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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Lindia

Lindia Dujardin, 1841

ref. ID; 1663

Body cylindrical and tapering posteriorly, sometimes indistinctly annulated. Foot not set off sharply from body. Mastax cardate. Total length 250 to 1,200 µm. (ref. ID; 1663)

ref. ID; 1923

Trophi cardate (determinable in lateral view of intact animal). Body spindle-shaped, toes directed ventrad. Mostly littoral. (ref. ID; 1923)

ref. ID; 3245

Notommatid rotifers with spindle-shaped, elongate, illoricate body, usually with several indistinct annulations, and without constriction at the base of the foot, which has two very small toes; the cloaca opens under a small tail, at the base of the foot. The corona is an elongate, oval area covering the oblique anterior surface of the head and continuing beyond the mouth on the ventral surface as a slightly projecting chin; the marginal cilia are relatively short, except on two latero-frontal areas provided with long and powerful cilia adapted to swimming, in the majority of species seated on evertile auricles; the apical plate is enclosed by the marginal ciliation and has occasionally a projecting rostrum; the mouth is near the center of the corona. The mastax is adapted to suction or "pumping" by oscillating as a complete unit on a transverse axis near the posterior end of the fulcrum; the name "cardate" is proposed for this peculiar type. The fulcrum is short and narrow, usually tapering towards the posterior end; the rami are lyrate, resembling the forcipate type; the ventral branch or cell of the manubria is very large, equaling or exceeding in length the median or principal cell, with which it forms a rather acute angle; the unci are feebly developed, the teeth being rudimentary and usually united into a thin plate. Nearly all the species included have an epipharynx of very complicated form; it may consists of one, two or four separated pieces, which act as supports for the edges of the mouth, while the oscillation of the entire mastax produces behind it the vacuum necessary for the pumping action. Two salivary glands occupy the posterior portion of the mastax in some species. The retrocerebral organ consists of a rather small, hemispherical, ductless sac at the posterior end of the ganglion; it is filled with red pigment granules and encloses the large, disc-shaped eyespot, seated on the ganglion. (ref. ID; 3245)
  1. Lindia aneboda Berzins (ref. ID; 1345)
  2. Lindia anebodica Berzins, 1949 (ref. ID; 3036 original paper)
  3. Lindia annecta Harring & Myers, 1922 (ref. ID; 1345, 3036)
    See; Lindia anebodica
  4. Lindia candida (ref. ID; 3413)
  5. Lindia ecela Myers (ref. ID; 1345)
  6. Lindia euchromatica Edmondson, 1938 (ref. ID; 2283, 2772 original paper, 2842)
  7. Lindia euchromatica europaea Koch-Althaus, 1962 (ref. ID; 2268, 2842 original paper)
  8. Lindia fulva Harring & Myers, 1922 (ref. ID; 1345, 7846)
  9. Lindia gravitata (Lie-Pettersen, 1905) (ref. ID; 1345) reported year? (ref. ID; 3573)
    Syn; Notommata gravitata Lie-Pettersen, 1905 (ref. ID; 1345); Lindia gravitata Remane, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345)
  10. Lindia janickii Wiszniewski, 1934 (ref. ID; 1345)
    Syn; Lindia pallida Wiszniewski, 1932 (ref. ID; 1345); Lindia torulosa Neiswestnowa, 1927 (ref. ID; 1345)
  11. Lindia pallida Harring & Myers, 1922 (ref. ID; 1345, 3154, 3181, 3688, 7846)
    Syn; Lindia torulosa Cohn, 1858 (ref. ID; 3688)
  12. Lindia parrotti Russell, 1946 (ref. ID; 2277 original paper)
  13. Lindia (Haliolindia) sphagnophila Rodewald-Rudescu, 1960 (ref. ID; 2627 original paper) or Rudescu, 1960 (ref. ID; 3688)
  14. Lindia (Haliolindia) tecusa Harring & Myers, 1922 (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 3130, 3688)
    See; Lindia parrotti (ref. ID; 2277)
    Syn; Dipodina artiscon Ehrenberg, 1842 (ref. ID; 3688)
  15. Lindia torulosa Cohn, 1858
    See; Lindia pallida (ref. ID; 3688)
  16. Lindia torulosa Dujardin, 1841 (ref. ID; 1345, 2266, 2268, 2640, 2932, 3036, 3688) reported year? (ref. ID; 2962) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 3292)
    See; Lindia anebodica, Notommata torulosa (ref. ID; 2276)
    Syn; Notommata roseola Perty, 1850 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Notommata rubra Glascott, 1893 (ref. ID; 3688); Notommata tardigrada Leydig, 1854 (ref. ID; 1345, 3688); Notommata torulosa Eyferth, 1878 (ref. ID; 1345; 3688); Notommata vorax Stokes, 1897 (ref. ID; 3688)
  17. Lindia truncata (Jennings, 1894) (ref. ID; 1345, 1474, 1923, 2281, 2842, 3688)
    Syn; Notommata truncata (Jennings) 1894 (ref. ID; 1345, 2281, 3688)
  18. Lindia virgata Rodewald-Rudescu, 1960 (ref. ID; 2627 original paper) or Rudescu, 1960 (ref. ID; 3688)

