Sense Organs of Two Marine Arthrotardigrades (Heterotardigrada, Tardigrada)

Abstract

The sense organs of the marine arthrotardigrades Halechiniscus greveni Renaud-Mornant & Deroux and Batillipes noerrevangi Kristensen were investigated with the aid of interference phase-contrast and transmission electron microscopy. The sense organs of the two species are quite different in outer cuticular morphology, but the inner cellular parts are constructed after the same model: the arthropod sensory setae. All investigated sensilla contained ciliary structures. Regeneration of the cirri during moult is very similar to the regeneration process in insects and spiders, but in the two arthrotardigrades the trichogen cell is not retracted from the cuticular part of the setae after moult. The clava is presumed to be olfactory; the cephalic cirri and the leg spines are contact chemoreceptors with one mechanoreceptive cilium terminating at the sensillum shaft. Cirrus E is compared with the trichobothrium of arthropods and the phylogenetic implications of the investigated structures are discussed.