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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Aspelta

Aspelta Harring & Myers, 1928

ref. ID; 1511

The members of this genus are predators mainly feeding on other rotifers. Swallowed and even digested rotifers can usually be identified due to their mastax. Ciliates constitute probably also part of the diet of the Aspelta species. However, ciliates leave no recognizable remains in the intestine and only in one case it could be demonstrated that a ciliate had been eaten. (ref. ID; 1511)

ref. ID; 1663

Corona ventral. Rostrum large. Retrocerebral sac present. Mastax forcipate. Trophi asymmetrical, strongly compressed dorso-ventrally and adapted for protrusion and tearing prey. Toes long. Usually in acid waters and sphagnum bogs. (ref. ID; 1663)

ref. ID; 1923

Uncus irregular in shape, attached to ramus near mid-length. (ref. ID; 1923)
  1. Aspelta alastor Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)
  2. Aspelta angusta Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 2019, 3036)
  3. Aspelta aper (Harring, 1913) (ref. ID; 1345, 1923, 1945, 2268, 2283) or 1914 (ref. ID; 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 2269, 2814, 3572, 3688, 4606)
    Syn; Encentrum aper Harring, 1913 (ref. ID; 1345, 2283) or 1914 (ref. ID; 2019); Aspelta aper Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)
  4. Aspelta baltica Remane, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 2019)
  5. Aspelta beltista Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)
  6. Aspelta bidentata Wulfert, 1961 (ref. ID; 2019, 2814 original paper)
  7. Aspelta chorista Myers, 1942 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)
    Syn; Aspelta circinator after Koste (1978) (ref. ID; 2019)
  8. Aspelta circinator (Gosse, 1886) (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 2196, 2268, 2608, 2994, 3688, 7846)
    Syn; Aspelta circinator Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019); Dicranophorus giraffa (Gosse, 1886) (ref. ID; 2019); Dicranophorus giraffa Harring, 1913 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688); Diglena circinator Gosse, 1886 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019) or Hudson & Gosse, 1886 (ref. ID; 3688); Diglena giraffa Gosse, 1886 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688); Encentrum circinator (Gosse, 1886) (ref. ID; 2019); Encentrum circinator Harring & Myers, 1922 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 3688)
  9. Aspelta clydona Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 3573)
    Syn; Aspelta harringi antonowiezae d'Hondt, 1970 (ref. ID; 2019)
  10. Aspelta clydona var. europaea Hauer, 1939 (ref. ID; 1345) reported year? (ref. ID; 3688)
    See; Aspelta europaea (ref. ID; 2019)
  11. Aspelta curvidactyla Berzins, 1949 (ref. ID; 2019, 3036 original paper)
  12. Aspelta clydona Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 2019)
    Syn; Aspelta harringi antonowiezae d'Hondt, 1970 (ref. ID; 2019)
  13. Aspelta ecuadoriensis Koste, 1992 (ref. ID; 2019, 7846)
  14. Aspelta egregia Myers, 1936 (ref. ID; 1345, 1945, 2019)
  15. Aspelta europaea (Hauer, 1939) stat. nov. (ref. ID; 2019)
    Syn; ?Aspleta baltica Remane, 1929 (ref. ID; 2019); Aspelta clydona var. europaea Hauer, 1939 (ref. ID; 2019)
  16. Aspelta harringi antonowiezae d'Hondt, 1970
    See; Aspelta clydona (ref. ID; 2019)
  17. Aspelta harringi Remane, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 2019)
  18. Aspelta imbuta Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)
    Syn; ?Aspleta ecuadoriensis Koste, 1992 (ref. ID; 2019)
  19. Aspelta intradentata Berzins, 1949 (ref. ID; 2019, 3036 original paper)
  20. Aspelta labri Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)
  21. Aspelta lestes Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019, 2640)
  22. Aspelta macra Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 2019, 2269)
  23. Aspelta mollis Rodewald-Rudescu, 1960 (ref. ID; 2019, 2627 original paper) or Rudescu, 1960 (ref. ID; 3688, 7859)
  24. Aspelta neboisi Berzins, 1982 (ref. ID; 4606 original paper), neboissi Berzins, 1982 (ref. ID; 2019)
  25. Aspelta pachida (Gosse, 1887) comb. nov. (ref. ID; 2019)
    Syn; Encentrum pachidum (Gosse, 1887) (ref. ID; 2019); ?Pleurotrocha littoralis Levander, 1894 (ref. ID; 2019)
  26. Aspelta psitta Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 3402) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 7065)
  27. Aspelta reibischi (Remane, 1929) (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 3573, 3688)
    Syn; Aspelta reibischi (Remane, 1949) (ref. ID; 1345, 2019); Dicranophorus reibischi Wulfert, 1938 (ref. ID; 1345); Encentrum reibischi Remane, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)
  28. Aspelta tilba Koste & Shiel, 1987 (ref. ID; 1945 original paper, 2019)

Aspelta aper (Harring, 1913) (ref. ID; 1345, 1923, 1945, 2268, 2283) or 1914 (ref. ID; 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 2269, 2814, 3572, 3688, 4606)

Synonym

Encentrum aper Harring, 1913 (ref. ID; 1345, 2283) or 1914 (ref. ID; 2019); Aspelta aper Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)

Notes

In size and shape, except for the trophi, the present specimens resemble A. aper as described Harring (1913). The differences from Harring's specimen, are the longer fulcrum, the almost symmetrical unci and no alulae on the rami. (ref. ID; 3572)