Lindia anebodica Berzins, 1949 (ref. ID; 3036 original paper)

Descriptions

Body slender, cylindrical, in the middle somewhat dorsally curved. The exact number of body segments is very difficult to fix. Head with a short, rounded rostrum. The corona extends downwards on the ventral side far under the eye; the cilia very short except on the antero-lateral margins where they are longer. Foot with two stout, broad joints; the distal joint on the dorsal side with a fold. Toes short, relatively thick, with a crevice on the end of the inner side. Body very hyaline. Stomach large, in the fore part green-brown, in the back part brown. Stomach glands relatively large, round. With a bladder. Large, oblong foot-glands passing through both the foot-joints. With a large, saccate ganglion. With a large eye. Trophi very complicated construction, a highly specialized virgate type. Fulcrum straight, with rounded end, robust; with blunt edge above. Rami triangulate with short alulae. The free space between the rami oblong. The reinforcing processes which form the termination of the rami are distally cut off at an acute angle, thus producing the shape upper edges of the rami with pointed ends. Unci relatively small, curved. The manubrium is bifurcate. The cardinal branch makes a curved bend (ca. 45 degrees) at about one-third the distance from the base, then continues straight, and ends abruptly. The other branch forks at the curved part of the cardinal branch, makes a bend of nearly a right angle about half way from its origin, and terminates in a shape point. Epipharynx thin, lying across lamellary plate and is pointed laterally. On this plate lies a somewhat thicker lamella, which is toothed towards the middle. (ref. ID; 3036)

Comments

In general shape Lindia anebodica somewhat resembles L. torulosa Dujardin, but the ciliated area differs, as does also the structure of the trophi, where the formation of the manubrium and epipharynx is unusual. L. anebodica differs from L. annecta Harring & Myers in the form of the head and foot, as well as in the peculiar shape of the manubrium and epipharynx is unusual. (ref. ID; 3036)

Measurements

Total length 370-390; length of toes 14-15; length of trophi 25 µm. (ref. ID; 3036)

Lindia euchromatica Edmondson, 1938 (ref. ID; 2283, 2772 original paper, 2842)

Descriptions

Specimens were smaller than those described by Edmondson. The differences in the trophi are that the rami in ventral view are considerably wider; the sickle shaped expansion to the manubria is smaller, and the hammer-shaped head of the epipharynx is less pronounced. It was also found that a few of the specimens the arms of the epipharynx almost straight rather than spindle shaped. (ref. ID; 2283)

The body is subcylindrical and about four times as long as wide. It is colored a deep brownish orange. The head and neck are short and the sides of the abdomen are slightly curved, tapering gently to the prominent rounded tail. The cuticle is faintly annulated. At the posterior end of the body, projecting somewhat ventrally is the foot which is so short as to be almost non-existent. The toes are subconical, slightly excavated near the tip on the medial surface. Because of the shortness of the foot, the toes are often invisible from dorsal view. The corona extends down the ventral side for about one fourth of the total length and at the posterior end is elevated into a slight chin. The corona is remarkable in that the ciliation extends back along the dorsal surface of the head for a considerable distance. The ciliation of the cylindrical auricles is not continuous with that of the corona. The rami are lyrate and each bears on the inner margin a large, rounded, broad-based tooth. Posteriorly they extend as large alulae. On the external surface of each ramus there is a lamellar projection which extends from about the mid-point to the anterior end. The fulcrum is less than half as long as the rami. Each uncus consists of a single rod-shaped tooth. It is accompanied at the free end by an irregular pyriform structure. The manubria are large and broad. There is an extensive semicircular expansion from the anterior end which gives rise dorsally to a sickle-shaped extension and ventrally to a lamella which extends along the ventral side of the manubia to point one third of the length from the posterior end. The end of the manubrium bears a ventrally directed hook. The epipharynx consists of two pairs of pieces. The large piece is roughly hammer shaped with the head toward the median plane and opposed to that on the other side of the mastax. The "head" is set off from the pointed, spindle shaped "handle" by a constriction. It is accompanied by a smaller, spindle shaped piece which lies against it on the dorso-anterior side. Its edge is finely serrated medially. The retrocerebral sac is approximately spherical and filled with a very dark granular substance. The subcerebral glands are fused and extend forward from the sac. Between the sac and fused glands is a large red eye. This is also the condition in L. tecusa (Dehl, 1934) and probably in all Lindia. There are two large salivary glands on the posterior corners of the mastax. The gastric glands are large, pyriform, and contain many nuclei. They are somewhat ventral in position. The cement glands are small. The bladder, ovary, stomach and antenna are normal. (ref. ID; 2722)

Comments

This species is most closely related to L. truncata (Jennings) which it resembles in general shape and color. The details the foot, tail, trophi and toes are different. The dorsal ciliation is more extensive than in L. truncata. Lindia euchromatica lives in the slime surrounding colonies of Gloeotrichia where it feeds on the plant filaments and deposits its eggs. The eggs (presumably amicitic) were 150 µm long and 65 µm wide. The membrane was slightly wrinkled. When disturbed, they swim freely. Therefore, the animals will be found in the meniscus of a fresh collection, but after about an hour, they settle down to the plants. (ref. ID; 2722)

