Tardigrades of North Carolina
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Scientific Name:
Family:
BATILLIPEDIDAE
CALOHYPSIBIIDAE
DORYPHORIBIIDAE
ECHINISCIDAE
EOHYPSIBIIDAE
HALECHINISCIDAE
HYPSIBIIDAE
ISOHYPSIBIIDAE
ITAQUASCONIDAE
MACROBIOTIDAE
MICROHYPSIBIIDAE
MILNESIIDAE
MURRAYIDAE
PILATOBIIDAE
RAMAZZOTTIIDAE
RICHTERSIUSIDAE
STYGARCTIDAE
STYRACONYXIDAE
TANARCTIDAE
Order:
APOCHELA
"ARTHROTARDIGRADES"
ECHINISCOIDEA
PARACHELA
Class:
Heterotardigrada
Eutardigrada
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Milnesiidae Members:
Milnesium bohleberi
Milnesium cf. eurystomum
Milnesium n. species
Milnesium unidentified species
59 NC Records
Milnesium bohleberi
Bartels et al., 2014 - No Common Name
Habitus, PC
Taxonomy
Class:
Eutardigrada
Order:
Apochela
Family:
Milnesiidae
Checklist Number:
1010.0
Taxonomic Comments:
New species discovered in GSMNP. Named in honor of Steve Bohleber, long time friend of the Smokies. DNA data is available for specimens from Gregory's Cave, GSMNP, USA. (Morek et al. 2021).
Species Notes:
Terrestrial. So far only reported from GSMNP.
Identification
Online resources:
Online Photographs:
Google
,
GBIF
Species Description:
Body white before fixation and transparent afterwards, eyes present. Cuticle smooth, without granulation, pseudopores, pores, reticulations, or gibbosities. Six peribuccal papillae (ventral papilla smallest) and six peribuccal lamellae (of equal size) around the mouth opening, present. Two cephalic papillae positioned laterally (Fig. 2). Buccal apparatus of the Milnesium type (Figs 3–4). Buccal tube wide and short (standard width on average 59% of the length), and funnel-shaped, wider anteriorly (posterior diameter on average 84% of the anterior diameter). Pharyngeal bulb elongated, pear-shaped and without placoids or septulum. Claws of the Milnesium type, slender (Fig. 5). Primary branches on all legs with small, but distinct accessory points detaching from the branch at its greatest curvature. Secondary branches with rounded basal thickenings. All secondary branches on all legs with three points (claw configuration: [3-3]-[3-3]). Single, long transverse, cuticular bars under claws I–III present (Fig. 5).
-Bartels et al. 2014
Body Length:
620-880 microns.
Key Characters:
Eyespots present, smooth cuticle, [3-3][3-3] claw pattern, extremely short and wide buccal tube slightly tapering to smaller width posteriorly, and other morphometric characters.
Key Character Images
Buccal apparatus, PC
Claws showing three spurs on seccondary, PC
ID Requirements:
Identifiable only by close inspection of key characters or by DNA analysis.
Distribution in North Carolina
Distribution:
County Map:
Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Dates:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)
Click on graph to enlarge
Habitats and Life History
Habitats:
Tree moss and lichen.
Abundance:
Uncommon. This species makes up 0.50% of terrestrial specimens collected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Bartels' inventory.
Diet:
Carnivorous.
Reproduction:
Smooth eggs deposited in exuvium.
Observation Methods:
DIC and PC.
Wikipedia
Photo Gallery for
Milnesium bohleberi
- No common name
Photos: 5
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Habitus, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Buccal tube, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Anterior, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws II, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws IV, PC