Moebjergarctus clarionclippertonensis, a new abyssal tardigrade (Arthrotardigrad a, Halechiniscidae, Euclavarctinae) from the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone, North-East Pacific

摘要

A new marine tardigrade, Moebjetgarctus clarionclippertonensis sp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from a manganese nodule area in the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone of the abyssal North-eastern Pacific. The new species is a member of the bathyal/abyssal subfamily Euclavarctinae Renaud-Mornant, 1983. Within the Euclavarctinae, the genus Moebjetgarctus Bussau, 1992, with only one described species, M. manganis Bussau. 1992, is characterised by simple claws, club-shaped and anteriorly bent primary clavae, well-developed spherical secondary clavae and cephalic cirri separated into three parts: short cirrophore, long and annulated scapus, and a short flagellum. Moebjergarctus clarionclippertonensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from M manganis by the morphology of cephalic cirri which have scapi annulated only in the proximal part and by the presence of a caudodorsal bulge covered by a crescent-shaped cuticular thickening.