Tardigrades of North Carolina
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View PDFStygarctidae Members: 2 NC Records

Stygarctus n. species - No Common Name


Habitus, DIC
Taxonomy
Class: HeterotardigradaOrder: "Arthrotardigrades" Family: StygarctidaeSubfamily: Stygarctinae Checklist Number: 2295.0 Synonym: Stygarctus n. species
Taxonomic Comments: Probable new species. There are currently (2023) eight species in this genus, if verified this would be the ninth.
Species Notes: Marine. Found by Bartels and students on beaches in both NC and SC.
Identification
Online resources:Online Photographs: Google, GBIF                                                                                 
Species Description: Description in process.
Body Length: 90-130 microns.
Key Characters: Paired dorsal spines present, comb-like processes on lateral expansions (4 on 1st, 4 on second, 2 on last), seminal receptacles in multiple loops looking like spaghetti. Proposed name = Stygarctus spacellus (L. for spaghetti).
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: Intertidal beach sand.
Abundance: Unknown.
Diet: Herbivorous.
Reproduction: Sexual, females with seminal receptacles, probably smooth eggs deposited in exuvium.
Observation Methods: DIC and PC.
Wikipedia

 Photo Gallery for Stygarctus n. species - No common name

Photos: 3

Recorded by: Bartels on 2022-10-15
New Hanover Co.
Comment: DIC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2022-10-15
New Hanover Co.
Comment: Gonopore and seminal receptacles, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2022-10-15
New Hanover Co.
Comment: Habitus, DIC