Incomplete but invaluable: Reassessing the holotype of a singleton madagascan woodlouse (Oniscidea, Armadillidae)

Historical type specimens, even when fragmentary, remain critical for resolving longstanding taxonomic uncertainties—particularly within neglected and underfunded groups such as terrestrial isopods. Many species described during early phases of exploration have never been revisited, leaving them in taxonomic limbo due to incomplete descriptions and the scarcity of new material. This study reexamines the Madagascan species Armadillo cassida Budde-Lund, 1908—known only from a single specimen—and finds that its distinctive and atypical morphological features warrant its transfer to a new genus, Revelosa gen. nov. Despite the limitations of the available material, key diagnostic traits were recovered that clearly differentiate it from all other genera in the family Armadillidae. This work highlights the enduring value of historical singletons in clarifying biodiversity, reducing taxonomic noise, and improving classification frameworks, even in the absence of fresh specimens. Such revisions are vital steps toward addressing the taxonomic impediment that continues to hinder progress in biodiversity research.