TARDIGRADE KEY

Author: allison

Diphasconinae

“Eutardigrades with buccopharyngeal apparatus of Diphascon-type and anterior apophyses shaped as “blunt” or “semilunar” hooks (see Pilato 1987). Posteriodorsal apodeme (“drop-like” structure) present or absent, pharyngeal apophyses present. Asymmetrical claws of Hypsibiidae-type. Eggs either deposited into [shedded] cuticle and smooth or layed freely and with ornamented shells.” Dastych H. 1992. Paradiphascon manningi gen. n. sp. […]

Hypsibiidae

Hypsibiidae from Pilato 1969: “Senza alcuna appendice cefalica. Le due diplounghie di ciascuna zampa sono disposte asimmetricamente rispetto al piano mediano della zampa stessa e posssono essere di tipo Isohypsibius o di tipo Hypsibius. In ogni zampa le due diplounghie sono talvolta quasi uguali fra loro ma molto spesso profondamente diverse per forma e dimensioni. […]

Calohypsibiidae

Calohypsibiidae from Pilato 1969: “Senza alcuna appendice cefalica. Le due diplounghie di ciascuna zampa sono disposte asimmetricamente rispetto al piano mediano della zampa stessa e sono di tipo Calohypsibius. In ogni zampa le due diplounghie sono uguali per forma e poco diverse fra loro per dimensioni; finora non si conoscono specie provviste di lunule. (La […]

Hypsibioidea

Hypsibioidea from Pilato 1969 in Marley et al. 2011: “Parachela; claws asymmetrical (2121); Hypsibius-type claw pairs; AISM hooked (or, if the buccal tube is elongated, AISM can be broad ridges).” Hypsibioidea from Bertolani et al. 2014: “Double claws asymmetrical with respect to the median plane of the leg (2121), the external (or posterior) claw often with flexible main branch; double claws […]

Parachela

limno-terrestrial and marine species, one fossil species{Complete double claws on the legs with secondary claw branch joined to theprimary branch (secondary branch normally developed, reduced, or absent), ordouble claws completely lost. Buccal tube completely rigid, or subdivided intorigid and annulated flexible portions (pharyngeal tube); ventral lamina present orabsent; peribuccal and cephalic papillae absent; pharyngeal bulb […]

Eohypsibioidea

{Double claws similar in shape and arranged asymmetrically with respect to themedian plane of the leg (conventionally described as sequence 2121); claws may beof similar size; double claws of Eohypsibiidae type (¼Bertolanius type): subdividedinto three distinct sections, basal section, secondary branch and primary branch(rigidly joined to the secondary branch), one on top of the other […]

Eohypsibiidae

Eohypsibiidae from Marley et al. 2011: Eohypsibiidae-type claws, which are clearly delineated by septa, in linear order, from basal section, secondary branch and primary branch. The angle between basal section, secondary branch and primary branches are different between claws on the same leg and the internal claw can rotate on its base by 180°. Need description here […]

Milnesiidae

Milnesiidae, from Schuster et al. 1980: “…which has cephalic papillae and has claws with well-separated primary and secondary branches…” {as the order} (Bertolani et al. 2014) (Degma P, Guidetti R. 2018. Tardigrade Taxa. In: Water Bears: The biology of tardigrades. Schill RO, Editor. Switzerland: Springer Nature. p. 371-409. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-95702-9_15.) Citations: Schuster RO, Nelson DR, […]

Apochela

limno-terrestrial species, one fossil species{Double claws of Milnesiidae type (primary and secondary branches are completelyseparated). Buccal tube completely rigid, or subdivided into rigid and flexibleportions, or completely flexible; ventral lamina absent; six peribuccal papilae andsix or only four peribuccal lamellae present; two lateral papillae on the head(cephalic papillae) present; apophyses for the insertion of the […]

Claw Symmetry Relative To Median Plane Of Leg?

Image from Bingemer J, Hohberg K. 2017. An illustrated identification key to the eutardigrade species (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada) presently known from European soils. Soil Organisms. 89 (3): 127-149.

Stylet Support Insertion Point As Percentage Of Buccal Tube Length

Stylet support insertion point = ss divided by Buccal tube length, as %. Note anterior measurements begin at anterior margin of stylet sheaths, ss is centred where stylet supports reach buccal tube (this requires a good dorsal or lateral view for proper measurement)

Image from Tumanov DV. 2006. Five new species of the genus Milnesium (Tardigrada, Eutardigrada, Milnesiidae). Zootaxa. 1122: 1-23.

Buccal Tube Long, Mouth At Anterior Of A Protrusible Snout

Images from Pilato G, Binda MG. 2010. Definition of families, subfamilies, genera, and subgenera of the Eutardigrada, and keys to their identification. Zootaxa. 2404: 1-54.

