Deep-sea tardigrades in the northern Gulf of Mexico with a description of a new species of Coronarctidae (Tardigrada: Arthrotardigrada), Coronarctus mexicus

摘要: During May and June 2000, for the first time, benthic samples were collected from 43 stations in northern Gulf of Mexico deep sea that included seven transects along continental slope abyssal plain ranging depth 625 to 3159 m. A total 54 tardigrades (36 identified) extracted samples, 3150 Collected belong five genera represented eight species, Angursa bicuspis abyssalis (two specimens 1401 2020 m depth), four species Coronarctus (29 Euclavarctus convergens (one specimen 2743 E. thieli 2635 Proclavarctus sp. 2600 Styraconyx 1565 depth). The most abundant genus was (80.5% identified species) present areas sampled with exception central Mississippi trough regions comprised laubieri (15 specimens), C. stylisetus specimen), disparilis (three specimens) a new mexicus (10 specimens). Tardigrades mostly found western (NW, W, WC) waters, 2290 average depth. Analyses tardigrade gave slight positive correlation (R 2 = 0.029), while analyses degrees longitude resulted negative 0.022).