The Deep-Sea Genus <i>Coronarctus</i> (Tardigrada, Arthrotardigrada) in Brazil, South-Western Atlantic Ocean, with the Description of Three New Species

Three new marine tardigrade species from the deep-sea genus <i>Coronarctus</i> are described from the South-Western Atlantic Ocean: <i>Coronarctus</i> <i>dissimilis</i> sp. nov., <i>C. neptunus</i> sp. nov., and <i>C. yurupari</i> sp. nov....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Edivaldo Gomes-Júnior, Érika Santos, Clélia M.C. da Rocha, Paulo J. P. Santos, Paulo Fontoura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-02-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/12/2/63
Description
Summary:Three new marine tardigrade species from the deep-sea genus <i>Coronarctus</i> are described from the South-Western Atlantic Ocean: <i>Coronarctus</i> <i>dissimilis</i> sp. nov., <i>C. neptunus</i> sp. nov., and <i>C. yurupari</i> sp. nov. These, and <i>C. laubieri</i> Renaud-Mornant, 1987, are the first records of deep-sea tardigrades from this marine region. Specimens of those species were collected from two localities of the Brazilian continental slope (Potiguar and Campos basins) at depths comprised between 150 and 3000 m. Specimens of the three new species have short cephalic appendages and heteromorphic claws, belonging to the, here designated, <i>C. tenellus</i> group of species. Each of the new species can be distinguished from all the other species of the group by their peculiar-shaped secondary clavae and claws. The most relevant morphological characters used for the taxonomy of the genus: shape of cephalic cirri, shape of secondary-clavae, size and number of accessory spines on claws, and shape of seminal receptacles, are discussed and an identification key to all ten known <i>Coronarctus</i> species is provided.
ISSN:1424-2818