Thulinius

Kaczmarek, Łukasz, Bertolani, Roberto & Nędzyńska-Stygar, Monika, 2010, Thulinius saltursus comb. nov.: a new systematic position for Isohypsibius saltursus Schuster, Toftner & Grigarick, 1978 (Eutardigrada: Hypsibiidae) and a key for the genus Thulinius, Zootaxa 2483, pp. 58-64 : 62

Key for the genus Thulinius

The genus Thulinius has a very conserved morphology and its members are extremely similar to one another. Specimens of this genus should be very carefully examined, especially with regard to the presence or absence of lunules, which are sometimes barely visible especially in specimens in poor condition or in specimens with unsuitable orientation.

1 Lunules under claws present......................................................................................................................................... 2

- Lunules under claws absent .......................................................................................................................................... 4

2 Lunules present only under the external (I–III) and posterior claws (IV), cuticular bars under claws divided ............ .................................................................................................................................................. T. saltursus comb. nov.

- Lunules present under all claws, cuticular bars under claws not divided..................................................................... 3

3 Buccal tube and macroplacoids short (buccal tube 28.6 long, macroplacoids: I placoid—3.7 [12.9], II—2.9 [10.1], III—3.7 [12.9] long in specimen 326.0 long), total body length up to 550 ...................................................... T ruffoi

- Buccal tube and macroplacoids long (buccal tube 42.2 long, macroplacoids: I placoid—5.5 [13.0], II—3.6 [8.5], III—5.2 [12.3] long in specimen 293.0 long), total body length up to 407 ......................................................... T. itoi

4 Basal claw very long and thin, cuticular bar under claws thin and short, evident subdivided lobes around the mouth ....................................................................................................................................................................... T. augusti

- Basal claw short and robust, cuticular bar under claws long and wide, absence of subdivided lobes around the mouth. ....................................................................................................................................................... T. stephaniae