The deep sea elements of the Faroe Bank tardigrade fauna with a description of two new species

Abstract

Two new marine Tardigrada species are described from the calcareous sediments at the steep slope of the Faroe Bank in the North Atlantic Ocean. Parmursa torquata sp. nov. can be distinguished mainly by small cylindrical secondary clavae, and the presence of caudal and cephalic vesicles, and a large ventral plate. Coronarctus verrucatus sp. nov. is characterised by its unique cuticular sculpture, with numerous small wart-like excrescences, regularly distributed all over the body. These new records from the relatively shallow water of the Faroe Bank (200-260 m) further widen the range of Parmursa and Coronarctus distribution and diversity, especially regarding the genus Parmursa, which to date has remained monospecific.

Keywords

• Tardigrada, Arthrotardigrada, Faroe Bank, Parmursa torquata sp. nov, Coronarctus verrucatus sp. nov.