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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Rabdiophrys

Rabdiophrys Rainer, 1968 (ref. ID; 3541 original paper)

Phylum Rhizopoda von Siebold, 1845: Class Filosea Leidy, 1879: Order Cristidiscoidida Page, 1987: Family Pompholyxophryidae Page, 1987 (ref. ID; 4747)

[ref. ID; 4747]
Diagnosis; Cells covered with both plate- and spine-scales. The cell diameter is 25-40 um; the diameter of the plate-scales is 1.5-5.5 um. The plate-scales consist of two layers, which are fused peripherally, elsewhere connected by intercalary material appearing as hexagonally arranged black dots. The proximal plate has many very minute perforations and the distal plate has 1-10 large pores or many minute perforations in the central area. The spine-scales are variable in structure and length (0.8-12.2 um); they consist of a base plate with a hollow spine and species-specific structures on its apex. The cytoplasm has many large granules and there are very large food-vacuoles. The filopodia are very thin. (ref. ID; 4747)
Remarks; The genus Rabdiophrys Rainer, 1968, was erected for rotosphaerids with both plate- and spine scales. As pointed out by several authors (Nicholls 1983; Croome 1987), are re-diagnosis, based on both light and electron microscopic observations of a Rabdiophrys species, was needed to clarify its position over against Pinaciophora and Pompholyxophrys. (ref. ID; 4747)
Type species; Rabdiophrys anulifera: its type species had been studied by light and electron microscopy by Siemensma in 1981. (ref. ID; 4747)

[ref. ID; 7656]
The Rabdiophrys bear the periplast represented by siliceous plate scales and spicules. The most part of Rapdiophrys species are described from marine habitats. (ref. ID; 7656)
  1. Rabdiophrys anulifera Rainer, 1968 (ref. ID; 3541 original paper) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796) or Rainer, 1968, emend. Siemensma, 1981 (ref. ID; 4747)
    Syn; Pinaciophora pinea Nicholls, 1983 (ref. ID; 4747)
  2. Rabdiophrys apora Croome (ref. ID; 7656)
  3. Rabdiophrys bifurcata (Thomsen, 1978) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796, 7656)
  4. Rabdiophrys candelabra (Thomsen) (ref. ID; 4796)
  5. Rabdiophrys candelabrum (Thomsen, 1978) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 7656)
  6. Rabdiophrys columna (Croome, 1987) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796)
  7. Rabdiophrys denticulata (Thomsen) (ref. ID; 4796, 7656) or (Thomsen, 1978) Roijackers & Siemensma, 1988 (ref. ID; 4747 redescribed paper)
  8. Rabdiophrys ludibunda (Penard, 1901) Rainer, 1968 (ref. ID; 3541 redescribed paper)
    Syn; Acanthocystis ludibunda Penard, 1901 (ref. ID; 3541)
  9. Rabdiophrys monopora (Thomsen, 1978) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796)
  10. Rabdiophrys multicosta (Thomsen, 1978) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796, 7656)
  11. Rabdiophrys paucipora (Thomsen, 1978) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796, 7656)
  12. Rabdiophrys pertzovi Mikrjukov, 1994 (ref. ID; 7656 original paper)
  13. Rabdiophrys reticulata (Thomsen, 1979) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796, 7656)
  14. Rabdiophrys rubella (Penard, 1904) Rainer, 1968 (ref. ID; 3541 redescribed paper)
    Syn; Acanthocystis rubella Penard, 1904 (ref. ID; 3541)
  15. Rabdiophrys spiculata (Manton & Sutherland, 1979) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796, 7656)
  16. Rabdiophrys tasmanica (Croome, 1987) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796)
  17. Rabdiophrys thomseni Roijackers & Siemensma, 1988 (ref. ID; 4747 original paper, 7656)
  18. Rabdiophrys triangula (Thomsen) (ref. ID; 4796)
  19. Rabdiophrys triangular (Thomsen, 1978) Roijackers & Siemensma, 1988 (ref. ID; 4747 redescribed paper)
  20. Rabdiophrys tridentata (Thomsen, 1978) (ref. ID; 4747) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796, 7656)
  21. Rabdiophrys turrisfenestrata Wujek & O'Kelly, 1991 (ref. ID; 4796 original paper)

Rabdiophrys anulifera Rainer, 1968 (ref. ID; 3541 original paper) reported year? (ref. ID; 4796) or Rainer, 1968, emend. Siemensma, 1981 (ref. ID; 4747)

Synonym

Pinaciophora pinea Nicholls, 1983 (ref. ID; 4747)

