MURRAYIDAE Guidetti, Rebecchi & Bertolani, 2000

Eutardigrades without cephalic papillae. Epicuticular layer not compact due to the presence of pillar-like structures (Fig. 25 A). The two diploclaws of each leg, similar in shape and size to each other, are symmetrically arranged with respect to the median plane of the leg (conventionally described as: 2112). The diploclaws have the two branches diverging immediately after a short common basal section (Fig. 25 B,C,D). In all known genera the buccal tube is rigid and asymmetrical with respect to the frontal plane due to the presence of a ventral lamina (Fig. 25 E). Ten peribuccal lamellae are present in all the known genera with the sagittal plane passing through the medio-dorsal lamella and the medio-ventral one (Fig. 2); peribuccal papulae absent.

Types of claws. Three types of claws are known within the family.

1) The Murrayon type (= pullari type) (Fig. 25 B)

The basal section of the diploclaw is a trapezoidal lamina (Bertolani & Pilato, 1988). The primary and the secondary branches are joined to each other for a very short portion and form an acute angle (V shaped claws).

2) The Dactylobiotus type (= macronyx type) (Fig. 25 C)

The basal section of the diploclaw is a trapezoidal lamina (Bertolani & Pilato, 1988). The secondary branch is clearly shorter than the primary branch and inserted near the base of the latter. The two branches form an almost right angle (Guidetti et al., 2000 defined this type of claws as “L-shaped claws”).

3) The Macroversum type (Fig. 25 D)

The basal section of the diploclaw is subdivided into a thin, flexible, stem and a distal portion that is not very sclerotised (Pilato & Catanzaro, 1988). The primary and the secondary branches are connected to each other for a short portion and form an almost right angle (Guidetti et al., 2000 defined this type of claws as “Lshaped claws”).