Angursa bicuspis Pollock 1979
- Dataset
- The Zoogeography of Marine Tardigrada
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Tardigrada
- class
- Heterotardigrada
- order
- Arthrotardigrada
- family
- Halechiniscidae
- genus
- Angursa
- species
- Angursa bicuspis
description
Angursa bicuspis n. g., n. sp. (Pollock 1979) Angursa bicuspis abyssalis n. ssp. (Renaud-Mornant 1981 b)
discussion
Remarks: Pollock (1979) described this taxon (which is also the type species for the genus Angursa) based on two specimens, one from the intertidal zone and one from the deep sea. He described some differences between these specimens, but he decided they were not sufficient to assign these specimens to two different taxa (some differences were very small and some structures were not visible in the deep sea specimen probably due to preservation). Pollock (1979) pointed out that such a wide range of depths for tardigrade species is unusual, as is the difference in substrates where the two specimens were found. Based on modern taxonomy we should probably consider specimens described by Pollock (1979) as belonging to two different taxa, but reexamination of the type material is necessary to confirm this statement. Type specimens are available at the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of Natural History. Renaud-Mornant (1981 b) described the subspecies Angursa bicuspis abyssalis based on some minor differences, however Villora-Moreno (1998) stated that this description was a redescription of Pollock’s species. He also stated that Pollock’s description was not sufficient to separate nominal species from other Angursa species, but the new characters described by Renaud-Mornant (1981 b) for A. bicuspis were very valuable and adequate for such separation (Villora-Moreno 1998). We think the situation is still unclear because this species has a very peculiar distribution from the intertidal zone to the abyss (2200 m bsl). Temporarily, we decided to accept Villora-Moreno’s (1998) point of view but we think that the issue needs more detailed study. This species has also been found in submarine caves. It has been reported from different substrates mainly in southern parts of the northern hemisphere, however it is also known from one locality in the southern hemisphere.
Name
- Homonyms
- Angursa bicuspis Pollock 1979