Diagnosis

Cells 27-35 um in diameter, covered with plate- and spine-scales. The species resembles much R. monopora, and differs from it in having small (1.2-3.4 um) as well as long spine-scales (10-12.2 um) and an aberrant ultrastructure of the plate-scales. Both species have plate-scales consisting of 2 layers fused peripherally and in the case of R. anulifera by 2 concentric internal rims, one lying halfway between the periphery and the central hole and the other rim just around the border of the central hole. These rims can sometimes be seen by SEM. In R. monopora the 2 layers of the plate-scales are also used peripherally, but they are interconnected by material which appears in places as black dots, as could be seen by TEM. The diameter of the plate-scales of R. anulifera is 2.1-2.8 um with the central hole ca. 0.8 um in diameter. The spine-scales are distally strongly flattened and somewhat broadened, ornamented with 2 small and pointed teeth. The shaft is 0.24-0.50 um in diameter; the apex is ca. 0.7 um broad. Proximally the shaft is connected to a circular base plate, 0.57-1.2 um in diameter, by four wing-like structures. (ref. ID; 4747)

Remarks

This species was studied with transmission electron microscopy by Nicholls (1983) and described as Pinaciophora pinea, now a junior synonym of R. anulifera. (ref. ID; 4747)

Type locality

This species has been reported from Germany (Rainer 1968), all from freshwater localities. (ref. ID; 4747)

Rabdiophrys denticulata (Thomsen) (ref. ID; 4796, 7656) or (Thomsen, 1978) Roijackers & Siemensma, 1988 (ref. ID; 4747 redescribed paper)

Re-diagnosis

Cells covered by both plate- and spine-scales. The plate-scales are discoid, circular in outline, with a diameter of 3.5-4.5 um. The proximal plate is perforated by many very minute pores; the distal plate has 5-9 holes and is fused to the proximal plate peripherally and by many internal ridges, forming hexagonal patterns of black dots as seen by TEM. The spine-scales are tubular, 2.9-3.5 um long, proximally broadened and fused to the circular base plate by several struts, distally also broadened and terminating in up to six minute spines; the apex is open, giving access to the hollow tubular part of the spine-scale. (ref. ID; 4747)

Remarks

This species is described by Thomsen (1978). The description is, however, too broad and includes the new species R. thomseni. Therefore, a rediagnosis has become necessary. Thomsen (1978) recognised the differences in the spine-scales and the plate-scales in the two specimens which he studied. From his Fig.16, it is clear that the spine-scales have an open apex which lacks any separating lamella. His Fig.15 indicates the existence of such a lamella (compare with our Fig.16). The oval plate-scale in Fig.15 (Thomsen 1978) differs from the circular plate-scales illustrated in his Fig.16 (Thomsen 1978). (ref. ID; 4747)

Rabdiophrys pertzovi Mikrjukov, 1994 (ref. ID; 7656 original paper)

Diagnosis

Cells 21-24 um. Periplast comprising plate scales and spicules of two types. Protoplast unknown. Plate scales are broadly oval or circular, ca. 2.6x2.1 um, with hexagonal texture of a central area of a distal surface and a patternless periferal part; they lack large pores which are characteristic of many species of Rabdiophrys. Long spicules and cylindrical, 6.0-6.5 um long, with a flared base and tip; shaft straight, ca. 0.2 um; base part ca. 0.5 um; apex ca. 0.35 um with some teeth. Short spicules 2.5-3.5 um; the base is represented by the base-plate (0.5-0.6 um) and a conoid structure bearing minute papillae; shaft 0.3 um; apex with 5 teeth. (ref. ID; 7656)

Remarks

The plate scales of R. pertzovi have no large pores characteristic of many Rabdiophrys (Thomsen 1978; Roijackers & Siemensma 1988). The only similar freshwater species -R. apora (Croome)- lacks large pores too and has similar spicules with 5 teeth at the apex (Croome 1987); it differs by having only one type of spicules in the periplast and by more simple construction of the spicule base lacking a conoid structure with minute papillae. (ref. ID; 7656)

Etymology

The species is named in honour of Dr. N.A. Pertzov (1924-1987), the organizer and the director of the White Sea Biological Station of Moscow University. (ref. ID; 7656)

Habitat of the type

Marine; collected 15.8.1922 by dividing works in samples of the thin layer of fine marine sediments at 12 m depth (the level of Rhodophyceae) at the White Sea Biological Station of the Moscow University (the sound Velikaya Salma, Rugoserkaya Guba of Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea; 66 degrees 31'N, 33 degrees 07'E). (ref. ID; 7656)

