From time to time microscopy amateurs are discussing tardigrade taxonomy and
tardigrade taxonomy literature within internet forum threads. Most dialogues will end up
with a hint towards the German language monograph by Hartmut Greven (1980) or
the more expensive book by Ian M. Kinchin (1994). Both of these are nice books but
the authors definitely do not intend to present a tardigrade determination down
to species level. |
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In the case of our Thai tardigrade it is fairly easy to
determine the genus: the adhesive toes leave no doubt that it belongs
to the marine tardigrade genus Batillipes (cf.
the genus key as provided by Renaud-Mornant/Pollock, 1971). |
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No, neither stylet springs nor head geometry are helpful in this sitation. And there are no characteristic macroplacoids within the bucchal bulb like with the Macrobiotus tardigrades. Furthermore, the impressive number of sensory head appendices is common to all members of the Batillipes genus. But the hind end of the tardigrade will help us: |
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A missing tardigrade tail is considered of little importance in tardigrade taxonomy. But its presence and geometry as a rule are highly specific. Thanks to the conical tail of our Thai cuticula we are in the lucky situation to confirm a high resemblance with the species Batillipes similis as described by Erich Schulz in 1955. To our knowledge there is not other marine tardigrade species in literature with a similar conical rounded tail as the one shown here. |
In case we would like to proceed further with the taxonomy
of this particular case we will have to consult professional literature:
foremost the ~ 10 publications resulting from the offical tardigrade symposia,
some of them being terribly expensive, some very special. But there can be no doubt
that therein contained you will find the utmost tardigrade knowledge densitiy available to everybody. |
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One could continue to scrutinize the lateral lobes of the Thai tardigrade cuticula and the spurs on the hind legs. Those properties are as well in accord with the description of Batillipes similis in literature. |
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At this point we will stop the determination procedure. Otherwise we might run into the risk of losing our happy naive amateur status! |
Literature |
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Martin Mach (webmaster@baertierchen.de).
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