TAXONOMIC ACCOUNT OF THE CALOHYPSIBIIDAE SENSU STRICTO

Superfamily HYPSIBIOIDEA Pilato, 1969 (emended by Bertolani et al. 2014a)

Family CALOHYPSIBIIDAE Pilato, 1969 (emended by Bertolani et al. 2014a)

EMENDED DIAGNOSIS. — Very small eutardigrades (typically below 150 μm) with elliptical organs on the head. Dorsum covered with irregular, multangular protuberances, and sometimes also with spines (Figs 3C, D; 4; 5E, F). Claws miniaturised, but not reduced, of the Calohypsibius - type, i.e. asymmetrical with respect to the sequence of primary and secondary branches (2-1-2-1), but similar in their size, with bases as large as the sum of the primary and secondary branch widths, but devoid of sutures. Pseudolunulae absent. Accessory points symmetrical (Figs 11E; 12C, D). Six peribuccal papulae present (Fig. 6B). AISM asymmetrical with respect to the frontal plane, with the dorsal apophysis subdivided in two portions of different shape (Fig. 9B). Stylet furcae of the Hypsibius - type (Fig. 10B). Pharyngeal apophyses smaller than the tiny granular macroplacoids. Smooth eggs laid in exuviae.

COMPOSITION. — A monotypic family, comprising the genus Calohypsibius .