A new species of Haltidytes Remane, 1936 (Gastrotricha: Chaetonotida: Dasydytidae) from an urban lagoon in Brazil with a phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus based on morphological data

A new species of the freshwater genus Haltidytes (Gastrotricha) was discovered in an urban lagoon in Brazil. Haltidytes pseudosquamosus sp. nov. has a unique arrangement of trunk spines in comparison to its congeners, as well as a rare cuticle covered with smooth rhombic scales. The phylogenetic reconstruction including all known Haltidytes species exhibited one well-resolved cladogram supporting monophyly of the genus. Moreover, an internal clade comprising the Neotropical species was revealed. The presence of a dorsal body covered by cuticle ornamentation appears as synapomorphic for the Neotropical species. An updated identification key is also provided.