1.1 ARCHECHINISCIDAE Binda, 1978 (following Kristensen & Higgins 1984b)

Considered as subfamily Archechiniscinae assigned to the family Halechiniscidae by Grimaldi de Zio & D’Addabbo Gallo (1987). The family Archechiniscidae was reinstated by Jørgensen et al. (2010).

Arthrotardigrades with two internal clawed toes having a hook-like dorsal point. Toes with a short basal pad inserted into a tarsal extension. External strong sessile claws with a powerful internal accessory point15. Median cirrus absent or vestigial, cuticle finely pointed, anterior clava and thin dorsal metameric plates also present.

1.1.1 Archechiniscus Schulz, 1953 (following Chang & Rho 1998a) (Figs 4 A, 12I)

Archechiniscidae with two external claws directly inserted on the tarsus, and internal claws supported by fingers; median cephalic cirrus very small or absent. Papillate primary clavae and lenticular secondary clavae. Tubular seminal receptacles present.

Type species Archechiniscus marci Schulz, 1953

Selected literature for further information: Miller et al. (2012) provides a key to all currently known species of this genus.