Macrotrachela pinnigera ( Murray, 1908 )

Song, Min Ok & Lee, Chang-Ho, 2020, Descriptions of two new species of Philodina (Rotifera, Bdelloidea), with notes on seven rare bdelloids from Korea, Zootaxa 4772 (2), pp. 253-276 : 265

Macrotrachela pinnigera ( Murray, 1908)

Figure 7a

Material. Four specimens found in dry leaf litters and mosses around Moss valley area in Mugeon-ri, Dogye-eup, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do.

The general morphology of this species is similar to that of Macrotrachela multispinosa crassispinosa (Murray) except the following characteristics: (1) M. multispinosa crassispinosa has the appendages on the dorsal area of trunk, which are absent in M. pinnigera ; and (2) the appendages on lateral or posterior margins of trunk pseudosegments of M. pinnigera are much bigger, stouter, and wider than the spines on trunk pseudosegments of M. multispinosa crassispinosa . While the appendages on the Korean specimens are not fin-shaped and narrower than those of the South African and Ugandan specimens ( Murray 1908; 1911), they are very close to those of the Indonesian specimens ( Bartoš 1963, p. 40, Pl. 3, Fig. G) in that the appendages on lateral margins are with wide bases and tapering gradually to pointed tips, and the ones on posterior margin of anal trunk pseudosegment are leaf-shaped.

This species is also close to Macrotrachela serrulata (Murray) ; however, the lower margins of the appendages on trunk of this species are not serrated and the integument of trunk is not heavily granulated in this species.

This species is very rare and has been reported only from two countries, Indonesia ( Bartoš 1963) and South Africa ( Murray 1911), after the description from Uganda ( Murray 1908).

Measurements. Total length in creeping 214–342 μm. Greatest trunk width 78–131 μm. Trophi length 21 μm.

Figures

FIGURE 7. (a) Macrotrachela pinnigera (Murray, 1908), trunk, dorsal view; (b) Macrotrachela zickendrahti seda Donner, 1965, trunk, dorsal view (scale bars: a–b = 50 μm).