Tardigrades of North America: Dactylobiotus kansae Beasley, Miller and Shively, 2009 Confirmed to Still Exist after 50 Years

This is the second record of occurrence for the species Dactylobiotus kansae Beasley, Miller and Shively, 2009. Originally collected in 1963 and originally identified as Macrobiotus hastatus Murray, 1907 by Beasley in 1967, the specimen identification was transferred to the new genus Murrayon in 1988 and finally described as Dactylobiotus kansae, a new species in 2009. For 50 years the species has not been reported again in any form. Now, based on a recent collection, the species has been confirmed to still exist in Oedogonium sp. algal in the type location, a small stream passing through the Kansas State University campus, in Riley County, Manhattan, Kansas, USA (North America).