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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Asplanchnopus

Asplanchnopus De Guerne, 1888

ref. ID; 1663

Large, globular species. Mastax incudate. Carnivorous. Intestine and anus absent. Littoral species. Corona simple, with a single peripheral band of cilia. Littoral species. (ref. ID; 1663)

ref. ID; 1931

Asplanchnid rotifers with foot and toes. Intestine wanting. (ref. ID; 1931)
  1. Asplanchnopus bhimavaramensis Dhanapathi, 1975 (ref. ID; 1931)
  2. Asplanchnopus dahlgreni Myers, 1934 (ref. ID; 1345, 1931, 2593, 2595)
  3. Asplanchnopus eupoda Hudson & Gosse, 1889
    See; Harringia eupoda (ref. ID; 1345, 3688)
  4. Asplanchnopus hyalinus Harring, 1913 (ref. ID; 1345, 2703, 2803) or 1917 (ref. ID; 1931)
  5. Asplanchnopus multiceps (Schrank, 1783) (ref. ID; 2715) or 1793 (ref. ID; 1345, 1931, 2276, 2757, 3180, 3688) reported year? (ref. ID; 2385, 3086)
    Syn; Asplanchna magnificus Herrick, 1885 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Asplanchna myrmeleo Eyferth, 1878 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Asplanchna myrmelio Eyferth, 1878 (ref. ID; 2757); Asplanchna papuana Daday, 1897 (ref. ID; 3688); Asplanchnopus multiceps de Guerne, 1888 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Asplanchnopus myrmeleo Hudson & Gosse, 1889 (ref. ID; 1345, 2276, 3688); Brachionus multiceps Schrank, 1793 (ref. ID; 1345, 2276, 2385, 3688); Notommata myrmeleo Ehrenberg, 1834 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688)
  6. Asplanchnopus myrmeleo Hudson & Gosse, 1889 (ref. ID; 1345, 2276) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 1923)
    See; Asplanchnopus multiceps (ref. ID; 1345, 2276, 3688)

Asplanchnopus bhimavaramensis Dhanapathi, 1975 (ref. ID; 1931)

Diagnosis

It resembles A. multiceps and A. hyalinus in having an eye spot and similar trophi but differs in the form of foot and number of flame cells. It also resembles A. dahlgreni in the form of foot but differs in all other essential characters. (ref. ID; 1931)

Descriptions

Body transparent, thin and sacciform; its width maximum posteriorly and two-thirds the total length. Head separated from the abdomen by a narrow neck marked by transverse folds. No humps. Corona is a circumapical band of cilia. Dorsal antenna double and lateral antenna present near the region of ovary. Retrocerebral sac with a prominent eye. Mastax incudate with short and plate-like fulcrum, ramus without any tooth on the inner margin and uncus reduced and attached to delicate trifid manubria. Oesophagus lead into thick-walled stomach with large cells. Ovary is horse-shoe shaped. Oviparous. Flame cells 16-18 in number attached to nephridial tubes. Gastric glands round; foot glands long and club shaped. Foot two jointed, the basal stout and the terminal long and wrinkled. Toes broad at the base gradually tapering into conical tips. (ref. ID; 1931)

Measurements

Length of the body 420; foot 84; toes 42; maximum width 252; mastax 70 µm. (ref. ID; 1931)

Asplanchnopus dahlgreni Myers, 1934 (ref. ID; 1345, 1931, 2593, 2595)

Descriptions

The characteristic animal has two side-humps and one dorsal hump, which can disappear since the cuticula is very soft. Two frontal red eyespots, two apical and one neck sensory papilla, all with long hairs. The incudat trophi are very powerful and stout, with one tooth on the rami. Long foot glands. It is a predator, Lecane and Trichocerca remains can be seen in the big, round, large-celled stomach. (ref. ID; 2593)

Measurements

Length 620; width (with humps) 310; dorsoventral height with hump 420; foot 85; toe 45; corona diameter 230 µm. (ref. ID; 2593)

Asplanchnopus hyalinus Harring, 1913 (ref. ID; 1345, 2703, 2803) or 1917 (ref. ID; 1931)

Descriptions

This being reported for the first time from India. Foot telescopically jointed and toes short. Rami without spines on inner margins. Flame cells eight in number. Ovary ribbon shaped. Oviparous. (ref. ID; 1931)

Measurements

Length of the body 378; foot 56; toes 28 µm. (ref. ID; 1931)

Asplanchnopus multiceps (Schrank, 1783) (ref. ID; 2715) or 1793 (ref. ID; 1345, 1931, 2276, 2757, 3180, 3688) reported year? (ref. ID; 2385, 3086)

Synonym

Asplanchna magnificus Herrick, 1885 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Asplanchna myrmeleo Eyferth, 1878 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Asplanchna myrmelio Eyferth, 1878 (ref. ID; 2757); Asplanchna papuana Daday, 1897 (ref. ID; 3688); Asplanchnopus multiceps de Guerne, 1888 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Asplanchnopus myrmeleo Hudson & Gosse, 1889 (ref. ID; 1345, 2276, 3688); Brachionus multiceps Schrank, 1793 (ref. ID; 1345, 2276, 2385, 3688); Notommata myrmeleo Ehrenberg, 1834 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688)

Descriptions

Trophi characteristic: The allulae on the rami differ in different specimens from little developed to well developed. (ref. ID; 2715)

The fulcrum is very wide and striate, the end of the plate-like fulcrum being serrate. Again the basal portion of the rami has a definite sheath with a spine-like projection on the inner side of the rami which may not be visible in some cases since it adheres to the rami dorsally, but is discernible when pressure is applied. (ref. ID; 3086)

Body large and sacciform, posterior end wide and oval. Small foot with two toes. Cilia on anterior end well-developed. Mastax diagnostic. Rami smooth, without teeth and pointed at anterior end. Fulcrum short, wide, striated, more or less rectangular, thin and with serrated end. Basal portion of rami with definite sheath with spine-like projection on inner side of rami which may not be visible some cases since it adheres to rami dorsally. (ref. ID; 3180)

Measurements

Length 700 µm. (ref. ID; 2385)

Total length 980 µm. (ref. ID; 2715)