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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Marilynia

Marilynia Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 original paper)

Chromadorida Filipjev, 1929: Family Cyatholaimidae Filipjev, 1918: Subfamily Cyatholaiminae Filipjev, 1918 (ref. ID; 3571)

ref. ID; 3571

Type species

Longicyatholaimus annae Wieser & Hopper 1967, established by Hopper 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)

ref. ID; 7632

Diagnosis

Cyatholaiminae. Cuticle with transverse rows of punctations, punctations with or without stellate processes at anterior extremity and on tail, lateral differentiation present with punctations larger and more widely spaced, i.e., about half as many rows laterally as one other sectors of body. Dorsal tooth prominent, acute; two pairs of subventral teeth present. Hypodermal pore complexes numerous, arranged basically in 12 longitudinal rows, four sublateral, two subdorsal, two subventral and four submedian, i.e., one in each of the four somatic muscle sectors of the body wall. Pore aperture transversely oriented at 90 degrees angle to longitudinal body axis. Lateral modified punctations ranging from fewer to greater in number than lateral hypodermal pore complexes, 4-8 found on tail. Gubernacuum distinct from spicules, its distal extremity bearing numerous characteristically-arranged denticles. Preanal supplements cup-shaped, non-sclerotized. Tail with anterior one-third to two-thirds conoid, terminal portion cylindrical. (ref. ID; 7632)

Differential diagnosis

On the basis of the non-sclerotized preanal supplementary organs, Marilynia n. gen. is similar to Longicyatholaimus Micoletzky, 1924 from which it can be separated by the prominent dorsal tooth, the presence of paired subventral teeth, the less complex form of the gubernaculum and by the larger number of hypodermal pore complexes and lateral modified punctations. Species of Marilynia have lateral modified punctations on the conoid portion of the tail (4 to 8 in the present study), whereas species of Longicyatholaimus have none, although some specimens have the posteriormost member of the adanal group at an anterior position on the tail. Maryilynia also appears to be very similar to Xyzzors Inglis, 1963, judging from the description of the type species, X. fitzgeraldae Inglis, 1963. This taxon is known from a single male specimen collected from the coast of South Africa and was unavailable for study. The relationship between the two taxa remains questionable as important information on the structure, form and numbers of cuticular elements is unknown. The presence of ony eight longitudinal rows of hypodermal pore complexes on the type specimens has been comfirmed in an examination by Mr. J.W. Coles of the British Museum. Nothing is known of the number and distribution of the lateral modified punctations. In X. inglisi Wieser and Hopper, 1967 ete lateral modifid punctations are well developed only at the two extremities. They are extremely reduced (absent?) in the area between the nerve ring and preanal region. This extreme reduction may be of generic significant if X. fitzgeraldae were found to be similarly constructed. Inglis (1963) suggests that the configuration of the spicules and gubernaculum are unique among the Cyatholaimidae. (ref. ID; 7632)

Etymology

The genus Marilynia is named in honor of Marilyn Ann Le Vasseur. (ref. ID; 7632)

Type species

Marilynia annae (Wieser & Hopper, 1967) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632)
  1. Marilynia annae (Wieser & Hopper, 1967) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 redescribed paper)
    Syn; Longicyatholaimus annae Wieser & Hopper, 1967 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632)
  2. Marilynia bellula (Vitiello, 1970) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Longicyatholaimus bellulus Vitiello, 1970 (ref. ID; 3571)
  3. Marilynia bellulus (Vitiello, 1970) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632)
  4. Marilynia choanolaimoides (Stekhoven, 1942) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632), (Stekhoven, 1942) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Paracyatholaimus choanolaimoides Stekhoven, 1942 (ref. ID; 3571)
  5. Marilynia complexa (Warwick, 1971) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Longicyatholaimus complexus Warwick, 1971 (ref. ID; 3571)
  6. Marilynia complexus (Warwick, 1971) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632)
  7. Marilynia dayi (Inglis, 1963) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632), (Inglis, 1963) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Longicyatholaimus dayi Inglis, 1963 (ref. ID; 3571)
  8. Marilynia dubia (Filipjev, 1946) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Longicyatholaimus dubius Filipjev, 1946 (ref. ID; 3571)
  9. Marilynia dubius (Filipjev, 1946) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632)
  10. Marilynia effilata (Stekhoven, 1946) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Paracyatholaimus effilatus Stekhoven, 1946 (ref. ID; 3571)
  11. Marilynia effilatus (Stekhoven, 1946) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632)
  12. Marilynia eratos Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 original paper)
  13. Marilynia gerlachi n. nom. (ref. ID; 7632), Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
  14. Marilynia macrodentata (Wieser, 1959) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Choniolaimus macrodentatus Wieser, 1959 (ref. ID; 3571)
  15. Marilynia macrodentatus (Wieser, 1959) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632)
  16. Marilynia malsa Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
  17. Marilynia mulsa Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 7632 original paper)
  18. Marilynia oculissoma Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 original paper)
  19. Marilynia preclara Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 original paper)
  20. Marilynia quadriseta (Wieser, 1954) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632), (Wieser, 1954) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Longicyatholaimus quadriseta Wieser, 1954 (ref. ID; 3571)
  21. Marilynia stekhoveni (Wieser, 1954) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632), (Wieser, 1954) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Longicyatholaimus stekhoveni Wieser, 1954 (ref. ID; 3571)
  22. Marilynia wieseri (Inglis, 1963) n. comb. (ref. ID; 7632), (Inglis, 1963) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571)
    Syn; Choniolaimus wieseri Inglis, 1963 (ref. ID; 3571)

