Abstract
Pilargis de Saint‐Joseph, 1899 includes seven species and one subspecies: P. berkeleyae Monro, Citation1933, P. maculata Hartman, Citation1947, P. modesta Intes and le Loeuff, Citation1975, P. mohri Gallardo, Citation1968, P. papillata Rasmussen, Citation1973, P. tardigrada (Webster, Citation1879), P. verrucosa de Saint‐Joseph, 1899, and P. verrucosa pacifica Uschakov, 1955. Two species (P. verrucosa and P. berkeleyae) have been recorded from widespread localities. However, no comparison with type material has been done, and there might be some different forms under the same name. We have reviewed all the available type material in order to clarify the taxonomy of this group. A critical analysis of morphological features and a standardization of their structure and variability have been attempted. Six species are redescribed, one species is characterized after published accounts, and one subspecies is elevated to species. Four are described as new: Pilargis angeli n. sp., P. cholae n. sp., P. rozbaczyloi n. sp., and P. wolfi n. sp. Three others based on damaged material are briefly characterized. A key for Pilargis species is included.
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Acknowledgements
This study could not be finished without the generous help of many colleagues that have sent materials, photocopies or provided some funds, space lab and/or advice to do this research. They will be listed in alphabetical order by their institutions and we deeply appreciate their support. They are: Barbara Littman, Janice Clark Walker, Kristian Fauchald and T. Chad Walter (USNM), Danny Eibye‐Jacobsen (ZMUC), Dieter Fiege (SMF), Fredrik Pleijel (MNHN), J. Angel de León‐González (UANL), Jon Anders Kongsrud (ZMUB), Kirk Fitzhugh (LAMNH), Miranda Lowe (BMNH), and Patricio Zavala (SSUC). Galina Buzhinskaja and Temir Britayev provided important details on P. verrucosa pacifica, and the former provided additional details on its type material. Partial funding for this research was provided by CONACYT (32529‐T), and by MNHN‐Paris, through the kind support of Dr. Fredrik Pleijel to S.I.S.V.