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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Epalxella

Epalxella Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 2014)

Class Polyhymenophora: Subclass Spirotricha: Order Odontostomatida (ref. ID; 2014)

Synonym; Epalxis Roux, 1899 (ref. ID; 2014)

[ref. ID; 2014]
Oval laterally compressed body with thick, rigid armour made up of numerous ridges and folds. Terminal pole usually ending in 6 to 8 thick, blunt spines surrounding a deep, wide hollow. Somatic ciliary rows short and never extend to the middle of the body. Cirri absent. Perizonal ciliary complex present as 5 upper single rows and 2 lower double rows of cilia. Buccal cavity with tooth-like spine on anterior edge. Often an anterior spine to body edge. Macronucleus in one to four parts, single micronucleus. Sapropelic. Most easily confused with Saprodinum which has needle-like extensions to the posterior spines, and with Atopodinium which has somatic cilia only in the posterior region of the cell.
Quote; Colin R. Curds, Michael A. Gates and David McL. Roberts "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part II Ciliophora: Oligohymenophora and Polyhymenophora" Cambridge University Press, 1983 (ref. ID; 2014)
  1. Epalxella antiquorum (Penard, 1922) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 4610)
    Syn; Epalxis antiquorum Penard, 1922 (ref. ID; 4610)
  2. Epalxella bidens (Kahl, 1932) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 4610)
    Syn; Epalxis bidens Kahl, 1932 (ref. ID; 4610)
  3. Epalxella exigua Penard (ref. ID; 3771)
  4. Epalxella mirabilis (Roux) (ref. ID; 1308, 1618) or (Roux, 1899) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 4610)
    Syn; Epalxis mirabilis Roux, 1899 (ref. ID; 4610)
  5. Epalxella oligotricha (ref. ID; 7234)
  6. Epalxella spinosa (ref. ID; 7234)
  7. Epalxella striata (Kahl, 1926) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 4610), (Kahl) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 1219)
    Syn; Epalxis striata Kahl, 1926 (ref. ID; 4610)
  1. Epalxis antiquorum Penard, 1922 (ref. ID; 1621)
  2. Epalxis elliptica Penard, 1922 (ref. ID; 1621)
  3. Epalxis exigua Penard, 1922 (ref. ID; 1621)
  4. Epalxis mirabilis Roux, 1901 (ref. ID; 1621)
  5. Epalxis striata Kahl, 1926 (ref. ID; 1335, 1621)
  6. Epalxis triangula (ref. ID; 1621)

Epalxella mirabilis (Roux) (ref. ID; 1308, 1618) or (Roux, 1899) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 4610)

Synonym

Epalxis mirabilis Roux, 1899 (ref. ID; 4610)

Descriptions

In fresh water. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

38-45 by 27-30 um. (ref. ID; 1618)

Epalxella striata (Kahl, 1926) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 4610), (Kahl) Corliss, 1960 (ref. ID; 1219)

Synonym

Epalxis striata Kahl, 1926 (ref. ID; 4610)

Descriptions

Compressed, pellicle carapaced; right side convex, left side flattened; perizonal ciliary stripe consisting of 7 rows of cilia in the anterior part of the body 4 short rows of cilia in the posterior part; buccal cavity with 8 membranelles, opening of the left side; 1 macronucleus and 1 micronucleus; the single contractile vacuole posteriorly located, near the buccal cavity; numerous retractile granules give this ciliate a greyish appearance. (ref. ID; 1219)

Measurements

Length 20-35 um. (ref. ID; 1219)