Tardigrades of North Carolina
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Sole representative of Halechiniscidae in NC
1 NC Records

Ligiarctus eastwardi Renaud-Mornant, 1982 - No Common Name



Drawing by Renaud-Mornant 1982
Taxonomy
Class: HeterotardigradaOrder: "Arthrotardigrades" Family: HalechiniscidaeSubfamily: Florarctinae Checklist Number: 2260.0
Taxonomic Comments: This is the only species in the genus.
Species Notes: Marine. This species is known only from 1 sample containing 4 specimens. It was collected in deep sea sediments by Bruce Coull and Robert Higgins in 1974. Never recorded subsequently.
Identification
Online resources:Online Photographs: Google, GBIF                                                                                 
Species Description: A genus of Florarctinae with narrow head. Wide implementation of the primary clavae occupying the lateral edge of the head. Large, rigid and backwards bending primary clavae (shared with Higginsarctus
gen. nov.) supported by strong internal cuticular structures at their bases. Frontal and caudal ala (without procuticular support) present in females. Frontal ala absent in males. Claws of external digits with internal distal notch.
-Hansen & Kristensen (2021)
Body Length: approimately 120 microns
Key Characters: Extremely large primary clavae projecting caudally (shared with Higginsarctus), frontal alae and caudal alae but no lateral alae in females, males lack frontal alae.
Key Character Images
ID Requirements: Identifiable only by close inspection of key characters or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Dates:
 High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
 Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
 Piedmont (Pd)
 Coastal Plain (CP)

Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats: Deep sea fine sand, 400 m bsl.
Abundance: Unknown, probably rare.
Diet: Probably herbivorous.
Reproduction: Sexual reproduction, sperm stored in seminal receptacles.
Observation Methods: DIC and PC.
Wikipedia

 Photo Gallery for Ligiarctus eastwardi - No common name

Photos: 1

Recorded by: Renaud-Mornant on 1974-05-15
Carteret Co.
Comment: Drawing by Renaud-Mornant 1982