Batillipes Research Articles

Batillipes pennaki Marcus, 1946 (Arthrotardigrada: Batillipedidae): deciphering a species complex.

Batillipes pennaki has been considered a common and a cosmopolitan marine tardigrade species. However, the original diagnosis of this species is very incomplete, and consequently there is a high probability of incorrect records. Therefore, a comparative analysis of quantitative and qualitative morphological characters among eight different populations from the Atlantic basin was done in this study to investigate if B. pennaki is a complex of similar species, each with a restricted distribution range. The result of discriminant analyses showed clear morphometric differences between populations that were arranged into three main groups, distinguishing Western Atlantic populations, Eastern Atlantic populations and a Mediterranean population. Furthermore, the result of analyses of morphological structures revealed peculiarities of some traits with taxonomic relevance, such as leg IV sensory organs and primary clavae, consistent with the clusters revealed by quantitative data, allowing us to distinguish three different pseudocryptic species and supporting the hypothesis that B. pennaki is a species complex.

Evaluation of a Secondary Sex Character in Eutardigrades

Evaluation of a Secondary Sex Character in Eutardigrades

Osservazioni su Alcuni Tardigradi di una Spiaggia Pugliese e Descrizione di Batillipes Adriaticus Sp. Nov. (Heterotardigrada)

En In addition to Batillipes pennaki Marcus, B. annulatus de Zio and Halechiniscus remanei Schulz, in a beach of Southern Italy, adults and larvae of Orxeliscus belopus du Boiseimond Marcus,B.annulatus and B. adriaticus sp. nov. have been found. In these species sexual dimorphism has been clearly observed only at gonoporus level. Chromosomal number 2n=10 was observed by AA. in Batillipes pennaki, B.annulatus and Halechiniscus remanei.

Distribution and dynamics of interstitial Tardigrada at Woods Hole, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Abstract Year-round studies were made of marine interstitial Tardigrada at Crane's Beach. The dominant assemblage of tardigrades, in typically low diversity, included Batillipes pennaki, B. bullacaudatus, B. dicrocercus, and Stygarctus granulatus. Despite peripheral co-occurrences, each species occupied a specific portion of the intertidal beach. S. granulatus occurred deep in sand in the upper one half of the beach, while the Batillipes species were more superficial. Abundant B. pennaki was flanked n its mid-beach position by common B. bullacaudatus in the upper half of the beach and by seasonal B. dicrocercus in the lower half. In winter, B. pennaki was found deeper in the sand; B. bullacaudatus moved closer to the low tidal line ; and S. granulatus remained deep within the sand. While year-round reproduction and availability of tardigrades occurred, densities were maximal either in spring and fall (B. bullacaudatus) or throughout the summer and fall (B. pennaki and S. granulatus). Concentrations of tar...