Robert P. Higgins

Robert Price Higgins (October 8, 1932 – December 18, 2022) was an American systematic invertebrate zoologist and ecologist, who specialized in the unusual taxa of kinorhynchs and tardigrades.

Early life and education Robert P. Higgins was born on October 8, 1932, in Denver, Colorado, to Jay Higgins and Amy E (Gates) Higgins, and he attended South High School in Denver, graduating in 1950. He attended the University of Colorado Boulder where he earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees studying in the laboratory of invertebrate zoologist Robert William Pennak, and on the advice of Pennak, he attended Duke University, as a James W. Duke Fellow, earning his Ph.D. in 1961.

Selected publications 1959: Life history of Macrobiotus islandicus Richters with notes on other tardigrades from Colorado. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 78(2): pages 137–154. https://doi.org/10.2307/3224022 1967: The revival of Macrobiotus areolatus Murray (Tardigrada) from the Cryptobiotic State. Crowe, J.H., & Higgins, R.P. 1967. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society 86(3): pages 286–294. 1975: Occurrence of the genus Tanarctus Renaud-Debyser, 1959 in Northeastern Atlantic waters with a description of T. ramazzotti n. sp. (Arthrotardigrada). 1983: The Atlantic barrier reef ecosystem at Carrie Bow Cay, Belize, II: Kinorhyncha. 1984: A New Family of Arthrotardigrada (Tardigrada: Heterotardigrada) from the Atlantic Coast of Florida, United States 1986: New Loricifera from southeastern United States coastal Waters. 1988: Introduction to the Study of Meiofauna.

Taxa and species described by Higgins Cryptorhagina Higgins, 1968 Condyloderes Higgins, 1969 Dracoderidae Higgins & Shirayama, 1990 Dracoderes Higgins & Shirayama, 1990 Nanaloricus gwenae Kristensen, Heiner & Higgins, 2007 Neocentrophyes Higgins, 1969 Neocentrophyidae Higgins, 1969 Paracentrophyes Higgins, 1983 Pliciloricidae Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Pliciloricus dubius Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Pliciloricus enigmaticus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Pliciloricus gracilis Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Pliciloricus orphanus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Pliciloricus profundus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Pliciloricus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Rugiloricus carolinensis Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Rugiloricus cauliculus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Rugiloricus ornatus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Rugiloricus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986 Sphenoderes Higgins, 1969 Sphenoderes indicus Higgins, 1969 Zelinkaderes Higgins, 1990 Zelinkaderidae Higgins, 1990

Taxa described in honor of Higgins Parastygarctus higginsi Renaud-Debyser, 1965 Halicaris higginsi Newell, 1984 Echinoderes higginsi Huys & Coomans, 1989 Araphura higginsi Sieg & Dojiri, 1989 Halicryptus higginsi Shirley & Storch, 1999 Ptychostomella higginsi Clausen, 2004 Fissuroderes higginsi Neuhaus & Blasche, 2006 Typhlamphiascus higginsi Chullasorn 2009 Isoechiniscoides higginsi (Hallas & Kristensen, 1982)