title: Tardigrades of the Tree Canopy: Milnesium swansoni sp. nov. (Eutardigrada: Apochela: Milnesiidae) a new species from Kansas, U.S.A.
abstract: Milnesium swansoni sp. nov. is a new species of Eutardigrada described from the tree canopy in eastern Kansas, USA. This species within the order Apochela, family Milnesiidae, genus Milnesium is distinguished by its smooth cuticle, narrow buccal tube, four peribuccal lamellae, primary claws without accessory points, and a secondary claw configuration of [3-3]-[3-3]. The buccal tube appears to be only half the width of the nominal species Milnesium tardigradum for animals of similar body length. The species adds to the available data for the phylum, and raises questions concerning species distribution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR 97202; Email: alexyoung.116@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chappell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Baker University, Baldwin City, KS 66006; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California 94118; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lowman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D007615:Kansas; D058467:Tardigrada / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*; D014197:Trees