Phylum Tardigrada Class Eutardigrada Family Milnesiidae Genus species Milnesium tardigradum	Phylum Tardigrada Class Eutardigrada Family Milnesiidae Genus species Milnesium sp.
All legs have two paris of claws each of which has 4 branches. One branch on each claw is longer than the other three. The 6 peribuccal lamellae are of equal size.	All legs have two paris of legs. Legs 1-3 have an outer claw with three branches (one long and 2 short) and an inner claw with 4 branches (1 long and 3 short). On the fourth pair of legsm this is reversed, with the outer claw having 4 branches and the inner 3. Two of the buccal lamellae are smaller than the other 4. The * indicates a small peribuccal lamella.
Until this discovery, this species was the only known Milnesium from North America	Congratulations! You may have found an animal of the NEW species of tardigrade. Click HERE to contact the mentors.
The genus Milnesium contains 3 other species which have never been reported for North America. These include M. tetralamellatum , M. brachyungue,and M. eurystomum.