Tardigrades of North Carolina
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Sole representative of Eohypsibiidae in NC
1 NC Records

Bertolanius smreczynskii (Weglarska, 1970) - No Common Name


Habitus, DIC. Note damaged cuticle upper right and lower left.
Taxonomy
Class: EutardigradaOrder: Parachela Family: Eohypsibiidae Checklist Number: 1050.0 Synonym: Amphibolus cf. smreczinskii (sic), Amphibolus smreczynskii (see Bartels et al. 2021), Hypsibius (Isohypsibius) smreczynskii Weglarska 1970
Taxonomic Comments: Morphologically inidstinguishable from species first described from Axel Heiberg Island, Nunatuk, Canada. No molecular evidence for further comparison.
Species Notes: Terrestrial. In North America only reported from Nunavut Canada and GSMNP.
Identification
Online resources:Online Photographs: Google, GBIF                                                                                 
Species Description: Cuticle smooth. In incident light olive-green colour of individuals. Coloured cuticle and body cavity. Black pigment of eyes. Sucking pharynx possessing three barlike macroplacoids, the first of which is the shortest and the third one the longest. Absence of microplacoid. Claws of legs of the Hypsibius type. Eggs spherical, surrounded by an ornamented chorion forming cones similar to those occuring on eggs of Macrobiotus echinogenitus.
-Weglarska 1970
Body Length: up to 969 microns
Key Characters: This genus is characterized by asymmetrical claws similar to Hypsibius claws but divided into three distinct regions by septa, wide buccal tube with no ventral lamina, and trumpet shaped mouth surrounded by 14 peribuccal lamellae. This species is characterized by 3 rows of long thin placoids, the third larger than the second which are larger than the first.
Key Character Images
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: Rock moss and soil/leaf litter.
Abundance: Unknown.
Diet: Probably carnivorous.
Reproduction: Ornamented eggs laid externally, fertilization internal.
Observation Methods: PC and DIC microscopy.
Wikipedia

 Photo Gallery for Bertolanius smreczynskii - No common name

Photos: 9

Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Claws, DIC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Egg sculpture. Ramazzotti & Maucci 1983.
Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Buccal armature, ventral view. (Bertolani 1981)		Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Buccal armature, lateral view. Bertolani 1981
Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Claws (Bertolani 1981)		Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Habitus, DIC. Note damaged cuticle upper right and lower left.		Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Claws, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2001-07-20
Swain Co.
Comment: Peribuccal lamellae, DIC