The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta
Testudinella
Testudinella Bory de St. Vincent, 1822 (ref. ID; 3514), 1826 (ref. ID; 2978, 3688, 4596, 7815) or 1827 (ref. ID; 2998)
Class Rotatoria: Order Monimotrochida: Family Testudinellidae (ref. ID; 7097)
Synonym Proboskidea Bory de St. Vincent, 1826 (ref. ID; 3688); Pterodina Ehrenberg, 1830 (ref. ID; 2978, 3688) or 1838 (ref. ID; 1345, 1923, 3514)
ref. ID; 1663
Dorsal and ventral plates of lorica completely fused laterally. Greatly flattened dorso-ventrally and sometimes nearly circular. Foot long, retractile, annulated, and terminating in a tuft of cilia. Mastax malleoramate. Littoral species. (ref. ID; 1663)
ref. ID; 1923
2 frontal eyes. The species are distinguished on the basis of shape, size, and position of foot opening, position of lateral antennae, and outline of lorica in dorsal view and cross section. Foot opening ventral in most species, terminal in some. (ref. ID; 1923)
ref. ID; 4596
Lorica dorso-ventrally flattened. Foot long, retractile, annulated, and terminating in a tuft of cilia. (ref. ID; 4596)
This species is nearly circular in shape. The dorsal plate has a convex frontal edge with a small central notch. On each side of the hind portion a small triangular projection is present, the tips of which are 100 micra apart. In the ventral plate the frontal edge is concave, but it swells out slightly centrally. A polygonal foot-opening is situated at the posterior extremity. In cross section, the ventral side is flat, but the dorsal side forms a low arc. (ref. ID; 3063)
Lorica almost circular in outline; dorsal anterior margin slightly pointed at center, concave on each side. Ventral anterior margin rounded into a rather deep V-shaped sinus. Dorsal plate depressed arch in cross section; in side view, gradual elevation of dorsal surface extending about two-thirds length of lorica. Ventral plate almost flat; foot opening situated at terminal portion of short stalk-like projection which bends slightly downwards from posterior margin of lorica. (ref. ID; 3054)
Comments
It resembles Testudinella discoida in general contour, but differs from it in its smaller size, presence of the posterior projection and position of the foot opening. Accordingly, it is quite distinguishable from any other species of the genus Testudinella. (ref. ID; 3054)
Type locality
The present species is found in material collected in 1943 among detritus at Rokujizo Pond. (ref. ID; 3054)
Measurements
Length of lorica 124; width of lorica 107; length of projection 10; width of projection 15; width of anterior margin 48 µm. (ref. ID; 3054)
Length of dorsal plate 116-124; length of ventral plate 108-114; width of lorica 80-86.5; width of aperture for head 40.5-48; foot opening 14-17.6 µm. (ref. ID; 3275)
Marine and brackish water. (ref. ID; 3573)
Lorica elliptical, anterior gently rounded. Ventral anterior margin with a V-shaped sinus. Foot opening is a cured cleft. Marine species, usually in the littoral zone. (ref. ID; 4596)
Measurements
Length of lorica 150-165; width of lorica 86-120; width of aperture for the head 58-68; foot opening 22; distance of foot opening to posterior margin of lorica 20 µm. (ref. ID; 3275)
Length of lorica 120-170 µm. (ref. ID; 4596)
Lorica elliptical, narrowed anteriorly. Anterior margin gently rounded, with a rounded or rectangular notch ventrally. Brackish-water species, in the littoral zone. (ref. ID; 4596)
Lorica oval, dorsoventrally flattened, anterior end giving appearance of emarging out. Foot opening slightly above posterior end. A small slit-like marking on lorica at extreme posterior end. (ref. ID; 1806)
Measurements
Length of lorica 108 µm. (ref. ID; 1450)
Length of lorica 110-130; width of lorica 90; width of foot opening 22-30; distance of foot opening to posterior margin of lorica 10-13 µm. (ref. ID; 3275)
Length of lorica 163-170; width of lorica 75-83; height of foot aperture 8; width of foot aperture 11; distance of foot aperture to posterior margin of lorica 2 µm. (ref. ID; 3275)
The anterior mucrone has a distinct V notch, and the dorsal markings which are probably shallow folds, follow the contour of the plate. (ref. ID; 2282)
Shape resembles Testudinella mucronata (Gosse, 1886). Head-aperture normal but directed ventrally, with a collar. Dorsal posterior lorica with symmetrical folds, the median with a short rounded top. The type has a soft lorica surface and no folds. Foot-opening median at beginning of second third of ventral plate. (ref. ID; 2886)
