Tardigrades Taxonomic Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
Clade: ParaHoxozoa
Clade: Bilateria
Clade: Nephrozoa
(Unranked): Protostomia
Superphylum: Ecdysozoa
(Unranked): Panarthropoda
Phylum: Tardigrada (Spallanzani, 1777)
Classes:
Eutardigrada
Heterotardigrada
Mesotardigrada (questionable)
What is Tardigrada?
Tardigrades are so unique that they have been classified into their own phylum, called Tardigrada.There are about 1,300 known species in the phylum Tardigrada.
This classification reflects their distinct characteristics and evolutionary adaptations.
Tardigrades belong to the phylum Tardigrada, which means "slow steppers" in Latin, hinting at their characteristic movement. Their slow movements resembled those of a tortoise, by the famous Italian abbot and natural history professor Lazzaró Spallanzani in 1776.
Phylum Tardigrada is subdivided into two classes: Eutardigrada and Heterotardigrada. The classification of tardigrades is primarily based on the following characteristics:
Morphology of Armor
Cuticle Structure
Claws/Digits
Feeding Apparatus
Eggshell Features
Classifying Tardigrades: Key Taxonomic Groups
Tardigrades are divided into two primary classes based on distinct features:
1. Class Eutardigrada
Eutardigrades make up a significant portion of the tardigrade family tree. With a more rigid body structure, they possess a protective cuticle designed to retain moisture. Found in various habitats ranging from rich soil ecosystems to aquatic environments, Eutardigrades exemplify adaptability. For instance, studies show that about 70% of tardigrade species identified to date belong to this class.
2. Class Heterotardigrada
Heterotardigrades differ with their more flexible bodies. These creatures often find their niche in specialized habitats like marine ecosystems or spaces between sediments. Heterotardigrades exhibit considerable variation in mouthparts and feeding strategies, allowing them to exploit different ecological niches effectively. Approximately 30% of all known tardigrade species fall under this
classification.
The differences between Eutardigrada and Heterotardigrada
3.Class Mesotardigrada ?
Mesotardigrada is one of the three classes of tardigrades, comprising only one species, Thermozodium esakii. This creature is said to have six claws of equal length on each foot. The species was described in 1937 by German zoologist Gilbert Rahm from a hot spring near Nagasaki, Japan. However, taxonomists have been unable to replicate Rahm's discovery, casting doubt on the description's accuracy and rendering T. esakii, and consequently the entire class Mesotardigrada, uncertain.
TardigradeSpaceX enjoys the breathtaking beauty of sakura blossoms, symbolizing the transient nature of life.
More than one thousand Tardigrada species were included in the published checklist :
TardigradeSpaceX isn't on the list .Why?
If you are not on the Tardigrada species list, there could be several reasons for this. Here are some possible explanations:
Taxonomic Classification: You may belong to a species that has not yet been formally classified or described in scientific literature.
Research Scope: The list may only include certain regions or habitats, and your species may not be included in the studied areas.
Recent Discoveries: New species are continually being discovered and described; your species may be among the latest findings that have not yet been added to the list.
Data Limitations: The list may be based on incomplete data or outdated information, which could exclude certain species.
Misidentification: There may be a possibility of misidentifying your species, leading to its exclusion from the list.
For a more accurate understanding, it would be helpful to provide the specific list you are referring to or details about your species.
TardigradeSpaceX .So unique that it is not classified.
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