title: Halechiniscidae (Heterotardigrada, Arthrotardigrada) of Oura Bay, Okinawajima, Ryukyu Islands, with descriptions of three new species.
abstract: Marine tardigrades of the family Halechiniscidae (Heterotardigrada: Arthrotardigrada) are reported from Oura Bay, Okinawajima, one of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, including Dipodarctus sp., Florarctuswunai sp. n., Halechiniscuschurakaagii sp. n., Halechiniscusyanakaagii sp. n. and Styraconyx sp. The attributes distinguishing Florarctuswunai sp. n. from its congeners is a combination of two characters, the smooth dorsal cuticle and two small projections of the caudal alae caestus. Halechiniscuschurakaagii sp. n. is differentiated from its congeners by the combination of two characters, the robust cephalic cirrophores and the scapular processes with flat oval tips, while Halechiniscusyanakaagii sp. n. can be identified by the laterally protruded arched double processes with acute tips situated dorsally at the level of leg I. A list of marine tardigrades reported from the Ryukyu Islands is provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
keywords: Meiobenthos; Tardigrada; northwestern Pacific; subtidal; subtropic; taxonomy