The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta
Laboea
Laboea Lohmann, 1908 (ref. ID; 1032, 3420)
Order Oligotrichida: Family Strombidiidae (ref. ID; 7069)
[ref. ID; 1032]
Maeda & Carey (see ref. ID; 3420) stated the genus Laboea Lohmann, 1908, was originally established to include species possessing polysaccharide plates and later re-defined by Faure-Fremiet to have, in addition, a spiraled form. Laboea has been considered a synonym of the genus Strombidium; however, the series of whorls formed by a sinistrally spiraling girdle and the abbreviated ventral kinety are two unique generic characters. We do not agree with the subjective synonomy of the earlier authors and consider instead Lohmann's original generic designation valid. (ref. ID; 1032)
[ref. ID; ?]
The genus Laboea was established by Lohmann (1908) to include those species that possessed polysaccharide plates or platelets. Faure-Fremiet (1969) redescribed this genus to include those animals which had a spiral form of polygonal cortical platelets. As Kahl (1932) suggested, the appearance and arrangement of polygonal cortical platelets are not sufficient reason to establish the genus. (ref. ID; ?)
[ref. ID; 3420]
The genus Laboea Lohmann, 1908 possesses the characteristic arrangement of polysaccharide plates which displays 3-6 cone-shaped forms and partly overlap each other at the posterior of the body. (ref. ID; 3420)
Body generally conical, 59-106 um in length by 20-56 um in width, with conspicuous screw-like appearance due to the body whorls and with a shallow oral groove. Cell surface often swelling to produce a series of bulges associated with whorls. Ventral polykinetid zone (VPZ) slightly separated and internal to anterior polykinetid zone (APZ); APZ composed of 14 (12-18) polykientids of equal length, surrounding anterior end; VPZ composed of 12-22 polykinetids, lying in a shallow ventral groove, which forms a sunken pit posteriorly. One ciliated paroral kinety, on dorsal side of the right "lip" of the groove, extending deep into the oral groove. Girdle (G) of monokinetids with short stubby cilia, forming a sinistral helix of 4 or 5 whorls, originating left of oral groove and ending near posterior apex. Ventral kinety, short, usually dorsal, composed of 12-15 non-ciliated dikinetids, extending from posterior end of G to posterior end. Multiple spherical macronuclei located throughout cytoplasm, often appearing to spiral with "body" whorls. "Trichites" short, irregularly inserted anterior to G. (ref. ID; 1032)