Higginsarctus laurae Hansen & Kristensen 2021, gen. et sp. nov.

• Main Authors: Hansen, Jesper G., Kristensen, Reinhardt M.
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Tardigrada; Heterotardigrada; Arthrotardigrada; Halechiniscidae; Higginsarctus; Higginsarctus laurae; Kristensen; North Atlantic; Tardigrade
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/5213166; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5213166

Higginsarctus laurae gen. et sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: E4929598-4B3D-4932-A6FE-9B32DC74CF0D Figs 14–16 Diagnosis (characters uniquely defining the taxon are written in bold) Characterized by large, spherical secondary clavae. Trilobed antero-lateral alae each with pair of medial pointed indentations. Antero-lateral alae larger than postero-lateral alae. Bilobed mediolateral alae with medial pointed indentations. Medio-lateral alae smaller than postero-lateral alae. Bilobed postero-lateral alae with medial pointed identations. Bilobed, round caudal ala with deep medial pointed indentations. Leg sense organs I–III with similar length. Genital stoup present. Ventral cuticle with folia. Etymology The new species is dedicated to Laura Pavesi in acknowledgement of her continuous enthusiasm and effort to services the tardigrade collection at NHMD. Material examined Holotype FRANCE • ♀; North Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, Bay of Morlaix, Roscoff; 48°43′ N, 03°54′ W; depth 20–30 m; 15 Mar. 1982; R.M. Kristensen leg.; Dentalium sand; NHMD-293905. Paratypes FRANCE • 6 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; NHMD-293906 to NHMD-203011. Description HABITUS. The holotypic female (Figs 14–15) is 147 µm long from the anterior margin of the head to the posterior margin of the body. The body is ovoid, being broadest (83 µm) at the level between the second and third pair of legs. The dorsal cuticle has four transverse inter-segmental folds: one anterior to the first pair of legs, two between the first and second pair of legs and one between the second and third pair of legs. Five folia in the form of leaf-like structures (Fig. 14 and paratype Fig. 16C) are present on the ventral cuticle in the area between the legs, extending from the second pair of legs to the anus. ALAE. Typical for the genus, eight alae, which are all clearly separated from each other, are present: frontal ala, a pair of antero-lateral alae, a pair of medio-lateral alae, a pair of postero-lateral alae and a single caudal ala (Figs 14, 15A, D and ...