Abstract
The cuticles of the heterotardigrade Echiniscus testudo and the eutardigrades Macrobiotus hufelandi and Milnesium tardigradum have been studied using freeze-fracture technique. Most of the layers seen in conventional TEM micrographs can be visualized. There is no clear evidence that the trilaminar components of the cuticle such as the outer epicuticle and the tripartite layer separating epi- and intracuticle or procuticle (whose membranous origin has been suggested by previous authors) fracture like a lipid bilayer. Microfibres not resolved or only poorly resolved by TEM can be recognized in the procuticle of all three species. Obviously their visualization depends upon the fracture angle. In Echiniscus testudo and Milnesium tardigradum the intracuticle or at least parts of it show a wavy arrangement of microfibres. Parts of the ventral intracuticle of E. testudo fracture in an obviously non-random pattern revealing distinct sublayers.
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