) and SEM (Figs 6 F – H), especially in larger individuals; this granulation was not observed in the topotypic specimens. This granulation was also not observed in the type series, likely due to poor preservation of the original material.</p><p>Specifically, as regards pores, Viagrande (Catania), Serra La Nave (Etna) and topotypic populations exhibited an intraspecific variability in their presence and distribution on the cuticle. Two distinct morphotypes, genetically confirmed as X. euxinus (Fig. 4), were observed. The two morphotypes are characterized by the presence of a low number of randomly distributed dorsal pores; however, they differ in the presence or absence of additional pore patches here we thus refer to specimens reported as having a (i) forma porata, characterized by visible pores in the cuticle, some of which appear to be specifically arranged in the body cuticle, and (ii) forma aporata, characterized only by the randomly distributed pores in the dorsal cuticle, indistinguishable under PCM and visible only under SEM (Fig. 6 F, G; Fig. S 1 E). In specimens assigned to forma porata, distinct clusters of densely arranged pores are can be distinguished: (i) a patch of pores is present on the dorso-lateral cuticle between legs II and III on both sides of the body (Fig. 6 B), (ii) a round patch of pores is present on the caudal surface of each leg III (Fig. 6 C), (iii) a dorso-lateral band of pores is present on the caudal portion of the body trunk, just before the hind legs, and comprises two densely arranged pore patches on both sides of the body which are dorsally connected by sparsely distributed pores present in the caudo-dorsal cuticle (Fig. 6 D, E), and (iv) patches of pores are present on the lateral and dorso-lateral surfaces (granulated area) of each of the hind legs (Fig. 6 E). Cuticular pores on legs III were also observed in the examined topotypic specimens (Fig. S 1 D). Claws’ cuticular plates are present above claws I – III, faintly visible under PCM (Fig. 4 G) and clearly visible under SEM (Fig. 6 C). Lunulae of claws IV are present and are faintly indented (Figs 4 I, 6 E). Photomicrographs of the forma aporata (Viagrande, V 1, population) under SEM and photomicrograps of the topotypic specimens showing OCA and pores are available in Fig. S 1 C, D. In the V 1 sample (Table 1), six specimens (slides number 6107, 6110; SEM stub no. 77) were observed to possess cuticular pores, while in the SN 2 sample (Table 1), seven specimens (slides number 6116, 6119) exhibited pores.</p><p>The eggs of the new populations appear morphologically homogeneous and correspond well with the original species description and redescription (Fig. 7). Aberrant processes, in the form of small cones lacking apical discs, were present in some of the observed eggs (Fig. 7 B). In Serra La Nave population (SN 2), aberrant processes consisting of elongated cones with apical discs were also sometimes present (Fig. 7 D).</p><p>The additional characters observed in newly examined and topotypic material, namely the three-ridged appearance of the dorsal OCA crest under PCM and the intraspecific variability in pore distribution (forma porata and forma aporata), constitute an amendment to the current diagnosis of the species.</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>The division of the third band of teeth in the OCA was less apparent in the topotypic specimens and was observed in only a few individuals. Granulation was not observed in all specimens of the newly analyzed populations, suggesting this character to be difficult to detect. The claws in the newly analyzed populations were distinctly larger compared to the type specimens and topotypic population but also to other Xerobiotus taxa in general (pt values of primary branch lengths 18–32 in Viagrande (V 1, see Table 1) population and 20–31 in Etna (SN 2, see Table 1) population; File S 4 C, D.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C8E81C9B6A1753F990B31561B79C43FC	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Camarda, Daniele;Vecchi, Matteo;Lisi, Oscar;Stec, Daniel	Camarda, Daniele, Vecchi, Matteo, Lisi, Oscar, Stec, Daniel (2026): Revising taxonomy and systematics within the enigmatic genus Xerobiotus (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 84: 583-606, DOI: 10.3897/asp.84.e168722
