First records of marine tardigrades (Arthrotardigrada) from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands, Spain)

Abstract

Marine tardigrades are very poorly known and up to now only c. 200 taxa have been reported around the world (mostly from European coasts). In a marine algae sample, collected on the coast of Fuerteventura island (Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands), six specimens of three marine Arthrotardigrada species were found: Archechiniscus
minutus Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo, 1987, Styraconyx craticulus (Pollock, 1983) and Styraconyx sargassi Thulin, 1942. This is the third record of marine tardigrades from the Canary Islands. In this paper we also list all heterotardigrades known from marine environments around Africa.

Keywords: Archechiniscidae, Archechiniscus minutus , Stygarctidae, Styraconyx craticulus, Styraconyx sargasi, Tardigrada