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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Hopperia

Hopperia Vitiello, 1969 (ref. ID; 3571)

Chromadorida Filipjev, 1929: Family Comesomatidae Filipjev, 1918: Subfamily Sabatieriinae Filipjev, 1934 (ref. ID; 3571)

ref. ID; 3571

Type species

Hopperia massiliensis Vitiello, 1969 (ref. ID; 3571)
  1. Hopperia indiana Muthumbi, Soetaert & Vincx, 1997 (ref. ID; 1902 original paper)
  2. Hopperia massiliensis Vitiello, 1969 (ref. ID; 1902, 3571)

Hopperia indiana Muthumbi, Soetaert & Vincx, 1997 (ref. ID; 1902 original paper)

Diagnosis

Hopperia indiana sp. n. is characterised by short conical anterior sensilla, cuticle punctated with lateral differentiation of larger dots, spicules which possess a 'velum' and a gubernaculum with long and sharp pointed apophysis. H. indiana sp. n. resembles H. massiliensis Vitiello, 1969 in the general body shape and the tail but it can be distinguished from it by the length of the cephalic sensilla relative to the head diameter at the level of the cephalic setae, 18-24% head diameter at the level of the cephalic setae in H. indiana sp. n. and 12-15% head diameter at the level of the cephalic setae in H. massiliensis; length of the spicules (69 µm long i.e. 1.5 anal body diameter) and presence of a 'velum' in H. indiana sp. n. has 20-21 ventral precloacal supplements while H. massiliensis has 13-16 supplements. (ref. ID; 1902)

Descriptions

Marine species. (ref. ID; 1902)
  • Female: Females are similar to males in general body shape, anterior sensilla, cuticle and stoma. However, females from the deeper stations (1000 m) were much longer and thinner, and consequently had a higher a-ratio (body length divided by maximum body diameter 51.6-65.7) than those from the shallower stations (500 m) (body length divided by maximum body diameter 37-40.4). The reproductive system is amphidelphic with outstretched ovaries; it was however, poorly preserved in all the females and therefore no drawings were made. Uterus is long, thick walled and filled with spermatozoa. The vulva is simple and vagina is thick walled. The tail is slightly longer in the females than in the male (252-281 µm) and the anal body diameter is smaller (33-41 µm) and consequently tail length divided by anal body diameter (tail length divided by anal body diameter 6.4-8.5) is larger in the females than in male. (ref. ID; 1902)
  • Male: Body cylindrical; anteriorly blunt and truncate with a filiform tail end. Head diameter is 14-17 µm. The cuticle is clearly punctated and appear faintly annulated especially in the head region. Punctations begin immediately posterior of the cephalic sensilla; laterally they are larger and more widely spaced. On the rest of the body, the punctations are smaller and arranged in transverse rows. Eight longitudinal rows of somatic setae more numerous on the pharyngeal and tail region than on the rest of the body. Three crowns of anterior sensilla; the inner and outer labials sensilla are very short but distinct, the cephalic sensilla are 3-4 µm long (17-24% head diameter at the level of the cephalic setae). The amphids are spiral with 2.5 turns and located posterior of the cephalic sensilla; they are 9-11 µm in diameter (47-55% corresponding body diameter). The stoma is tubular 28-33 µm long and 6-7 µm wide; the anterior part has three large teeth and the posterior part has highly sclerotised walls. The pharyngeal muscles surround part of the stoma. The pharynx is long cylindrical and expanded at the base to form a terminal bulb which is 29-42 µm at the widest part. The radial tubules are distinct and start at the base of the stoma. The nerve ring is located at 44-48% of the pharyngeal length from the anterior. The opening of the ventral gland is located posterior of the nerve ring at 50-55% (corresponding body diameter is 37-50 µm) of the pharyngeal length from the anterior. The ventral gland is small. Cardia is small. The intestinal wall has numerous glandular cells especially close to the cardia. The reproductive system (testes and vas deferens) was not clearly observed. There are seven pairs of copulatory glands (in tandem) and they open at the cloaca. Pre-anally, there is a row of short subventral setae, a single ventral setae and 20-21 ventral supplements with very fine ducts. The spicules are massive (1.5 anal body diameter long) with a 'velum'. The gubernaculum has a long (19 µm) caudal apophysis. The tail is conical (one third) anteriorly and filiform posteriorly; it is 257 µm long (tail length divided by anal body diameter 5.7). There are numerous setae along the whole length of tail but no terminal setae. The caudal glands open at the tip. (ref. ID; 1902)

    Etymology

    The species name is given with the reference to the Indian Ocean. (ref. ID; 1902)