Comments
T. mucronata (Gosse, 1886) has not been recorded from Australia. It is smaller than the Tasmanian material (lorica length to 170 µm, width to 140 µm). Large size, head-opening projection and presence of a collar distinguished the Tasmanian specimens from the type, however the morphological variation in the T. patina-ohlei-mucronata group suggests that specific ranking for the new taxon is not, on present evidence, warranted. (ref. ID; 2886)
Type locality
Stock dam 9 km north of Triabunna (1 km north of Ashgrove Creek). 16.5 degrees C, pH 5.2, 216 µS cm-1. (ref. ID; 2886)
The lorica is widely oval and narrowed occipitally. The ventral and dorsal lorica are similar, but the ventral lorica has plates at the head opening. A wedge on both sides of the foot opening has a cylindrical prolongation on the inside. This is across-oval and is placed near the posterior margin. There are 2 large pores on the dorsal plate above the middle line. In cross section the lorica is crescent-shaped and the dorsal side is bent outwards. (ref. ID; 4606)
Comments
They resemble T. amphora habitually, but the Australian animals are broader and have a different kind of foot opening. (ref. ID; 4606)
Type locality
Some individuals found in Creswick Creek. (ref. ID; 4606)
Elongated oval lorica, occipitally narrowed. The ventral lorica is more restricted occipitally then the dorsal lorica so that there is a broad folded constriction between the two plates on the ventral side of the lorica. In the folded field (on both sides) lateral pores with the sensitive cilia. The foot opening is elongate-oval, lying across the posterior border of the lorica. Across-section shows that the dorsal lorica is bent in where the ventral side is nearly straight. (ref. ID; 4606)
Type locality
Some animals found in Creswick Creek. (ref. ID; 4606)
The outline of the shell and the apical dorsal processes are as in the forma typica, but shell is remarkably broad. The ventral and also the dorsal shells are laterally and caudally covered with warts 1.6-3 µm long, which seem to be prickly ventrally under the foot opening. The foot has a sickle-shaped shelter. (ref. ID; 2834)
Measurements
Shell length 130-172; shell width 140; shell height 25; width of head opening 55; width of foot opening 20-25 µm. (ref. ID; 2834)
Testudinella parva (Ternetz, 1892) (ref. ID; 1345, 1450, 1847, 2268, 2269, 2715, 2835, 2932, 3151, 3153, 3263, 3335, 3688) reported year? (ref. ID; 3572), parva parva Ternetz (ref. ID; 4606)
Synonym
Pterodina parva Ternetz, 1892 (ref. ID; 1345, 2835, 3151, 3688); Testudinella parva Harring, 1913 (ref. ID; 3151, 3688)
Descriptions
Body small, more or less rounded. The dorsal plate has one lobe anteriorly. Foot opening large and situated towards the posterior end and elevated. Also it is somewhat irregularly shaped. (ref. ID; 2715)
Measurements
Length of body 96; width 87; foot opening 15 µm. (ref. ID; 2715)
Length of lorica 96-111; breadth of body (lorica) 86-96 µm. (ref. ID; 3572)
Lorica length 110; lorica width 85 µm. (ref. ID; 4606)
Body transparent, circular and dorsoventrally flattened. Anterior end of lorica with a prominent anteromedian lobe. Foot opening circular, almost 1/3 from the posterior end of lorica. Foot annulate, retractile and terminating in a ciliated cap. (ref. ID; 1804)
This species is the commonest hard-water. (ref. ID; 1923)
Body transparent, almost rounded and dorso-ventrally flattened. Foot opening circular, almost 1/3 from the posterior end of lorica. (ref. ID; 2704)
Body is rounded, with one prominent lobe anteriorly. Size variable. Foot-opening approximately one-third from the posterior end and circular. (ref. ID; 2715)
Lorica circular, dorso-ventrally flattened, very transparent. Foot-opening situated ventrally near middle of the body. Foot annulated, ending in a band of cilia. Corona in the form of a simple band of cilia. (ref. ID; 2867)
Lorica transparent, thin, oval, or rounded. Foot opening fairly large and about one-third from posterior end. Ventral plate convex. (ref. ID; 3180)
Measurements
Lorica length 170; maximum width 165 µm. (ref. ID; 1804)
Length 210 µm. (ref. ID; 2385)
Lorica length 172; maximum width 169 µm. (ref. ID; 2704)
Length of body 179; width 160 µm. (ref. ID; 2715)
Total length 180; maximum width 150 µm. (ref. ID; 2867)
Length of lorica 172-182; breadth of body (lorica) 164-170; dist. from. post. edge to foot opening 50-52 µm. (ref. ID; 3572)
