TARDIGRADE KEY

Stellariscus

Gąsiorek, P., Suzuki, A.C., Kristensen, R.M., Lachowska-Cierlik, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2018) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: Stellariscus gen. nov. (Heterotardigrada : Echiniscidae) from Far East Asia. Invertebrate Systematics, 32, 1234–1247.

Class: Heterotardigrada

Order: Echiniscoidea

Family: Echiniscidae

Click taxa for descriptions

Genus description from Gąsiorek et al. 2018: “Small echiniscids with black eyes. Very long, rigid buccal tube lacking stylet supports. Only cephalic cirri present. Two pairs of segmental plates, unpaired scapular + caudal plates, and three median plates on the dorsum. Incisions (notches) on the caudal plate. No pseudosegmental plates. Sculpture composed of large intra-cuticular pillars connected by striae; pillars protruding to the epicuticle and visible as broad granules on cuticle surface. Eight rows of ventral plates of two types: typical polygonal plates and oval or triangular plates with thickened rimms. Stubby primary and secondary clavae. Gonochoristic and sexually dimorphic.”

Gąsiorek, P., Suzuki, A.C., Kristensen, R.M., Lachowska-Cierlik, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2018) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: Stellariscus gen. nov. (Heterotardigrada : Echiniscidae) from Far East Asia. Invertebrate Systematics, 32, 1234–1247.
Gąsiorek, P., Suzuki, A.C., Kristensen, R.M., Lachowska-Cierlik, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2018) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: Stellariscus gen. nov. (Heterotardigrada : Echiniscidae) from Far East Asia. Invertebrate Systematics, 32, 1234–1247.
Gąsiorek, P., Suzuki, A.C., Kristensen, R.M., Lachowska-Cierlik, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2018) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: Stellariscus gen. nov. (Heterotardigrada : Echiniscidae) from Far East Asia. Invertebrate Systematics, 32, 1234–1247.

Citations:

Gąsiorek, P., Suzuki, A.C., Kristensen, R.M., Lachowska-Cierlik, D. & Michalczyk, Ł. (2018) Untangling the Echiniscus Gordian knot: Stellariscus gen. nov. (Heterotardigrada : Echiniscidae) from Far East Asia. Invertebrate Systematics, 32, 1234–1247.

Restart Search

Digits

Note: If specimen has pads instead of digits, select “Pads”

Cephalic cirri flagellum form

Modified image from Renaud-Mornant 1982 0708 Renaud-Mornant J. 1982. Species Diversity in Marine Tardigrada. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on the Tardigrada. 149-178

Note: If unsure of form, select “Present”

Cephalic cirri scapus form

Modified image from Renaud-Mornant 1982 0708 Renaud-Mornant J. 1982. Species Diversity in Marine Tardigrada. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on the Tardigrada. 149-178

Note: If unsure of form, select “indistinct” for scapus

Cephalic cirri cirrophore form

Modified image from Renaud-Mornant 1982 0708 Renaud-Mornant J. 1982. Species Diversity in Marine Tardigrada. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on the Tardigrada. 149-178

Note: If unsure of form, select “indistinct” for cirrophore

Secondary and tertiary clavae

Image from Fujimoto S, Hansen JG. 2019. Revision of Angursa (Arthrotardigrada: Styraconyxidae) with the description of a new species from Japan. European Journal of Taxonomy. 150: 1-19.

Note: Secondary clavae can have similar forms to primary clavae. However, secondary clavae can be flat structures of varying shapes around the mouth cone area

Generalized forms of primary clavae

Arthrotardigrada generalized primary clavae form

Note: Clavae forms can vary between species

Armoured plates?

Note: Specimen can have dorsal and ventral plates. Select those that apply

Additional digit accessory structures

Arthrotardigrada digit accessory structures

Note: Specimen can have some or none of these traits. Select those that apply.

Additional claw accessory structures

Arthrotardigrada claw accessory structures

Note: Specimen can have some or none of these traits. Select those that apply.

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