The genus Macrobiotus (tardigrada) |
Macrobiotus tardigrade. Anterior part of the body. |
The definition of the genus Macrobiotus was established
by Schultze. In 1834 he described the first species of the genus
Macrobiotus, Macrobiotus hufelandi.
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The most important characteristic property of Macrobiotus tardigrades are the kind of branching and the symmetry of the claws: |
Claws of a Macrobiotus tardigrade. After Marcus (see literature) |
The parts of the pharyngeal apparatus are important for taxonomy as well: |
Fig.: Pharyngeal apparatus of a Macrobiotus tardigrade (Macrobiotus cf. hufelandi). |
Macrobiotus tardigrades as a rule move much more quickly than e.g. the red, armoured echiniscus tardigrades (see title image of the Water Bear web base). Their body colour is white or brownish in incident light, transparent in transmitted light, never red. The stomach contents can be green. Walter Maucci (see literature) counts about 93 Macrobiotus species worldwide. |
Typical visual appearance of a Marcrobiotus tardigrade. |
© Photomicrographs and illustration (following Marcus) by Martin Mach |
Literature:
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