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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Paradicranophorus

Paradicranophorus Wiszniewski, 1929 (ref. ID; 2919)

ref. ID; 1923

Two very slender toes arising from rudimentary foot, directed ventrad; ridges around body. Body very stout, and posterior part of body not expanded. Living on bottom, not swimming. (ref. ID; 1923)

ref. ID; 2919

The genus Paradicranophorus Wiszniewski, 1929 was considered monotypic, because at that time only in P. limosus was known, which later was proven to be P. hudsoni (Glascott, 1893). Up to 1929, Dicranophorinae Harring and Myers (1926) was still regarded as a subfamily of the Notommatidae. Remane (1929-1933) was the first to recognize that this taxon constitutes and independent family and included it as Dicranophoridae in his still valid system (cf. Remane 1929-1933: 516, Koste 1978: 54). (ref. ID; 2919)

ref. ID; 3452

Generic characters are the following: body pyriform, cuticle sticky, the leg situated on the abdominal side, long excretory ducts of salivary glands present, viviparity, and benthal mode of life. (ref. ID; 3452)
  1. Paradicranophorus aculeatus (Neiswestnowa-Shadina, 1935) (ref. ID; 2019, 3154) or (Neistwestnova-Shadina, 1935) (ref. ID; 2919)
    Syn; Dicranophorus aucleatus Neiswestnowa-Shadina, 1935 (ref. ID; 2019, 3154); Paradicranophorus aculeatus Wiszniewski, 1954 (ref. ID; 2019)
  2. Paradicranophorus hudsoni (Glascott, 1893) (ref. ID; 1345, 1923, 2019, 2266, 2624, 2701, 2919, 3127, 3154, 3452, 3688)
    Syn; Dicranophorus hudsoni de Beauchamp, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019); Diglena hudsoni Glascott, 1893 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3127, 3688); Paradicranophorus hudsoni Wiszniewski, 1931/32 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688); Paradicranophorus limosus Wiszniewski, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688)
  3. Paradicranophorus limosus Wiszniewski, 1929
    See; Paradicranophorus hudsoni (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688)
  4. Paradicranophorus sordidus Donner, 1968 (ref. ID; 2019, 2919)
  5. Paradicranophorus sudzukii Donner, 1968 (ref. ID; 2019, 2919)
  6. Paradicranophorus verae Bogoslovsky, 1958 (ref. ID; 2019, 2919, 3452 original paper)
  7. Paradicranophorus wockei Koste, 1960 (ref. ID; 7846) or 1961 (ref. ID; 2019, 2698 original paper, 2888, 2919) reported year? (ref. ID; 2913)
    See; Kostea wockei (ref. ID; 2019)

Paradicranophorus aculeatus (Neiswestnowa-Shadina, 1935) (ref. ID; 2019, 3154) or (Neistwestnova-Shadina, 1935) (ref. ID; 2919)

Synonym

Dicranophorus aucleatus Neiswestnowa-Shadina, 1935 (ref. ID; 2019, 3154); Paradicranophorus aculeatus Wiszniewski, 1954 (ref. ID; 2019)

Descriptions

The extended body is approximately spindle-shaped when creeping. A ventrally bent rostrum lies apical; a poorly developed corona leads to the ciliated pharynx that sits underneath the rostrum. This ventral location of the corona can be regarded as a morphological and taxonomical characteristic feature, additionally to the forcipate trophi. Caudally, the body terminates in a dorsal cuticular appendage covering half the toes. The integument is transparent, soft and flexible so that the shape of the animal changes easily. Ventrally, the body is divided into indistinct pseudosegments, with the head clearly separated. Paired movable spines are located at the apical ventral margin; in preserved specimens these spines are usually spread. The brain is located under the corona, above the mastax and shows a subcerebral gland. The dorsal antenna is very tiny, eyespots could not be seen. The mastax contains very simple trophi: The hard parts consists of a short boardshaped fulcrum and the rami, which reach the height of the unci on the manubria. The rami becomes remarkably thin and ends apically symetrical with shape points. Subunci and intramallei are missing. Powlowski (1958) reports different unci which seen to be bipartited. They are not devided. The mastax is connected with the salivary glands by the long salivary gland ducts. Like in other species of the genus (with the exception of P. sordidus), stomach glands are missing. The oesophagus is relatively long and leads to the digestive tract, which continues in the intestine with visible constriction. The anus is situated somewhat dorsally over the toe base under the caudal appendage. The contractile bladder sits on top of the big foot glands. The vitellarium has eight nuclei. The ovary sits like a small cap on this syncytium. Oocytes could not be counted microscopically. As in Lecanidae, the characteristic toes are shifted ventrally and attached to a bent cuticular plate. The lateral antennae are inserted far distally, at the height of the bladder, sitting on dorsal papillae. (ref. ID; 2919)