Marilynia annae (Wieser & Hopper, 1967) Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 redescribed paper)

Synonym

Longicyatholaimus annae Wieser & Hopper, 1967 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632)

Descriptions

Cuticle homogeneous, with transverse rows of punctations; slightly larger and more widely spaced at extremities. Stellate processes prominent; dots 2.5-3 µm apart, rows 2-2.5 µm apart. Hypodermal pore complexes numerous, occurring in 12 longitudinal rows; VSL=143-168 (22-24, 10-11), DSL=138-181 (21-25, 10-12). Lateral modified punctations more numerous, L=173-224 (28-30, 5-8). Sublateral hypodermal pore complexes at anterior extremity in two rows; lateral modified punctations in two rows in mid-body (a staggered single row?). Aperture of hypodermal pore complexes oriented transversely. Maximum width 77 µm. Head 28 µm wide, with six setose labial papillae, 3.5 µm long and ten cephalic setae 12-14 + 10-11 µm in length. Somatic setae 3 µm long, very fine and widely spaced. Amphids multispiral, with four and one-half turns, 11-13 µm wide by 10-11 µm long. Stoma with large acute dorsal tooth opposed by two pairs of prominent subventral denticles. Extretory pore 94 µm (80-100 µm) from anterior extremity. Esophagus 300 µm long. Tail 218 µm long (3.7 anal body diameters), uniformly conoid to slightly attenuated terminus; caudal X 60%. Anal body diameter 59 µm. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Male: Male 2.25 mm long. Spicules 80 µm long (chord 75 µm). Gubernaculum paired and parallel to spicules, 71 µm long (chord 66 µm), distal extremity with three teeth of which the middle tooth is directed dorso-laterally, the others subventrally. There are six cup-shaped preanal supplements, arranged in the order 2 + 4, i.e., a smaller and more closely approximately preanal pair preceded anteriorly by four somewhat larger and progressively more widely spaced supplements. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Remarks

    Wieser and Hopper (1967) give a tail length measurement of 420 µm i.e., seven anal body diameters. However examination of their drawing, as well as the material at hand, indicates the tail to be half this length. An examination of the holotype specimen reveals that the true length of the tail is only 210 µm long, i.e., about 3.5 anal body diameters. A second point of difference concerns the number of teeth found on the distal extremity of the gubernaculum, four being described in the original description vs. three in the present material. The holotype shows only three, more or less equal-sized teeth confirming the present observations. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Locality and collection data

    In addition to the type locality of the northwest shore of Key Biscayne, specimens of M. annae have been collected at the following sites: sandy sediment within a bed of turtle grass, Thalassia testudinum Konig, located off-shore from the beach at Virginia Key (Site A of Hopper and Meyers 1967) (four males collected by B.E. Hopper, January 22, 1965); soft sediment from turtle grass be located of the western shore of Key Biscayne (Site C of Hopper and Meyers 1967) (two males, two females collected by S.P. Meyers, October 1965); soft sediment from a turtle grass bed located in the shallow waters immediately to the south of the beach at the Institute of Marine Sciences on Virginia Key (two males and two females collected by S.P. Meyers, May 24, 1965, and one male collected by S.P. Meyers, October 12, 1965). (ref. ID; 7632)

