Platicrista, Pilato, 1987

Marley, Nigel J., 2006, A new species of Tardigrada, Platicrista ramsayi sp. nov. from the páramo of Volcán Chiles, Ecuador, Zootaxa 1166 (1), pp. 35-48 : 46

Key to the species of the genus Platicrista

1. With additional cuticular bar on legs............................................................................. 2

­ Without additional cuticular bars on legs ..................................................................... 3

2. Legs I–III with an oblique cuticular bar on the internal side of the leg from near the base of the internal claw. All legs with a small transverse cuticular bar, positioned between the base of the internal and external claws, but not touching the bases. Cuticle with polygonal pattern ..................................................................... Platicrista cheleusis

­ Legs I–III with oblique cuticular bar on the internal side of the leg from near the base of the internal claw. No small transverse cuticular bar present positioned between bases of the internal and external claws on any of the legs. Cuticle without polygonal pattern ............................................................................................... Platicrista ramsayi

3. Claws on leg IV with an additional small basal spur ............ Platicrista itaquasconoide

­ Claws on leg IV without an additional small basal spur ............................................... 4

4. Claws on leg IV with dentate lunules ............................................. Platicrista horribilis

­ Claws on leg IV without lunules but with smooth expanded bases ................................ ....................................................................................................... Platicrista angustata