Measurements

Average length of specimens 100-150; length of toes 5-10 µm. (ref. ID; 2283)

Total length 300; length of toes 10; length of trophi 35; width of body 65 µm. (ref. ID; 2722)

Lindia gravitata (Lie-Pettersen, 1905) (ref. ID; 1345) reported year? (ref. ID; 3573)

Synonym

Notommata gravitata Lie-Pettersen, 1905 (ref. ID; 1345); Lindia gravitata Remane, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345)

Descriptions

Marine rotifer. (ref. ID; 3573)

Lindia pallida Harring & Myers, 1922 (ref. ID; 1345, 3154, 3181, 3688, 7846)

Synonym

Lindia torulosa Cohn, 1858 (ref. ID; 3688)

Measurements

Length 270 µm. (ref. ID; 3181)

Lindia parrotti Russell, 1946 (ref. ID; 2277 original paper)

Diagnosis

L. parrotti bears a superficial resemblance to L. tecusa, and like this species has the non-sclerified foot, and no auricles. L. tecusa, however, is 1,000-1,500 µm in length and is the only known Notammatid to be viviparous, whereas L. parrotti has a length of from 80-100 µm, a width of from 27-35 µm, and is oviparous. The new species is annulated similarly to L. truncata (Harring & Myers, 1924, p.626), only the annulations are very much more developed, as in the case of members of the genus Taprocampa. The large dorsal antenna and the semi-circular retractile chin are sufficient to distinguish L. parrotti from the 11 known species of the genus, while the presence of the cardate or oscillating mastax clearly indicates that the new species belongs to the genus Lindia. (ref. ID; 2277)

Descriptions

The body is elongate, slender. Almost cylindrical, and gently tapering to the foot. The greatest width of the body is approximately one-third its length. The integument is usually of a light brown colour, very flexible, and in most cases covered with flocculent matter making the body opaque. There is no distinct separation between head and abdomen. The animal has approximately 10 evanescent annulations which do not extend completely round the body, and are generally seen only in the lateral view. The annulations disappear when the body is extended. The foot is rudimentary and no tail was observed. The toes are short and, not sclerified, and may be completely with drawn with the body; they have not been seen extended much beyond the sheath. The toes bear a strong resemblance to those of L. tecusa (Harring & Myers, 1924, p.624). The foot glands could be seen only indistinctly. The corona is weakly oblique, and extends on the ventral side to the semi-circular retractile chin; the ciliation is without auricles, and the mouth is slightly below the centre. The mastax is of the cardate type, in which pumping is carried out by the whole mastax oscillating as a unit on a transverse axis. The fulcrum is moderately long and narrow and terminates in a circular plate. The rami are of the usual lyrate form with no denticulation. The unci, viewed ventrally, form the segment of a circle; each uncus appears to have four teeth, three of which are rudimentary, joined together by a plate. Owing, however, to the minuteness of the teeth these could not be clearly resolved. The manubria are moderately robust, slightly asymmetrical, curved, and at the junction with the unci are expanded into a shoulder. The approximate over-all measurements are as follows: manubrium 7-9 µm; uncus 5 µm; fulcrum 3 µm. The gastric glands are small, the oesophagus is moderately short, and the stomach is not separated from the intestine. No epipharynx was observed. The ovary is normal, the bladder is large, and the cloaca opens dorsally at the base of the toes. The ganglion is large and saccate with a crimson eyespot at the posterior end. No retrocerebral organ was seen. The dorsal antenna consists of a retractile conical protuberance 8 µm high, crowned with setae. No lateral antennae were found. L. parrotti is often found carrying an egg 45 µm long and 25 µm in diameter attached to its toes. The animal swims very close to the surface of the water, and for this reason may be over-looked; its movements are slow and deliberate, and it is constantly changing its shape. When viewed laterally, L. parrotti has the appearance of a hammer, and in spite of its small size can easily be identified under a low-power objective. (ref. ID; 2277)

Etymology

I have pleasure in naming this species after Mr. A.W. Parrott, biologist, of the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. (ref. ID; 2277)

Lindia (Haliolindia) tecusa Harring & Myers, 1922 (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 3130, 3688)

See

Lindia parrotti (ref. ID; 2277)

Synonym

Dipodina artiscon Ehrenberg, 1842 (ref. ID; 3688)

Descriptions

Most individuals contain embryos; usually each specimen contains three embryos in different stage of development. (ref. ID; 1511)

Lindia truncata (Jennings, 1894) (ref. ID; 1345, 1474, 1923, 2281, 2842, 3688)

Synonym

Notommata truncata (Jennings) 1894 (ref. ID; 1345, 2281, 3688)

Descriptions

The specimens differed from the type in the trophi. The fulcrum was shorter in all specimens, with the unci shorter and more robust. (ref. ID; 2281)

Measurements

Total length 190; toes 10 µm. (ref. ID; 2281)