Tardigrades of North Carolina
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View PDFPilatobiidae Members: 1 NC Records

Pilatobius granifer (Greven, 1972) - No Common Name


Habitus, PC
Taxonomy
Class: EutardigradaOrder: Parachela Family: PilatobiidaeSubfamily: Pilatobiiinae Checklist Number: 1370.0 Synonym: Diphascon granifer (see Bartels 2021)
Taxonomic Comments: Transferred from Diphascon by Bertolani et al. 2014. Morphologically indistinguishable from species first described in Germany. No DNA evidence available for further comparison. Family designation follows Tumanov & Tsvetkova (2023).
Species Notes: Terrestrial. Only known from GSMNP in US.
Identification
Online resources:Online Photographs: Google, GBIF                                                                                 
Species Description: Pharyngeal tube long and slender (little longer than the pharynx); between the buccal tube and the pharyngeal tube exists the “drop” formation. Apophyses very obvious, 2 macroplacoids in the shape of wide rods (the 1st with clear constriction) and septula. The cuticle is uniformly granulated on the dorsum, from the cephalic end as far as the caudal; the granulation brings to mind that of H. oberhaezaeri. It deposits 4 smooth eggs (diameter about 45 µm) in the old cuticle. This species seems to be rather close to D. ramazzotti and D. nodulosum. However a comparison performed on typical examples resulted that D. ramazzottii has a much finer sculpture, the more slender buccal tube is longer, and it possesses on the first three pair of legs a cuticular bar which is lacking in D. granifer, also the eyes are present, while they are instead absent in granifer. D. nodulosum has however eyes present, buccal tube more slender and narrow, macroplacoids shorter, almost granular; also the sculpture is composed of larger plates, increasing in the direction of the caudal end.
- Ramazzotti & Maucci 1983
Body Length: Length from 164 to 210 m
Key Characters: The genus Pilatobious has a buccal tube drop, roundish pharynx, and 2 comma-like macroplacoids and septulum. In this species eyes are absent, uniform granulations on dorsum but no gibbosities, and no cuticular leg bars.
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: Freshwater streams.
Abundance: Uncommon. This species makes up 0.54% of aquatic specimens collected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Bartels' inventory.
Diet: Probably herbivorous.
Reproduction: Smooth eggs deposited in exuvium.
Observation Methods: PC and DIC.
Wikipedia

 Photo Gallery for Pilatobius granifer - No common name

Photos: 8

Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Anterior cuticular granulation, PC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Anterior, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Buccal apparatus, PC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws I-III, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws IV, PC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Posterior, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Posterior cuticular granulation, PC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Habitus, PC