Guess what this worm had for dinner

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:51 pm

Not crazy about these worms, but I always take a peek at what they have been eating. This one had an odd "lump" inside that looked somewhat familiar, and with a little closer look it's not too hard to figure it out.

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:27 am

Great photos!

A common water-flea, maybe?

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:48 am

I'm not too keen on Chaetogasters myself Charlie but I do find them to be a bit of interest when I happen to come across them also. I guess I would have to agree with Nikola, it does look like a water flea but then again it maybe something entirely different, since these things will swallow almost anything they can get their mouths around. I think if they could get there mouths around a Buick, they could swollow it.

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:42 am

C'mon guys....take another look and try harder!

hint: disregard the black blob and concentrate on the right half

Wolfgang Bettighofer · Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:17 am

Charles Krebs wrote:C'mon guys....take another look and try harder!
hint: disregard the black blob and concentrate on the right half

Hi Charles,

in Germany they are known as "Bärtierchen", Tartigrada. Whats the name in English?

Cheers, Wolfgang

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:07 am

I agree with Wolfgang that a water bear has been the meal.

BTW it is spelled Tardigrada, (from Latin gradus= pace, step and tardus= slow, languorous) so Tardigrada means "the slowly pacing ones", which describes the locomotion of the water bears).

Cheers,
Betty

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:26 am

No wonder I didn't guess! I heard about polar bears but never about water bears.

Wolfgang Bettighofer · Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:59 am

Planapo wrote: BTW it is spelled Tardigrada, (from Latin gradus= pace, step and tardus= slow, languorous) so Tardigrada means "the slowly pacing ones", which describes the locomotion of the water bears).

Cheers,
Betty

Awful mistake! I am so infinitely sorry

Sometimes we have problems with associations (French "Tarte"). We've often read about (and have seen marvellous pictures of) Cymbella prostata. But the correct name is "prostrata"

So long, Wolfgang

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:54 am

Aha Wolfgang, eine Tarte war Dir beim Tippen also im Sinn... hattest wohl das Abendbrot noch vor Dir. Und ich dachte schon, Du als Norddeutscher wärst über eine Art vornehmen spitzen Stein gestolpert, so in Richtung "Tartigrata" vielleicht!?

Nix für ungut!
Isch mid meinen süddeudschn Wurzzln muss hingegn scho´ aweng aufbassn, dass isch ned "Dardigrada" schreibn du.

(So, das sollen sich die English mother-tongue speakers hier jetzt mal selbst übersetzen!)

Tschüss!
Betty

Wolfgang Bettighofer · Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:16 pm

Planapo wrote:

Isch mid meinen süddeudschen Wurzzln muss hingegn scho´ aweng aufbassen, dass isch ned "Dardigarda" schreiben du.

Tschüss!
Betty

Also, wenn'd jetzt scho amol so a'gfana hosch: Meine Wurzln sin o recht süddeutsch...
Servus, Wolfgang

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:50 pm

Ah...okay, I see the little feet now. A Water Bear, I would never have guessed.

beetleman · Post by **beetleman** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:00 pm

Yep those are the toes of a water bear.....

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:19 pm

Englisch bitte! ... or I will start Croatian. Just kidding