Pharyngeal Tube With Spiral Reinforcement

Images from Pilato G, Binda MG. 2010. Definition of families, subfamilies, genera, and subgenera of the Eutardigrada, and keys to their identification. Zootaxa. 2404: 1-54.

Peribuccal papillae?

Images from Pilato G, Binda MG. 2010. Definition of families, subfamilies, genera, and subgenera of the Eutardigrada, and keys to their identification. Zootaxa. 2404: 1-54.

(Lateral) cephalic papillae, peribuccal papillae, Milnesiidae - type claws, exceptionally wide (and usually short) buccal tube?

Cephalic image modified from Nelson DR, Guidetti R, Rebecchi L. 2009. Tardigrada. Ch. 14 in Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, Thorp JH, Covich AP (eds.), 3rd ed.

Claw image modified from Pilato G, Binda MG. 2010. Definition of families, subfamilies, genera, and subgenera of the Eutardigrada, and keys to their identification. Zootaxa. 2404: 1-54.

Pharyngeal tube flexible?

Note: in a tardigrade with snout extended, the flex of the pharyngeal tube may not be obvious.

Images from Pilato G, Binda MG. 2010. Definition of families, subfamilies, genera, and subgenera of the Eutardigrada, and keys to their identification. Zootaxa. 2404: 1-54.

Serrated / dentate cuff / collar on legs IV

Left image from Kristensen RM. 1987. Generic revision of the Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada), with a discussion of the origin of the family. pp. 261-335 in Bertolani R (ed). Biology of Tardigrades: Selected symposia and monographs.

Right Image from Richters F. 1926. Tardigrada. in Krumbach T. 1927. Handbuch der Zoologie, 3rd band, Walter de Gruyter & Co.

Leg sensory structures

Typically papilla on leg IV (se4 in image) and variable shape on leg I

Image from Kristensen RM. 1987. Generic revision of the Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada), with a discussion of the origin of the family. pp. 261-335 in Bertolani R (ed). Biology of Tardigrades: Selected symposia and monographs.

Trunk appendages

Appendages (after Cirrus A) labeled according to plate … B (Scapular plate), C (First segmental plate), D (Second segmental plate), E (terminal plate). “B” is lateral, “Bd” is dorsal

Be careful! There can be great variability within a population, with individuals (especially juveniles) lacking some appendages. When in doubt, focus on other characters first!

Left image from Ramazzotti G, Maucci W. 1983. Il phylum Tardigrada(III edizione riveduta e aggiornata). English translation by C. W. Beasley, 1995. Memorie dell’ Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia 41: 1-1012.

Right image cropped from Kristensen RM. 1987. Generic revision of the Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada), with a discussion of the origin of the family. pp. 261-335 in Bertolani R (ed). Biology of Tardigrades: Selected symposia and monographs.

Cirrus A form

Images modified from Kristensen RM. 1987. Generic revision of the Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada), with a discussion of the origin of the family. pp. 261-335 in Bertolani R (ed). Biology of Tardigrades: Selected symposia and monographs.

Lower image (Mopsechiniscus) modified from du Bois-Reymond Marcus E. 1944. Sobre tardigrados brasileiros. Communicaciones Zoologicas del Museo de Historia Natural de Montevideo. 1(13): 1-19 plus plates.

Terminal / caudal plate with two notches?

Images modified from Kristensen RM. 1987. Generic revision of the Echiniscidae (Heterotardigrada), with a discussion of the origin of the family. pp. 261-335 in Bertolani R (ed). Biology of Tardigrades: Selected symposia and monographs.

First image (Echiniscus) modified from Richters F. 1926. Tardigrada. in Krumbach T. 1927. Handbuch der Zoologie, 3rd band, Walter de Gruyter & Co.

Inner & outer buccal cirri present

Image modified from Nelson DR, Guidetti R, Rebecchi L. 2009. Tardigrada. Ch. 14 in Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, Thorp JH, Covich AP (eds.), 3rd ed.

Pseudosegmental plate between last medial plate & terminal plate?

Note on 2nd image, what you see before the terminal plate is either no plate, or a full-width medial plate; don’t confuse the latter with a pseudosegmental plate!
Also, sometimes the pseudosegmental plate is paired, like segmental plates II & III. It’s still pseudosegmental!

Images from Clifford HF. 1991. Aquatic invertebrates of Alberta. University of Alberta Press, Alberta, Canada.

Segmental plates larger than intersegmental?

Image modified from Lindahl & Balser (1999), http://www.iwu.edu/~tardisdp/Keypage35.html

Any Paired Plates?

Modified from Lindahl K, Balser S.  1999. Key to tardigrade genera [Internet]. Available from: https://sun.iwu.edu/~tardisdp/Keypage33.html