Stygarctus keralensis

Stygarctus keralensis is a new species of tardigrade found in Kerala. Its discovery is significant as the species is the first taxonomically described marine tardigrade from the Indian waters. It is named after the southern state of Kerala. Its characteristics closely resembles S. gourbaultae.
The new species was discovered in Vadakara in northern Kerala by a research team from Cochin University of Science and Technology and University of Copenhagen. The finding is the result of an on-going research by the Ministry of Earth Sciences-National Centre for Earth Sciences Studies to assess the ecology and diversity of submarine groundwater habitats of Kerala.