5CB23F0046845234A086D0AD84DE03C5.text	5CB23F0046845234A086D0AD84DE03C5.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Xerobiotus inermis (Pilato and Binda 1971)	<div><p>3.3. 2. Xerobiotus inermis (Pilato and Binda 1971)</p><p>Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; Tables 2, 3</p><p>Macrobiotus inermis Binda &amp; Pilato, 1971: pp. 898–902; Type locality: “Gela”.</p><p>Lectotype designation.</p><p>Lectotype of Macrobiotus inermis Binda &amp; Pilato, 1971, herewith designated: one animal (sex undetermined) from Gela. The lectotype is slide-mounted in polyvinyl lactophenol mounting medium, and the slide is equipped with a locality label plus a red label giving the status as lectotype. It is deposited as slide number 2516 in the Pilato and Binda collection housed at the University of Catania. A photo of the designated slide is provided in Fig. S 1 F. — A holotype of X. inermis was not designated in the original description. In order to stabilize taxonomy and according to Article 74 of the ICZN, the lectotype was chosen from the population used to describe the species (i. e. the type series).</p><p>Material examined.</p><p>Type material: Lectotype: 1 animal, sex undetermined, mounted in a permanent slide with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide number: 2516). Paralectotypes: 52 animals (sex undetermined) and 2 eggs mounted in permanent slides with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide numbers: 2509–2564). — Topotypic material: Sample DFG 1 (Table 1): 5 animals and 5 eggs mounted in permanent slides with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide numbers: 6028–6030): 2 animals prepared for SEM. Sample DFG 2 (Table 1): 59 animals mounted in permanent slides with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide numbers: 6031–6038, 6040–6056). Sample DFG 4 (Table 1): 41 animals and 12 eggs mounted in permanent slides with Polyvinil Lactophenol (Pilato and Binda collection; slide numbers: 6102–6127; 6 animals and 3 eggs prepared for SEM analysis (Pilato and Binda collection; stub numbers: 25, 72). 3 animals were used for DNA extraction.</p><p>Redescription.</p><p>Body whitish, transparent after mounting. Eyes present; dorsal and dorso-lateral cuticle smooth with few sparsely distributed pores, only visible under SEM (Fig. 8 C); ventral cuticle smooth. Legs I are smaller than legs II and III (Fig. 8 A, B).</p><p>Antero-ventral mouth, bucco-pharyngeal apparatus of the hufelandi-type. OCA composed of three bands of teeth. The first band of teeth, located at the base of peribuccal lamellae, is composed of 1–2 lines of small teeth, visible only under SEM (Fig. S 1 G); the second band is composed of a single line of larger round teeth barely visible under PCM (Figs 9 B, 10 C, 10 D; Fig. S 1 G); the third band is composed of a dorsal and a ventral system of crests: the ventral system is composed of two small lateral crests and a medial crest subdivided in two or three teeth (Figs 9 B, 10 C, 10 D), while the dorsal system comprises three large crests, of which the medial one appears larger than the two lateral crests (Figs 9 B, 10 C, 10 D). Two macroplacoids (sequence 2 &lt;1) and a microplacoid in the pharyngeal bulb present; both macroplacoids with a constriction, central and subterminal in the first and second macroplacoids, respectively (Figs 9 C, 9 D, 10 E).</p><p>Claws of legs I – III of Xerobiotus type; primary and secondary branch with similar shape and slightly different in size (primary branch slightly longer than secondary branch, see Table 2); claws of legs IV with a longer common tract. A pulvinus-like structure is present on the internal surface of legs II and III, visible under PCM (Fig. 10 G) and SEM (Fig. 11 A, C, D).</p><p>Lunules are absent on legs I – III, but claws’ cuticular plates are present and well visible above claws I – III under PCM (in larger specimens) and SEM (Figs 10 F, 11 C, 11 D). Indented lunules present in claw IV (Figs 10 I, 11 E), sometimes faintly visible under PCM (Fig. 10 H). The lunules on the posterior claws are larger than those on the anterior claws and they extend towards the ventral portion of the body, having asymmetrical (respect to the claw base) and irregular shape (Fig. 11 E). At the posterior claws, lunulae indentation is stronger than in the anterior claws. Distal portions of legs I – III are equipped with garter-like structures extending from the external to the frontal surfaces of the legs. A fine granulation, difficult to observe under PCM but well visible through SEM, is present in the distal portion of legs I – IV (Fig. 8 B) around claws. In legs I – III, granulation extends from the external through the frontal to the internal surface, covering the entire garter-like structure, but is absent on the distal caudal portion of the legs; in the hind legs, the entire distal portion is covered by granulation. Granulation is less extensive in legs I than in legs II and III (Figs 8 B, 11 B – D).