    Marilynia eratos Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 original paper)

    Differential diagnosis

    Marilynia eratos n. sp. is most closely related to M. annae (Wieser and Hopper, 1967) n. comb. and is distinguished by the longer cephalic setae and the pronounced difference in the lengths of the submedian pairs. Additional diagnostic characteristics are found in the longer body length, larger amphid and in a comparison of the genital armature. Among the latter are differences in the distal extremity of the gubernaculum, that of M. eratos n. sp. being smaller and the points of the subventral teeth 6 µm apart. In M. annae, the distal extremity is larger, and the comparable distance between the subventral teeth in 8.8 µm. The proximal extremity of the spicules of M. annae has a pronounced dorsal bend while this feature is absent in M. eratos n. sp. In M. eratos n. sp. the hypodermal pore complexes are smaller and they extend more anteriorly, i.e., about one head diameter from the cephalic extremity. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Descriptions

    Cuticle homogeneous, with transverse rows of punctations; slightly larger and more widely spaced at extremities. Stellate processes not observed; dots less than 2 µm apart, rows 1.5 µm or less apart. Hypodermal pore complexes numerous, occurring in 12 longitudinal rows; VSL=182 (30, 11), DSL=196 (33, 10). Lateral modified punctations (LMP) more numerous. L=267 (22, 6). Sublateral hypodermal pore complexes anteriorly in two rows for a short distance, a staggered single row elsewhere; LMP in two rows in midbody (a staggered single row?). Aperture of hypoderaml pore complexes oriented transversely. Maximum width 85 µm. Head 31 µm wide, with six setose labial papillae, 3 µm long and 10 cephalic setae 18 + 11.4 µm in length. Somatic setae 3 µm long, very fine and widley spaced. Amphids multispiral, with five turns, 17 µm wide by 14 µm long. Stoma with large acute dorsal tooth opposed by two pairs of prominent subventral teeth. Excretory pore 110 µm from anterior extremity. Esophagus 385 µm long. Tail 233 µm long (4.2 anal body diameters), uniformly conoid to slightly attenuated terminus; caudal X 61%. Anal body diameter 55 µm. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Male: Male 3.22 mm long. Spicules 71 µm long (chord 65 µm). Gubernaculum paired and paralleling spicules, 68 µm long (chord 59 µm), distal extremity with three teeth, of which the middle tooth is directed dorso-laterally, the others subventrally. Preanal supplements cup-shaped, six in number, arranged in the order of 2 + 4, i.e., a smaller and more closely approximately preanal pair preceded anteriorly by four somewhat larger and progressively more widely spaced supplements. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Female: Female unknown. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Type locality and collection data

    The single male specimen was collected from sandy sediment within a bed of turtle grass, Thalassia testudinum Konig, located off-shore from the beach at Virginia Key (Site A of Hopper and Meyers 1967). Collected by B.E. Hopper, January 22, 1965. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Deposited materials

    Holotype (male): Canadian National Collection of Nematodes, Entomology Research Institute, Ottawa. Collection No.4823, Type slide No.196. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Marilynia mulsa Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 7632 original paper)

    Differential diagnosis

    M. mulsa n. sp. differs from other species in the genus by the reduced distal extremity of the gubernaculum. In M. mulsa n. sp. this area is narrower than the mid-body width of the structure whereas in all the other species, the distal extremity is expanded significantly and is wider than the gubernacular mid-body width. The presence of well-defined lateral modified punctations place the taxon among the species of Marilynia rather than in the genus Xyzzors Inglis, 1963. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Descriptions