Rabdiophrys thomseni Roijackers & Siemensma, 1988 (ref. ID; 4747 original paper, 7656)

Diagnosis

Cells covered by both plate- and spine-scales. The spine-scales are straight, completely bent or have a straight tubular part and a curved lamella. The plate-scales are oval in outline, with a diameter of 3.0-5.4 um. The proximately plate is perforated by many minute pores; the distal plate has 6-9 holes and is fused to the proximal plate peripherally and by many internal ridges, forming hexagonal patterns of black dots as seen by TEM. The spine-scales are 2.4-6.1 um long. They consist of a hollow tube, terminating proximately in several struts by which the tube is fused to the base plate, and distally in up to 6 teeth. There are, however, distally some extra holes in the tubular part of the spine-scales near to the struts, thus giving a much more complicated structure. The 2 middle spines at the apex of some spine-scales are very extended and reach about the same length the shaft (2 um); these 2 middle spines are fused by a very thin lamella, thus forming 2 circular holes, when seen from the top of the spine-scale. In other spine-scales a third spine is extended and fused to the two middle spine, giving 3 circular holes, when viewed from the top. Then there are spine-scales that have extremely variable structures at the 2 or 3 extended spines. (ref. ID; 4747)

Remarks

The plate-scales are identical to those of Pinaciophora rubicunda. We have collected both species together. Raphidiophrys thomseni differs from R. denticulata in having very variable spine-scales with their apex divided into 2 or 3 holes. For the time being there is no indication that the possession of spine-scales is facultative for any species, so we do not consider Pinaciophora rubicunda as a spine-scales lacking ecotype of Rabdiophrys thomseni, as one could suggest. (ref. ID; 4747)

Type locality

Collected from algae along the southern coast of Sweden, between Morrum and Karlshamn, August 1986. (ref. ID; 4747)

Rabdiophrys triangular (Thomsen, 1978) Roijackers & Siemensma, 1988 (ref. ID; 4747 redescribed paper)

Emended diagnosis

Cells globose to ovoid, 39-42 um in diameter. Plate-scales triangular, with slightly concave sides (1.5-1.7 um long) and rounded tips. The plate-scales have (2-)3(-4) holes in the upper plate. The spine-scales have a remarkable structure: they consist of a hollow tube (0.3-0.4 um diameter halfway along the spine and 0.24-0.16 um at the base; spine length: (0.8-1.5 um), broadened towards its apex, terminating in a trumpet-like opening (0.5-0.7 um). The tube itself is surrounded by four smaller tubular structures, each 0.21-0.23 um in diameter and 0.35 long, connected to the central spine by tapering lamellae up to 2/3 of the spine-length. The base of the spine is not circular but octagonal. The spine base and the 4 tubular appendices are perforated by many minute holes. An emended diagnosis is needed because of the insufficient description of the spine-scales. These spine-scales are remarkable in their shape and structure. They were fairly uniform in shape on all observed cells. (ref. ID; 4747)

Rabdiophrys turrisfenestrata Wujek & O'Kelly, 1991 (ref. ID; 4796 original paper)

Diagnosis

Cells covered with scales of two kinds. Plate scales elliptical or nearly so, 1.8-2.2 um long by 1.2-1.5 um wide, 1.4-2.0 um2 in area. The central region of the distal scale layer with 5-8 perforations 0.10-0.16 um in diameter; other small, irregularly spaced perforations present outside the circumference of the larger perforations. Intercalay plate scale layer visible from above as small dots, representing columnar thickenings, across the scale from the central region to inside the rim. Proximal layer with few, minute, scattered performations. Scale rim narrow, patternless. Spine scales 2.7-3.3 um long, with a perforated, buttressed base 0.65-0.72 um wide, a shaft 0.10-0.15 um wide at its narrowest point, and two small teeth at the apex. A perforated ridge bisects each of the broad faces of the scale. Perforations in the ridge run from the base, reducing in number, to the apex. (ref. ID; 4796)

Etymology of epithet

From the Latin, Turris, spire or tower; fenestra, window or hole. The epithet refers to the appearance of the fenestrated ridge in the spine scale. (ref. ID; 4796)

Type material

Collected from Lake Moeraki (NZMS 1-S77-045304; 43 degrees 43'S, 169 degrees 17'E), a small eutrophic lake in the South Island of New Zealand, on 28 December 1988. Holotype (transmission electron micrograph negative) deposited with Electron Microscopy Unit, Biotechnology Division, DSIR, Palmerston North, No. 690-2 (1989). Iconotype, Fig.1. (ref. ID; 4796)