title: A new tardigrade, Mutaparadoxipus duodigifinis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Heterotardigrada: Arthrotardigrada), from the Southeastern United States.
abstract: A new genus and species of Arthrotardigrada is described from Florida, USA based on its unique adhesive pad/claw combinations. Mutaparadoxipus duodigifinis gen. nov., sp. nov., is characterized by well-developed, ventral secondary clavae that are adjacent to the mouth, pointed lateral and caudal alae, seminal receptacles with coiled ducts opening lateral to the gonopore, and all legs with digits bearing proximal adhesive pads. Distal claws are present on digits I-III of legs I-III, but are missing from digit IV. On leg IV, distal claws are present only on digits II & III. A single accessory point is present on claws II & III only. This is the fourth species discovered to date with proximal adhesive pads, increasing support for a clade of adhesive-padded arthrotardigrades, and is likely the sister taxon of Paradoxipus orzeliscoides. The incomplete set of claws may represent an evolutionary step in a progressive loss of claws hypothesized to have occurred within the Halechiniscidae. The subfamily Orzeliscinae is amended as a result.
authors: Animal Evolution and Development, Institute of Biology, University of Leipzig, Talsraße 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.; Email: Vladimir_Gross@student.uml.edu.
authors: Vladimir
authors: V
authors: Gross
authors: Department of Biology, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS 66006, USA.; Email: William.Miller@bakeru.edu.
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Miller
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, One University Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.; Email: Rick_Hochberg@uml.edu.
authors: Rick
authors: R
authors: Hochberg
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D015144:Southeastern United States; D058467:Tardigrada / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development