After hatching we will become aware
ot the fact that the cuticula is drastically oversized thus allowing the
baby to grow considerably before a moulting phase will become necessary (Fig. 5).
Otherwise it might have not enough fat resources and starve during
the first moultuing phase. The claws at the last pair of legs are huge
in relation to the overall body size (Abb. 6), the spherical floating
storage cells in the body fluid still very small. A view of the mouth opening
reveals the hexagonal array of mouth papillae (Fig. 7) and it becomes obvious
that they are vary different in size, with Fig. 7 showing only the three upper
(dorsal) papillae.
Also the two cheek papillae can be seen already in this early phase of life (again Fig. 7).
Fig. 8 presents the bucchal apparatus, already fully developped, with
pear shaped pharynx, stylets, stylet supports and the broad bucchal tube.
We have already learnt that Milnesium can make use of it and devour
tiny tardigrades as a whole thus exhibiting a mother-nature brute
carnivore behaviour. From the first moments in their
lifes the Milnesium babies check on everything in their environment in order
to find out whether it might serve as nutrition.
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