Towards a standardisation of morphological measurements in the phylum Kinorhyncha

Abstract

Taxonomic studies of the phylum Kinorhyncha follow a standardised structure, which is extremely useful in many aspects, such as making it easier to read and compare the different species descriptions. Nevertheless, the morphological measurements methods, essential for formal description of species, may differ according to the authors. In the present contribution, we propose a standardised method of taking and representing the measurements, with the aim of obtaining comparable and repeatable morphometric results. Additionally, we proposean online repository to make the measurements accessible to all researchers in the same format, facilitating future comparisons and studies. Finally, a glossary that compiles and defines all the measurements that may be included in Kinorhyncha descriptions is presented.