Trichocerca pediculus Remane, 1949

De Smet, Willem H., 2015, Rotifera from the Mediterranean Sea, with description of ten new species, Zootaxa 4028 (2), pp. 151-196 : 191-192

Trichocerca pediculus Remane, 1949

The species ( Fig. 32 A) has not been reported since its description by Remane (1949) from movable fine sand in the Bathyporeia -zone at the Kieler Bucht, Baltic Sea, and Amrum Island, North Sea ( Germany). In my samples it occurred twice in psammon, 50 and 100 m from the shoreline of Elba Island, at −10 and − 40 m; September; water temperature 21 and 23 °C.

In contrast with the original description by Remane (1949) the Mediterranean specimens showed a very weakly striated field right-dorsally in the anterior third of the trunk, delimited by two longitudinal ridges uniting posteriorly in a rounded rim. The species has a rather flexible integument as shown by the Figs 16 and 17 in Remane l.c., but the fully contracted specimens in my material displayed the ‘typical’ Trichocerca shape.

Study of the trophi by SEM ( Figs 32 B −C) shows some more minor details: the thin rod-shaped right manubrium is weakly incurved distally; the slender right uncus is accompanied by a thin, slender cylindrical tooth; the right uncus has a small porus at the distal end of the uncinal shaft, to date only reported in the major teeth of Bdelloidea ( Melone et al. 1998; see also Fig. 26 A); the massive head of the left tooth bears three small fused preuncinal teeth; suprarami with distinct sharp alula.

Measurements. Body (N=5): total length 115‒120 µm, left toe 28‒32 µm; trophi (N=4): length 35‒38 µm, left ramus 8.1‒ 9.0 µm, right ramus 8.0 µm, fulcrum 30.0‒32.0 µm, left uncus 7.4‒12.0 µm, right uncus major tooth 6.0‒9.0 µm, right uncus minor tooth 4.6−5.2 µm, left preuncinal teeth 2.0 µm, right preuncinal teeth 3.0 µm, left manubrium 28.0‒30.0 µm, right manubrium 24.0‒27.0 µm.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Lindia aequorea sp. nov. A. Female, slightly twisted, head lateral, trunk ventral; B. tail, dorsal; C. tail, distal pseudosegment and toe, lateral; D. trophi, complete set, ventral; E. epipharynx; F. left manubrium, outer view; G. uncus with preuncinal tooth; H. subuncus. Scale bars: A − C: 50 µm; D − H: 10 µm.

FIGURE 17. Lindia aequorea sp. nov., SEM photographs of trophi. A. Complete set, ventral; B. same as A, frontal; C. complete set, lateral; D. epipharynx; E. left uncus, without preuncinal tooth and subuncus; F. right uncus, with preuncinal tooth and subuncus; G. left preuncinal tooth; H. right subuncus. Scale bars: 10 µm.

FIGURE 26. Rotaria laticeps Wulfert, SEM photographs of trophi. A. Frontal view; B. caudal view. Scale bar: 10 µm.

FIGURE 32. Trichocerca pediculus Remane. A. Female, lateral; B. SEM photographs of trophi, complete set, dorsal; C. detail left incus and uncus, lateral; D. detail right ramus and uncus, lateral. Scale bars: A: 50 µm; B − D: 10 µm.