This species differed from the description of Myers (1934) in not possessing the median posterior notch and the lateral antennae were situated at about the middle of the lorica. In this respect it resembles T. angulata described by Myers at the same place. The cross section is in between the two species. One might consider merging these two species with the very similar, if not identical T. parva bidentata (Ternetz, 1892). Without an opportunity of direct comparison of a fair number of transition forms however, this problem awaits clarification. (ref. ID; 2894)
Differs from the other subspecies having a very stout thorn on the occipital corner of the dorsal lorica and stout, blunt thorn on the occipital margin of the ventral lorica. (ref. ID; 4604)
This species clearly belongs to trilobata rather than patina in group. It has, however, a necklike structure as in amphora Hauer, 1938. (ref. ID; 2874)
This species resembles trilobata Anderson et al., 1892 in the dorsal view of the lorica. But, it is characterized by having a rhomboid form in cross section although the observation from this direction has been hardly carried out in this genus. Besides, in this species, constriction is found around the neck region. (ref. ID; 2874)
Type locality
Hateruma Jima site 4. (ref. ID; 2874)
Measurements
Lorica length 150; widest part 90; highest part 40 µm. (ref. ID; 2874)
This species belongs to trilobata rather than patina in group. But, it is characterized in displaying a triangular shape in cross section like that of triangularis Myers, 1934. (ref. ID; 2874)
Type locality
Hateruma Jima site 4. (ref. ID; 2874)
Measurements
Lorica length 160-170; widest part 150-160; highest part 40 µm. (ref. ID; 2874)
Lorica pear-shaped in lateral and dorsal view; dorsum convex, arched; ventral plate concave. Transverse section of midlorica dorsally concave, greatly depressed, ventrally convex. Foot-opening nearly triangular, situated at posterior margin of lorica within a short tube, continuing by a semi-circular structure at the end of ventral plate. Dorsal margin of head aperture with flat tongue, ventral margin with two symmetrical curves which connect behind closure folds of head-opening. At this point is a single sharply-pointed median horn unknown in the genus. Lateral antenna posterior to middle, nearly 72 µm from anterior point of lorica. (ref. ID; 1945)
Ecology
Testudinella unicornuta was collected from open water in a peaty shallow pool; pH 6.2; transparency 1.5 NTU; conductivity 80 µS cm-1. (ref. ID; 1945)
Juvenile lorica widely oval, strongly circular outline in adults. Dorsal lorica slightly concave at widest point. Ventral lorica under neck-aperture with keel-like folding, two edges of which curve outwards to lower lorica rim. Foot opening slit-like under middle of ventral lorica. Dorsal anterior rim of head-aperture with rounded, bulge, medially lightly notched. In poor preparations this can appear concave. Lorica end with shallow indentation. Lateral antennae located slightly above lorica midline. Lorica cross-section shallow, triangular. (ref. ID; 2758)
Comments
The new species belongs on the Formenkreis incisa (see Koste 1978). All are described with oval or egg-shaped lorica outlines, as are the adult individuals of the brycei-amphora group (Koste 1978). With the exception of T. amphora Hauer, 1937, neither of these groups has the ear-shaped lateral elevation of the dorsolateral rim of the neck aperture. The new species is characterised by this projection on the upper rim of the wide lorica, by the presence of the two prominent ventral diverging lines which begin at the keel-like crease under the ventral margin of the neck aperture. A lorica of similar form but lacking the wide ventral keel was found in a sample from Malaysia. Comparative measurements (in µm) are given in the sequence lorica length, lorica width, foot-opening, neck aperture, lorica cross-section: T. walkeri 100-112, -98, slit-like, with lateral "ears" 40-44, shallow triangular; T. sp. from Malaysia, 136, 84, angular 16x10, with "ears" 64, shallow triangular; T. amphora, 90-95, 60-78, slit-like 18-20, with "ears", triangular; T. brycei, 85, 58, slit-like, medially tongued-shaped, triangular; T. incisa v. emarginula, 80-130, 65-82, slit-like, medially shallow, tongue-shaped shallow triangular. (ref. ID; 2758)
Etymology
Named after Dr. K.F. Walker, Department of Zoology, University of Adelaide, in appreciation of support during a Ph. D. program by RJS. (ref. ID; 2758)