</p><p>Eggs spherical, white, ornamented with processes, and laid freely (Fig. 12 A). Egg surface between processes is of the hufelandi type, with a uniform reticulation covering the entire egg. This reticulation is sometimes faintly visible under PCM but clearly visible under SEM (Fig. 12 B – E). The reticulation is composed of small, delicate meshes; the pores of the reticulation are consistently round and appear smaller than the meshes (nodes and bars) of the reticulum itself. Processes in the shape of inverted goblets, with a trunco-conical straight shape or trunco-conical shape distally ending with a cylindrical portion; both morphologies bearing a strongly indented, convex apical disc (Fig. 12 B – D); rarely, some processes are reduced and have a conical shape, without (or with a reduced) apical disc (Fig. 12 B, E). The base of the processes has a crown of thickenings faintly visible under PCM, and well visible under SEM (Fig. 12 D).</p><p>Differential diagnosis.</p><p>The species can be distinguished from morphologically similar taxa which are considered valid species in this study (excluding P. degenerans due to the obvious difference regarding the absence of claws in legs IV). Specifically, Xerobiotus inermis differs from X. euxinus by having the third band of teeth of the OCA composed by well separated crests, while a single large crest or slightly separated crests are visible in X. euxinus, narrower base of the processes of the eggs (4.3–6.6 µm in X. inermis vs 6.9–8.9 µm in X. euxinus), larger terminal discs of egg process (2.3–5.8 µm in X. inermis vs 1.5–3.1 µm in M. euxinus); cuticular pores not visible with light microscopy in X. inermis . It differs from Xerobiotus litus in having lunulae at the base of the claws of fourth pair of legs (absent in X. litus) and different shape of the processes’ discs (only slightly convex in X. inermis under PCM, appearing almost concave under SEM, while clearly convex in X. litus). X. inermis differs from X. naginae by having a wider buccal tube (pt of the buccal tube external width 13.5–16.7 vs 10.5–13.0 in X. naginae), cuticular plates at the base of claws I – III vs no cuticular plates at the base of the claws in X. naginae, well-developed claws IV with indented lunulae while claws IV reduced and without lunules in X. naginae; big and clearly indented apical discs while reduced apical discs in X. naginae . Xerobiotus inermis differs from X. xerophilus in having well separated dorsal crests of the OCA while a single wide dorsal crest in the former species, indented lunulae of the fourth pair of claws (smooth in X. xerophilus); processes of the egg in X. inermis are in the shape of inverted goblets while in X. xerophilus the processes are in shape of flattened and hemispherical domes. A proper differential diagnosis cannot be conducted with X. pseudohufelandi due to the insufficient morphological information currently available for this species. However, although a complete differential diagnosis cannot be provided, the relationship between the two species is discussed in the section “ Xerobiotus inermis clade ” within the Discussion.</p><p>Remarks.</p><p>Regarding the slides preserved in the Pilato and Binda collection, many did not allow proper examination of morphological characters due to the poor preservation of the material. In particular, 22 specimens (slides nos. 2511–2515, 2523, 2524, 2528, 2532–2534, 2539, 2540, 2542, 2544, 2549, 2555, 2558, 2561, 2562, 2564) were unsuitable for morphological or morphometric analyses. The remaining 31 specimens were variably preserved, and not all were in optimal condition.</p><p>Mitogenome.</p><p>The X. inermis mitogenome is 14003 bp long and contains 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs (Fig. S 1 B, GenBank PX 108332).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5CB23F0046845234A086D0AD84DE03C5	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Pensoft via Plazi	Camarda, Daniele;Vecchi, Matteo;Lisi, Oscar;Stec, Daniel	Camarda, Daniele, Vecchi, Matteo, Lisi, Oscar, Stec, Daniel (2026): Revising taxonomy and systematics within the enigmatic genus Xerobiotus (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 84: 583-606, DOI: 10.3897/asp.84.e168722
