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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Sole representative of Richtersiusidae in NC
21 NC Records
Diaforobiotus n. species
- No Common Name
Habitus, PC
Taxonomy
Class:
Eutardigrada
Order:
Parachela
Family:
Richtersiusidae
Checklist Number:
1970.0
Synonym:
Diaforobiotus n. species
Taxonomic Comments:
This is a presumptive new species discovered in the GSMNP. It is very similar to Diaforobiotus islandicus, differing mainly in characteristics of the egg.
Species Notes:
Terrestrial. Only known from Great Smokies Mountains National Park. Requires fresh specimens for complete description.
Identification
Online resources:
Online Photographs:
Google
,
GBIF
Species Description:
This genus was erected in 2016. The genus characteristics are: Peribuccal lamellae (ten) and ventral lamina present. A dorsal thickening present in the anterior portion of the buccal tube, in conjunction with a large tooth on the internal surface of the tube. Some strong, scattered round teeth present posterior to the second band of teeth of the buccal armature present. (Guidetti et al. 2016). This species is very similar to D. islandicus, but differs in egg morphology.
Body Length:
unknown
Key Characters:
Adults very similar to D. islandicus, eggs with longer and fewer processes.
Key Character Images
egg, DIC
Eggs of D. islandicus
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, also collected from lichens on trees and rocks.
Abundance:
Uncommon in Bartels' Smokies survey making up 0.57% of terrestrial specimens collected.
Diet:
Omnivorous.
Reproduction:
Ornamented eggs laid externally.
Observation Methods:
PC, DIC.
Wikipedia
Photo Gallery for
Diaforobiotus n. species
- 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 apparatus, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Buccal apparatus, PC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Claws IV, DIC
Recorded by: Bartels on 2003-07-15
Haywood Co.
Comment: Cuticle with pores and claw IV