Die Feinstruktur des Integumentes und der Muskelansatzstellen von Echiniscoides sigismundi (Heterotardigrada)

Abstract

The structure of the integument and the muscle attachments of the marine heterotardigrade E. sigismundi (M. Schultze) was studied by electron microscopy. The cuticle consists of several layers: an outer tripartite (or multilayered) epicuticle, perhaps with an outermost coat; a homogeneous inner epicuticle; a trilaminated layer; an intracuticle; and a fibrous procuticle. These features resemble the cuticle described in Eutardigrada; in contrast, areas on the legs and near the claws, with an outer multilayered epicuticle and a striated layer (inner epicuticle), are - as far as investigated - more similar to the cuticle in Heterotardigrada. The epidermis consists of a single cell layer without glands. The muscle attachments are in line with the general pattern described in the eutardigrade Macrobiotus hufelandi and in Arthropoda. © 1975 Biologischen Anstalt Helgoland.