ARCHECHINISCIDAE Binda, 1978

Fontoura, Paulo, Bartels, Paul J., Jørgensen, Aslak, Kristensen, Reinhardt Møbjerg & Hansen, Jesper Guldberg, 2017, A dichotomous key to the genera of the Marine Heterotardigrades (Tardigrada), Zootaxa 4294 (1), pp. 1-45 : 25

1.1 ARCHECHINISCIDAE Binda, 1978 (following Kristensen & Higgins 1984b)

Considered as subfamily Archechiniscinae assigned to the family Halechiniscidae by Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo (1987). The family Archechiniscidae was reinstated by Jørgensen et al. (2010).

Arthrotardigrades with two internal clawed toes having a hook-like dorsal point. Toes with a short basal pad inserted into a tarsal extension. External strong sessile claws with a powerful internal accessory point15. Median cirrus absent or vestigial, cuticle finely pointed, anterior clava and thin dorsal metameric plates also present.

1.1.1 Archechiniscus Schulz, 1953 (following Chang & Rho 1998a) ( Figs 4 A, 12I)

Archechiniscidae with two external claws directly inserted on the tarsus, and internal claws supported by fingers; median cephalic cirrus very small or absent. Papillate primary clavae and lenticular secondary clavae. Tubular seminal receptacles present.

Type species Archechiniscus marci Schulz, 1953

Selected literature for further information: Miller et al. (2012) provides a key to all currently known species of this genus.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Habitus drawings of marine heterotardigrades. A Archechiniscus, redrawn from Pollock (1976). B Coronarctus, redrawn from Renaud-Mornant (1987 b). C Trogloarctus, redrawn from Villora-Morena (1996). D Clavarctus, redrawn from Renaud-Mornant (1983). E Euclavarctus, redrawn from Renaud-Mornant (1975 a). F Exoclavarctus, redrawn from Renaud- Mornant (1983). G Moebjergarctus, redrawn from Bussau (1992). H Parmursa, redrawn from Hansen (2007). I Proclavarctus, redrawn from Renaud-Mornant (1983).