A new marine tardigrade genus and species (Arthrotardigrada, Styraconyxidae) with unique pockets on the legs

By

Fujimoto, Shinta
Jimi, Naoto

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

96

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

115--122

Subjects

meiofauna , Pacific Ocean , sensory organs , submarine cave , Tardigrada

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zse.96.49676

 

Abstract

A marine heterotardigrade Cyaegharctus kitamurai gen. et sp. nov. (Arthrotardigrada, Styraconyxidae) is described from Daidokutsu, a submarine cave off Iejima island, Okinawa Islands, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. It is easily distinguished from all other styraconyxids by its pocket organs (putative sensory structures) on all legs in addition to the usual leg sensory organs. Its combination of other character states, such as the dorso-ventrally flattened body, ovoid primary clavae, conical secondary clavae, large terminal anus, internal digits with proximal pads and peduncles, external digits with developed peduncles and all digits with three-pointed claws in adult female, supports the erection of a new genus and species.