    Cuticle homogeneous, with transverse rows of punctations; slightly larger and more widely spaced at extremities. Stellate processes not observed; dots 2 µm or less apart, rows about 2 µm apart. Hypodermal pore complexes numerous, occurring in 10 longitudinal rows, ventral submedian absent; VSL=161 (24, 8), DSL=183 (26, 10); rows slightly staggered in neck region. Lateral modified punctations less numerous, L=55 (8,4). Aperture of hypodermal pore complexes oriented transversely. Maximum width 74 µm. Head 27 µm wide, with six setose labial papillae, about 2 µm long and 10 cephalic setae 10 + 7 µm in length. Somatic setae 4-5 µm long, very fine and widely spaced. Amphids multispiral, with four and one-quarter turns, 16.5 µm wide by 14 µm long. Stoma with acute dorsal tooth opposed by two pairs of prominent subventral teeth. Excretory pore 70 µm from anterior extremity. Esophagus 250 µm long. Tail 218 µm long (4.4 anal body diameters), uniformly conid to slightly attenuated terminus; caudal X 58%. Anal body diameter 49 µm. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Male: Male 1.77 mm long, diorchic, gonads opposed, outstretched. Spicules 64 µm long (chord 60 µm). Gubernaculum paired and paralleling spicules, 67 µm long (chord 63 µm), distally narrowed and with large dorso-laterally directed tooth and an unequal pair of teeth directed subventrally. Several smaller denticles present on dorsal surface of gubernaculum near distal extremity. There are six, equal-sized, preanal supplements which extend 140 µm anteriad of the cloacal aperture. They are closer together near the cloacal aperture than anteriorly, the distance being 18, 18, 23, 24, 30 and 28 µm. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Female: Female unknown. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Type locality and collection data

    A single male collected from the hard sand surface sediment within a bed of turtle grass, Thalassia testudinum Konig, located offshore from the wading beach at Matheson Hammock (Site D of Hopper and Meyers 1967). Collected June 18, 1965, by S.P. Meyers. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Deposited materials

    Holotype (male): Canadian National Collection of Nematodes, Entomology Research Institute, Ottawa, Collection No.5957, Type slide No.199. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Marilynia oculissoma Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 original paper)

    Differential diagnosis

    M. oculissoma n. sp. is most closely related to M. quadriseta (Wieser) but isdistinguished by the longer tail, male 248-280 µm vs. 183 µm; female 288-330 µm vs. 210 µm, with a longer filiform portion; caudal X 31% vs. 47%. The two types of preanal supplements serve to further differentiate M. oculissoma n. sp. from M. quadriseta. M. oculissoma n. sp. has a characteristic group of three subventral caudal setae located immediately posterior to the cloacal aperture which are apparently absent in Wieser's species. Significant differences are also present in the genital armature of the two species. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Descriptions

    Cuticle homogeneous, with transverse rows of punctations; slightly larger and more widely spaced at extremities. Stellate processes prominent; dots about 3 µm apart, rows about 2 µm apart. Hypoderaml pore complexes numerous, occurring in 8 longitudinal rows, submedian absent; VSL=89-111 (12-16,7), DSL=93 (11,5-8). Lateral modified punctations more numerous, L=204-225 (26-33, 5-7). All rows fairly well aligned, little staggering present. Aperture of hypodermal pore complexes oriented transversely. Maximum width 53-64 µm. Head 20-22 µm wide, with six low conoid labial papillae, 1-1.5 µm long and 10 cephalic setae 8-11 + 6-7 µm in length. Somatic setae 2-3 µm long, very fine and widely spaced. Amphids multispiral, with four and one-half turns, 10-12 µm wide by 10-11 µm long. Stoma with large acute dorsal tooth opposed by two pairs of prominent subventral teeth. Excretory pore 65-76 µm from anterior extremity (55 µm in one young female). Esophagus 217-242 µm long. Tail in male 248-280 µm long (5.0-5.1 anal body diameters), in female 285-330 µm long (7.5-8.0 anal body diameters); anterior 90 µm conoid, remainder filamentous; caudal X 31%. Anal body diameter 41-45 µm. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Male: Male 1.98-2.24 mm long, diorchic, gonads opposed, outstretched. Spicules 53-59 µm long (chord 49-52 µm). Gubernaculum paired and paralleling spicules, 51-60 µm llng (chord 44-54 µm); distal extremity enlarged, heavily denticulated, denticles not in rows. There are six preanal supplements in two sets of three, separated by a distance of 15-26 µm. Supplements of preanal group pore-like, extending anteriorly for a distance of 15-24 µm. Those of anterior group prominent, cup-shaped and uniformly spaced, 29 to 33 µm, posteriormost member 39-44 µm anterior to cloacal aperture. The entire series supplements extends 99-109 µm anteriad of the cloacal aperture. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Female: 2.24 mm long. V=43-45%. Didelphic, amphidelphic, gonads reflexed. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Type locality and collection data

    Six males, five females and two juveniles collected from soft surface sediment within a bed of turtle grass, Thalassia testudinum Konig, located off the western short Key Biscayne (Site C of Hopper and Meyers 1967). Holotype collected September 19, 1966, by S.P. Meyers. Others collected March 17, 1966 (two males, three females and one juvenile), and April 27, 1966 (three males, two young females and one juvenile) by S.P. Meyers. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Deposited materials

