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A Family Level Analysis of Tardigrade Phylogeny

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Abstract

In the present study a character data set suitable for cladistic analysis at the family level was developed. A data matrix consisting of 50 morphological characters from 15 families of tardigrades was analyzed by maximum parsimony. Kinorhynchs, loriciferans, and gastrotrichs were used as outgroups. The results agree with the currently accepted hypothesis that Eutardigrada and Heterotardigrada are distinct monophyletic groups. Among the eutardigrades, Eohypsibiidae was found to be a sister group to Macrobiotidae+Hypsibiidae, while Milnesiidae was the basal eutardigrade family. The basal heterotardigrade family was found to be Oreellidae. Echiniscoideans grouped with some traditional Arthrotardigrada (Renaudarctidae, Coronarctidae+Batillipedidae) suggesting that the arthrotardigrades are not monophyletic. The 18S rRNA gene sequence of Batillipes mirus Richters, 1909 and Calohypsibius schusteri Nelson & McGlothlin, 1996 were obtained and their addition to a previously published dataset supports the monophyly of Heterotardigrada and of Parachela versus Apochela within the Eutardigrada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, SCA 110, Tampa, FL, 33620, USA

    P. Brent Nichols & James R. Garey

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Box 70703, Johnson City, TN, 37614, USA

    Diane R. Nelson

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  1. P. Brent Nichols
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  2. Diane R. Nelson
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  3. James R. Garey
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Correspondence to James R. Garey.

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Nichols, P.B., Nelson, D.R. & Garey, J.R. A Family Level Analysis of Tardigrade Phylogeny. Hydrobiologia 558, 53–60 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1414-8

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