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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Pelodinium

Pelodinium Lauterborn, 1908 (ref. ID; 2014)

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

[ref. ID; 2014]
Reniform, laterally compressed body with rigid, ribbed, armour-like pellicle. Anterior part of body twisted to left. Posterior end rounded with a small hollow surrounded by several (about 6) blunt spines. Somatic cilia long and dense, present in 8 longitudinal but somewhat oblique rows. Somatic kineties interspersed with cilia-free weakly developed longitudinal ribs. Perizonal ciliary complex present as 5 upper single and 2 lower double rows of cilia. Buccal cavity, seen only from the left side, has a tooth-like spine situated above it. No cirri present. Macronucleus in one or two parts but never more. Sapropelic. Most easily confused with Epalxella in which the posterior spines and terminal hollow are prominent. Furthermore the somatic cilia in Epalxella do not extend to the equator of the cell. Single species genus.
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. Pelodinium reniforme Lauterborn, 1908 (ref. ID; 1219, 1335, 1621, 1629, 4610) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)
    Syn; Epalxis penardi Wetzel, 1928 (ref. ID; 4610)

Pelodinium reniforme Lauterborn, 1908 (ref. ID; 1219, 1335, 1621, 1629, 4610) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)

Synonym

Epalxis penardi Wetzel, 1928 (ref. ID; 4610)

Descriptions

Body carapaced; dorsal side convex; 1 spine ventrally in front of the buccal area, and 6 spines surrounding a small hollow at the posterior pole; perizonal ciliary stripe consisting 7 rows of cilia; 4 shortened longitudinal rows in the posterior half of the cell; buccal cavity opens ventrally to the left side; 2 macronuclei and 1 micronucleus close to the dorsal side; 1 contractile vacuole in the posterior region, refractile granules at the anterior pole. (ref. ID; 1219)

Measurements

Length 40-50 um. (ref. ID; 1219, 1618)