TARDIGRADE KEY

Nebularmis

Gąsiorek, P., Morek, W., Stec, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2019) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: paraphyly of the “arctomys group” (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae). Cladistics, 35, 633-653.

Class: Heterotardigrada

Order: Echiniscoidea

Family: Echiniscidae

Click taxa for descriptions

Genus description from Gąsiorek et al. 2019: “Small to medium-sized echiniscids with red granulate eyes. Long, rigid and thick buccal tube lacking stylet supports. Cirrophores of the cephalic cirri weakly outlined. Only cephalic cirri present. Two pairs of segmental plates and two median plates. Incisions (notches) on caudal plate. Pseudosegmental plates absent. Ventral plates present, developed as subcephalic and genital plates. Ventral cuticle wrinkled. Dorsal plate sculpture composed of the intracuticular sponge layer and large epicuticular, round or slightly hexagonal flat granules (synapomorphy with Viridiscus gen. nov.). Additionally, occasional sparse intracuticular pillars may be visible in some portions of the dorsal plates, especially in the scapular plate. Long, sabre-like claws. Parthenogenetic. Larvae and juveniles with minute sparse pores and densely covered with
intracuticular pillars, adults poreless.”

Genus description from Gąsiorek et al. 2021: “Small- to medium-sized echiniscids with red granulate eyes. Long, rigid and thick buccal tube lacking stylet supports. Cirrophores of the cephalic cirri weakly outlined. Only cephalic cirri present. Two pairs of segmental plates and three median plates. Incisions (notches) on caudal plate. Pseudosegmental plates absent. Dorsal plate sculpture composed of an intracuticular sponge layer and large epicuticular, round or slightly hexagonal flat granules that may be connected by striae. Additionally, occasional sparse intracuticular pillars and/or micropores may be visible in some portions of the dorsal plates, especially in the scapular plate. Ventral plates present, developed as subcephalic and genital plates. Ventral cuticle wrinkled. Long, sabre-like claws. Larvae and juveniles with minute sparse pores and densely arranged intracuticular pillars in the dorsal plates.”

Gąsiorek, P., Morek, W., Stec, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2019) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: paraphyly of the “arctomys group” (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae). Cladistics, 35, 633-653.
Gąsiorek, P., Morek, W., Stec, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2019) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: paraphyly of the “arctomys group” (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae). Cladistics, 35, 633-653.

Citations:

Gąsiorek, P., Morek, W., Stec, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2019) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: paraphyly of the “arctomys group” (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae). Cladistics, 35, 633-653.

Gąsiorek, P., Vončina, K., Ciosek, J., Veloso, M., Fontoura, P. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2021) New Indomalayan Nebularmis species (Heterotardigrada: Echiniscidae) provoke a discussion on its intrageneric diversity. Zoological Letters 7:6; https://doi.org/10.1186/s40851-021-00172-0

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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