Peridiscophrya
Peridiscophrya Nozawa, 1938 (ref. ID; 2013, 3475 original paper)
Class Kinetofragminophora: Subclass Suctoria: Order Suctorida: Suborder Evaginogenina (ref. ID; 2013)
[ref. ID; 2013]
Body cylindrical and entirely covered by a tough pellicle-like lorica. Posteriorly the lorica is constricted and extended to form a stalk-like region although it never possesses a true stalk as in Discophrya. The capitate tentacles are restricted to and distributed over the anterior face of the animal. Small sand grains and other foreign objects often adhere to the pellicle. The macronucleus is band-shaped and irregularly branched. There are up to 4 contractile vacuoles. Originally found growing on the shell of the mollusc Viviparus in Japan.
Easily confused with Discophrya which is attached by a definite stalk not by a extension of the lorica. Could be synonymous with Discophrya according to the newer diagnosis of the latter genus by Matthes (1954).
Quote; Colin R. Curds "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part I Ciliophora: Kinetofragminophora" Cambridge University Press, 1982 (ref. ID; 2013)
- Peridoscophrya japonica Nozawa, 1938 (ref. ID; 3475 original paper)
- Peridoscophrya linguifera (ref. ID; 191)
Descriptions
The body is cylindrical, or like a human finger. The pellicle is coriaceous, tough and envelops the whole plasmic body. It is constricted slightly near the posterior end in the form of a stalk which is up to one-third as long as the body, and shows no fibrillose structure. However, the animalcule never possesses a real stalk; in this respect the new genus may be distinguished from Collin's second group of Discophrya which is provided with a distinct stalk. The posterior part may appear like a real stalk in some examples, but an acetocarmine preparation reveals very clearly that this is no more than a prolongation of the pellicle as in the case of Periacineta. Small sand-grains and other foreign particles often adhere to the pellicle. The macronucleus is band-shaped and branched irregularly. The contractile vacuoles are multiple, up to 4 in number. The sucking tentacles are 10 to 40 in number and distinguished evenly on the anterior end of the body; they are distinctly capitated and as long as the body. (ref. ID; 3475)
Type locality
On the shells of Viviparus found in a pond Husimi (Rokuzizo), Kyoto (May 1937). (ref. ID; 3475)
Measurements
Length of body 45-70, breadth of body 23-35, length of stalk-shaped end 7-13, its breadth 10-17 um. (ref. ID; 3475)