Comments

Compared to other known species of Paradicranophorus, P. aculeatus is the smallest one. P. sudzukii is the only one with comparable total length. The habitus (spindle-shaped or pear-shaped), the cuticular structure (pseudosegmented and wrinkled), integument hooks, the toe-shape, form of trophi and the location of the salivary glands can be described as distinguishing morphological features. P. aculeatus is spindle-shaped when creeping. It has only one pair of cuticular apical hooks. Its integument is striated lengthwise and possessed three cross constrictions where - similar to other species, like P. hudsoni or P. sordidus - a layer of detritus, mineral particles, shells of diatoms etc. clings to adult animals. The toes are not needle-like, but swollen at the base and therefore appear more club-shaped. The trophus of P. aculeatus described in this paper is constructed quite simple, while other members of the genus additionally possess praeuncinal teeth, double rami tips intramallei besides the basic parts. (ref. ID; 2919)

Measurements

Total length 198-220; toe length 47; trophi length 39 µm. (ref. ID; 2919)

Paradicranophorus hudsoni (Glascott, 1893) (ref. ID; 1345, 1923, 2019, 2266, 2624, 2701, 2919, 3127, 3154, 3452, 3688)

Synonym

Dicranophorus hudsoni de Beauchamp, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019); Diglena hudsoni Glascott, 1893 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3127, 3688); Paradicranophorus hudsoni Wiszniewski, 1931/32 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688); Paradicranophorus limosus Wiszniewski, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688)

Descriptions

Cuticle with deep transversal folds and less drastically manifested longitudinal ones, rostrum small, submentum unexpressed, toes short, dwells in the silt of fresh waters. (ref. ID; 3452)

Measurements

Total length 320-480; toe length 24-33; trophi length 35-40 µm. (ref. ID; 2919)

Total length 480; length of head section 80; length of body less head 450; maximum width of body 140; length of toes 30 µm. (ref. ID; 3127)

Paradicranophorus sordidus Donner, 1968 (ref. ID; 2019, 2919)

Measurements

Total length 182-320; toe length 18-20; trophi length 30-37 µm. (ref. ID; 2919)

Paradicranophorus sudzukii Donner, 1968 (ref. ID; 2019, 2919)

Measurements

Total length 162-198; toe length 29-30; trophi length 29-31 µm. (ref. ID; 2919)

Paradicranophorus verae Bogoslovsky, 1958 (ref. ID; 2019, 2919, 3452 original paper)

Descriptions

Cuticle smooth without folds, large rostrum, submentum present, toes long, dwells in the sand of marine littoral. (ref. ID; 3452)

Comments

It regarded as a synonym for P. hudsoni by Koste, 1978. (ref. ID; 2919)

Type locality

This species found by V.A. Brotzkaya (1950) in the sand littoral of the isle Ryazhkov, in the White Sea. (ref. ID; 3452)

Measurements

Length 400; toes length 56 µm. (ref. ID; 2919)

Paradicranophorus wockei Koste, 1960 (ref. ID; 7846) or 1961 (ref. ID; 2019, 2698 original paper, 2888, 2919) reported year? (ref. ID; 2913)

See

Kostea wockei (ref. ID; 2019)

Measurements

Total length 385-435; toe length 48; trophi length 40-44 µm. (ref. ID; 2919)