  • Holotype (male): Canadian National Collection of Nematodes, Entomology Research Institute, Ottawa, Collection No.5122, Type slide No.198. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Allotype (female): On Type slide No.198a. Collection No.5122. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Paratypes: Five males, four females and two juveniles on Type slides Nos.198b to 198f. CNCN, Collection No.5122. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Marilynia preclara Hopper, 1972 (ref. ID; 3571, 7632 original paper)

    Differential diagnosis

    M. preclara n. sp. is most closely related to M. stekhoveni (Wieser) and is distinguished by the male having six preanal supplements as opposed to three. Additional diagnostic characteristics are found in a comparison of the genital armature, in particular the distal elaborations of the gubernacula. In the tail shape, M. preclara n. sp. has a comparatively shorter cylindrical portion; Caudal X of 57% vs. 47% in M. stekhoveni (Wieser). (ref. ID; 7632)

    Descriptions

    Cuticle homogeneous, with transverse rows of punctations; slightly larger and more widely spaced at extremities. No stellate processes, at best a fringed disc; dots 2.5-3.5 µm apart, rows 2.5 µm apart. Hypodermal pore complexes numerous, 12 longitudinal rows; VSL=264 (40-45, 12-13), DSL=269 (33-40, 12-15). Lateral modified punctations (LMP) less numerous, L=65 (17,6). Sublateral hypodermal pore complexes in staggered rows, particularly at the anterior extremity where they merge with the LMP. LMP anteriorly grouped in a double, staggered row and larger in size compared to the hypodermal pore complexes of the sublateral rows and the LMP on the remainder of the body. Aperture of hypodermal pore complexes oriented transversely. Maximum width 100-108 µm. Head 27-31 µm wide, with six setose labial papillae, 3 µm long and 10 cephalic setae 11-13 + 9-10 µm in length. Somatic setae 3-6 µm long, very fine and widely spaced. Amphids multispiral, with four turns, in male 15-16 µm wide by 11.5-13 µm long; in female 13-14 µm wide by 10 µm long. Stoma with large, acute dorsal tooth opposed by two pairs of prominent subventral teeth. Excretory pore 93 to 118 µm from anterior extremity. Esophagus 307-360 µm long. Tail 219 to 250 µm long (3.6-4.0 anal body diameters), uniformly conoid to slightly attenuated terminus; caudal X 57%. Anal body diameter 57-67 µm. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Male: Male 2.01-2.42 mm long. Spicules 84-94 µm long (chord 79-89 µm). Gubernaculum paired and paralleling spicules, 60-68 µm long (chord 55 to 65 µm); distal extremity enlarged, heavily denticulated, denticules in one distal row. There are six cup-shaped preanal supplements, arranged in the order 1 + 5, i. e., a single, small preanal and five more prominent supplements. The supplements extend 144-189 µm anteriad the cloacal aperture. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Female: Female 2.10-2.16 mm long. V=46-49. Didelphic, amphidelphic, gonads reflexed. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Type locality and collection data

    Four males and one female collected from soft surface sediment within a bed of turtle grass, Thalassia testudinum Konig, located off the western shore of Key Biscayne (Site C of Hopper and Meyers 1967), March 17, 1966, and two males, three females collected April 27, 1966, by S.P. Meyers. Two males, one female collected February 1, 1965, and two males collected December 3, 1965, by B.E. Hopper. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Other localities; Two males, one female collected from material washed from Halimeda sp. found along northern shore of Key Biscayne, February 24, 1965, by B.E. Hopper; One male collected from sandy sediment within turtle grass bed at Virginia Key beach (Site A of Hopper and Meyers 1967) May 27, 1965, by S.P. Meyers, and one male from a similar location at Matheson Hammock (Site D of Hopper and Meyers 1967) January 10, 1967, by B.E. Hopper. (ref. ID; 7632)

    Deposited materials

  • Holotype (male): Canadial National Collection of Nematodes, Entomology Research Institute, Ottawa, Collection No.5122. Type slide No.197. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Allotype (female): On Type slide No.197a. Other data was for holotype. (ref. ID; 7632)
  • Paratypes: Thirteen males and six females on Type slides Nos.197b to 197i. Canadian National Collection of Nematode, Collection Nos.5122, 5039, 5956 and 5957. (ref. ID; 7632)