Ontogeny of the famulus in selected members of Damaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) and its suitability as a phylogenetic marker

Abstract

In this study, the ontogenetic development of the famulus in selected Central European damaeid species was studied with light and scanning electron microscopy and compared with that of Gymnodamaeus bicostatus (Gymnodamaeidae).

Keywords

• Famulus
• ontogeny
• morphology
• Oribatida
• Damaeidae
• Epidamaeus tatricus
• SEM