“Evidently, none of the large phylogenetic clades of Hypsibiidae can currently receive a comprehensive morphological diagnosis, moreover it is not possible to give a morphological diagnosis for the family Hypsibiidae itself, as there are no characters or sets of characters that can be considered as characterising exclusively this group. […]
In this situation, molecular phylogenetic analysis provides the only reliable basis for the modern taxonomy of the Hypsibioidea clade. We propose that instead of adhering to the current megadiverse family Hypsibiidae (whose monophyly is poorly supported in our analysis), each of the large well-supported subclades should be elevated to family rank. Thus, the clades Pilatobiinae and Itaquasconinae form the families Pilatobiidae Bertolani et al., 2014, status promotus, and Itaquasconidae Bartoš in Rudescu, 1964, status promotus.” Tumanov DV, Tsvetkova AY. 2023. Some have drops and some do not, but can we rely on that? Re-investigation of Diphascon tenue (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada) with discussion of the phylogeny and taxonomy of the superfamily Hypsibioidea. Zoosystematica Rossica. 32 (1): 50–74. DOI 10.31610/zsr/2023.32.1.50
Itaquasconidae
