Tardigrades of North Carolina
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View PDFIsohypsibiidae Members: 25 NC Records

Isohypsibius cf. reticulatus - No Common Name


Habitus, DIC
Taxonomy
Class: EutardigradaOrder: Parachela Family: Isohypsibiidae Checklist Number: 1710.0 Synonym: Isohypsibius cf. reticulatus
Taxonomic Comments: This species is very similar to I. reticulatus. Further work is needed to determine if it is reticulatus or a new species.
Species Notes: Freshwater. I. reticulatus was originally reported in Sicily.
Identification
Online resources:Online Photographs: Google, GBIF                                                                                 
Species Description: For Isohypsibius reticulatus:
Colorless, with eye spots. The cuticle has an elegant reticular sculpture with mesh of different shape and size in the different regions of the body. In the anterior portion at the first pair of legs the mesh are very small (diameter less than 1~) and have polygonal shape with straight sides; continuing toward the posterior the mesh becomes larger (up to 3.8~ in diameter at the caudal) and the sides of the polygons become bent. Buccal tube short and rather wide. Appendages of muscle insertion of the stylets in the shape of crests. Pharynx slightly oval, with apophyses well developed and two rod-shaped macroplacoids, of which the first, longer than the second, has a central constriction. Microplacoid absent. The doubleclaws of the first pair of legs are more developed than the second and the third. The basal portion of all the claws is rather short and strongly reduced near its end; the principal branch of all the claws is provided with small accessory points, difficult to see. At the base of the claws there is a cuticular thickening explainable as a lunule. On the first three pair of legs there is a cuticular thickening in the shape of an undulating bar.
-Ramazzotti & Maucci 1983
Body Length: Up to 380 microns.
Key Characters: Eyes present. Two rod-shaped macroplacoids, of which the first, longer than the second, has a central constriction. Reticulations across dorsal cuticle, but difficult to see in most specimens.
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: Streams, predominantly in periphyton.
Abundance: Common. This species makes up 2.74% of aquatic specimens collected in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Bartels' inventory.
Diet: Unknown, probably omnivorous.
Reproduction: Smooth eggs deposited in shed exuvium.
Observation Methods: PC and DIC.
Wikipedia

 Photo Gallery for Isohypsibius cf. reticulatus - No common name

Photos: 11

Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Habitus, DIC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws IV, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Head, DIC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Head, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws, PC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws IV, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Habitus, lateral, PC Fine reticulations barely visible		Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Buccal apparatus, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Habitus, lateral, DIC		Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Buccal apparatus, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2002-04-07
Haywood Co.
Comment: Posterior, reticulations visible along top edge of cuticle, DIC