Milnesium tardigradum

Milnesium tardigradum
SEM image of Milnesium tardigradum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Tardigrades
Class:	Eutardigrada
Order:	Apochela
Family:	Milnesiidae
Genus:	Milnesium
Species:	M. tardigradum
Binomial name
Milnesium tardigradum Doyère, 1840

Milnesium tardigradum is a cosmopolitan species of tardigrade that can be found in a diverse range of environments. M. tardigradum has also been found in the sea around Antarctica. M. tardigradum was described by Doyère in 1840. M. tardigradum contains unidentified osmolytes which could potentially provide important information in the process of cryptobiosis.

Description

Morphology

M. tardigradum has a symmetrical body with a total of eight legs. The M. tardigradum utilize claws, a distinctive feature for this tardigrade species. The total length of the body varies, with some measuring up to 0.7 millimeters in length.

M. tardigradum has been found to have a high level of radioresistance. In 2007, individuals of two tardigrade species, Richtersius coronifer and M. tardigradum, were subject to the radiation, near-vacuum and near-absolute zero conditions of outer space as part of the European Space Agency's Biopan-6 experiment. Three specimens of M. tardigradum survived. The M. tardigradum is able to cope with high amounts of environmental stress by initiating cryptobiosis. It is found that during this state, the internal organic clock of the M. tardigradum halts, thus the cryptobiotic state does not contribute to the aging process.

Nutrition

M. tardigradum is an omnivorous predator. It typically feeds on other small organisms such as algae, rotifers, and nematodes. There have also been recorded cases of M. tardigradum feeding on other smaller tardigrades.

Evolution

M. tardigradum has been phylogenetically linked to arthropods. Although the extent of the relationship is still debated, there is evidence that tardigrades and arthropods have a close evolutionary history.

Habitat

The biogeographical distribution of M. tardigradum is large. The species occupies mostly aquatic environments such as marine, coastal and terrestrial areas. The exact distribution of M. tardigradum is difficult to analyze due to the difficulty in taxonomy and the lack of sufficient data.

Reproduction and development

M. tardigradum reproduces both sexually and through parthenogenesis. The exact mating behavior of tardigrades is difficult to reproduce under artificial conditions, hence the frequency and time of reproduction is not fully understood. It is unknown if and when there is a mating season for M. tardigradum.

Females lay up to twelve eggs which hatch after several days (around five to sixteen days). The development of the newly hatched larvae is marked by various molting stages, rather than metamorphosis. The time frame of these molting stages vary from each tardigrade as it is dependent on the nutrition of the specific individual. Once the molting stages are complete, the larva tardigrade attempts to find an ideal location to initiate ecdysis. Some eggs may left in the discarded exuvia. Tardigrades have been shown to respond to different temperature changes at different developmental stages. Specifically, the younger the egg the less likely it is to survive extreme environments. However, not too long after development, tardigrades will demonstrate a remarkable ability to withstand these conditions. In order to survive such conditions, tardigrades need time to develop important cellular structures and repair mechanisms.

References

External identifiers for Milnesium tardigradum
Encyclopedia of Life	1053491