Tardigrades of North Carolina
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View PDFMacrobiotidae Members: 102 NC Records

Paramacrobiotus halei (Bartels et al., 2009) - No Common Name



Habitus, DIC
Taxonomy
Class: EutardigradaOrder: Parachela Family: Macrobiotidae Checklist Number: 1890.0 Synonym: Macrobiotus richtersi, Macrobiotus halei, Paramacrobiotus richtersi sensu lato (See Bartels et al. 2021)
Taxonomic Comments: New species discovered in GSMNP. Transferred to Paramacrobiotus by Bartels & Nelson 2012. Part of the P. richtersi group, containing 3 macroplacoids and a microplacoid.
Species Notes: Terrestrial. New species discovered in GSMNP, named in honor of Gilbert Hale, student of Diane Nelson's at ETSU, who contributed extensively to lab work in the early stages of the Smokies tardigrade inventory.
Identification
Online resources:Online Photographs: Google, GBIF                                                                                 
Species Description: Colorless, cuticle with very small tubercles, quite difficult to see; very fine granules present on all legs, more evident on legs IV; eyes absent. Buccal armature in oral cavity of richtersi-type; buccal tube wide; stylet supports inserted on the buccal tube at 81.0-82.7% of its length; three macroplacoids and a microplacoid (far away from the third macroplacoid) present. Claws of the hufelandi-type; accessory points and lunules present. Eggs with truncated conical processes with a reticular design; egg shell areolated; areolae sculptured.
-Bartels et al. 2009
Body Length: 283-450 microns.
Key Characters: P. halei can be separated from P. richtersi s.s., the other species from this group once reported in NC (dubiously), by the presence of tubercles on its cuticle, the median ventral crest is not subdivided in smaller pieces in the buccal armature, and shorter egg processes.
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: Soil / leaf litter, less commonly in other terrestrial habitats.
Diet: Probably carnivorous.
Reproduction: Ornamented eggs deposited in exuvium.
Observation Methods: DIC and PC.
Wikipedia

 Photo Gallery for Paramacrobiotus halei - No common name

Photos: 6

Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Embryonate egg, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Habitus, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Habitus, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Head, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws IV, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Buccal apparatus, DIC