Milnesium
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| Milnesium Temporal range: | |
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| SEM image of Milnesium tardigradum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Tardigrada |
| Class: | Eutardigrada |
| Order: | Apochela |
| Family: | Milnesiidae |
| Genus: | Milnesium Doyère, 1840 [1] |
Milnesium, also known as Milnesium Doyère, 1840 named after Louis Michel François Doyère[2] is a genus of tardigrades. Milnesium exhibits tardigrade species with multi-legged, multi-clawed, and segmented morphology. Species of Milnesium are common with the most known, M. tardigradum, being found in a wide variety of habitats across the world.[3][4] Milnesium has a fossil record extending back to the Cretaceous with the oldest species found being known from Turonian stage deposits on the east coast of the United States.[5]
External Morphology
Milnesium species of tardigrades are segmented, eight-legged, clawed, microfauna. As a genus in Eutardigrada, they are considered large in body size. Their bodily covering exhibit varying and distinct structure and textures between species.[6] Their claws are made up of posterior and anterior primary and secondary claws with primary claws being long and slender and secondary claws being short and not as slender.[7] Like other tardigrades, they can enter into a state of cryptobiosis and utilize intrinsically disordered proteins when experiencing extreme environments.[8]
Buccopharyngeal Apparatus
Milnesium species have one of two unique valvular systems part of the bucco-pharyngeal apparatus that assist with feeding. Type 1 is characterized with the pharyngeal bulb and buccal tube flaps opening outwards like an umbrella and Type 2 exhibits the pharyngeal bulb and buccal tube flaps opening inwards towards the pharynx and the lumen.[7]