Maritime tardigrades (III) Okay, it is tiny and it is definitely not splendid. Nevertheless we
present this image with pride, as it depicts a small maritime
baby tardigrade. Small because it is a baby and, in addition small because
it belongs to a small stature Batillipes species. |
Maritime baby tardigrade (Batillipes sp.),
far off from its Atlantic Ocean home sand, born in a toothbrush glass positioned
on a Munich window-sill.
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It is reassuring that we are still able to find the usual
eight legs. Eye pigment is missing in the case of Batillipes, understandable
as it houses within the spaces between sand grains. |
Batillipes sp. tardigrade, head region. Image width less than 50 µm. |
The clip below shows the pendulum movements of the head and the
different role of the fourth pair of legs which is not being used here. |
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In the next issue we will have ac loser look at the adhesive discs. Batillipes is one of those very rare animals on earth which are able to walk on wet glass and moreover stick to it like glued when necessary. |
© Text, images and video clips by
Martin Mach (webmaster@baertierchen.de).
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