Testechiniscus macronyx (Richters, 1908)
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Synonym/s: Echiniscus macronyx Richters, 1908
This species does not belong in the genus Testechiniscus, but it's generic placement awaits further investigation and hopefully genetic testing (Gąsiorek, 2023).
Conservation Status
Rediscovered (Mcinnes, 1994)
A report of Brazilian specimens (de Barros, 1942) likely refers to a different echiniscid (Kaczmarek et al., 2015).
Distribution
South Georgia, South Atlantic
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
Media
References
Original scientific description:
Richters F. (1908). Moosbewohner. Wiss. Ergeb. Schwedischen Süd- polar Expedit. (1901-1903),. 1901-1903), Bd V, Liefg 2, 1-16.
Other references:
de Barros, R. (1942) Tardigrados de Estado de Sao Paulo, Brasil. I. Introducao. Generos Echiniscus e Pseudechiniscus. Revista Brasileira de Biologia, 2, 257 - 269.
Gąsiorek, Piotr. (2023). Eventually tested: Phylogenetic position of “Testechiniscus” meridionalis (Murray, 1906) (Heterotardigrada) revealed. Zoologischer Anzeiger 304: 49-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2023.02.004
Gąsiorek, P., Stec, D., Zawierucha, K., Kristensen, R. M. and Michalczyk, Ł. (2018). Revision of Testechiniscus Kristensen, 1987 (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) refutes the polar-temperate distribution of the genus. Zootaxa 4472: 261-297.
Guidetti, R., McInnes, S. J. and Kristensen, R. M. (2025). World List of Tardigrada. Testechiniscus macronyx (Richters, 1908). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=343570 on 2025-05-17
Kaczmarek, Łukasz, Michalczyk, Łukasz and Mcinnes, Sandra J. (2015). Annotated zoogeography of non-marine Tardigrada. Part II: South America. Zootaxa 3923(1): 1-107 [29].
Mcinnes, Sandra J. (1994). Rediscovery of the species Echiniscus macronyx Richters, 1907 on South Georgia, South Atlantic, its new systematic position and redescription within the genus Testechiniscus. Bolletino di Zoologia 61(1): 83-87.
Richters, F. (1907). Antarktische Tardigraden. Zool. Anz. 31: 915-916.