Measurements

Length of body 300; length of toes 44; length of trophi 48 µm. (ref. ID; 2283)

Total length of specimens in extended position 250; length of toes 36; length of trophi 10; length of fulcrum 10; length of rami 19; length of manubria 19 and 20 µm. (ref. ID; 3572)

Aspelta clydona Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 3573)

Synonym

Aspelta harringi antonowiezae d'Hondt, 1970 (ref. ID; 2019)

Descriptions

Marine and brackish water. (ref. ID; 3573)

Aspelta curvidactyla Berzins, 1949 (ref. ID; 2019, 3036 original paper)

Descriptions

Body long, forepart somewhat dorsoventral flattened; in abdominal part a small hump. The head is a little shorter than one-third of body. Head with a small rostrum. Corona with cilia on the ventral side occupies two-thirds the length of the head. Abdomen stout; foot strong, conical. The circular fold on the proximal segment of foot broad, interrupted on the ventral side; besides them a longitudinal thickening of cuticula. This structure is often difficult of see. Toes of ordinary length, crescent shaped; with glands. Fulcrum is a narrow plate, nearly as long as rami. Rami are asymmetrically formed; the left ramus is stronger, with one tooth on its end. The bases of rami are broadly wrapped in thick lamellae. Unci asymmetrical and short. The lower part of manubrium curved, the upper part somewhat enlarged and slightly split. Both are somewhat dissimilar. Ganglion oblong, saccate. Animals without eyes. Stomach large; stomach glands small, round. Foot glands vigorous, laterally compressed. (ref. ID; 3036)

Comments

General appearance is similar to A. circinator (Gosse), especially in respect of the curved toes. The trophi, however, are formed differently. Also, the absence of eyes, and the peculiar fold of the foot still further increase the differences. (ref. ID; 3036)

Type locality

In small number they are found in several lakes in the Aneboda distinct. They dwell on the biogenous bottom, rarely in the periphyton. (ref. ID; 3036)

Measurements

Total length 280; length of toes 32-34; length of trophi 24-26; width of trophi 18-20 µm. (ref. ID; 3036)

Aspelta intradentata Berzins, 1949 (ref. ID; 2019, 3036 original paper)

Descriptions

Body slender. Length of head, nearly one-third of the length of the body. The corona on the ventral side occupies two-thirds the length of the head. Rostrum short and broad. Foot vigorous, conical. Toes short, straight and thin. The foot glands relatively small, oblong. The retrocerebral sac weakly developed. The eyes are not visible. The stomach and the stomach glands, large. Trophi oblong, asymmetrical. Fulcrum long, straight, becoming gradually thicker towards the proximal end. Rami longish, the right somewhat broader, with one robust tooth, which is seen in the pear-like sinus between the rami. Near the base of the left ramus a small indentation is seen, and centrally placed along this ramus is a broad, triangular tooth, which projects outwards. Unci small, each with a side-projection. Manubria are long, enlarged at the base, becoming narrow distally, and bent inwards slightly at the ends. (ref. ID; 3036)

Comments

In many aspects the animal resembles A. angusta Harring & Myers, but the peculiar trophi with that tooth directed inwards presents a well-defined mark for special classification. (ref. ID; 3036)

Type locality

A small number discovered in Lake Skarshult in the summers of 1945 and 1946. (ref. ID; 3036)

Measurements

Total length 260; length of toes 25 µm. (ref. ID; 3036)

Aspelta neboisi Berzins, 1982 (ref. ID; 4606 original paper), neboissi (ref. ID; 2019)

Descriptions

Slender animal; body with nearly parallel sides. Large head very distinctly separated from the body. Foot with, robust. The usually long toes for an Aspelta, resemble Dicranophorus. Laterally somewhat ventrally bend. Very stout trophi. Manubrium with a massive arch on the proximal end. Right rami and unci very stout. Lacks eyes. (ref. ID; 4606)

Type locality

From Yarra River near Ivanhoe, 14.03.1976. (ref. ID; 4606)

Measurements

Total length 195-200; head ca. 30; body length 60; foot length 20; toe length 80; body width 40; body high 40; foot width 24; trophy length 28; fulcrum 15 µm. (ref. ID; 4606)

Aspelta psitta Harring & Myers, 1928 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 3402) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 7065)

Descriptions

Trophi: SEM photograph. (ref. ID; 7065)

Aspelta reibischi (Remane, 1929) (ref. ID; 1345, 1511, 2019) reported year? (ref. ID; 3573, 3688)

Synonym

Aspelta reibischi (Remane, 1949) (ref. ID; 1345, 2019); Dicranophorus reibischi Wulfert, 1938 (ref. ID; 1345); Encentrum reibischi Remane, 1929 (ref. ID; 1345, 2019)

Descriptions

Marine and brackish water. (ref. ID; 3573)

Aspelta tilba Koste & Shiel, 1987 (ref. ID; 1945 original paper, 2019)

Diagnosis

This species resembles Aspleta aper (Harring, 1913) and Aspelta egregia Myers, 1936 in its habit. Both also have long toes and similar trophi length. The moderately elongated straight toes of A. tilba are distinctive (ventrally curved in A. aper, parallel-sided ending in acute tips in A. egregia). Size and shape of trophi elements also are distinctive. Both A. aper and A. egregia have a lamellar plate under the rami which is absent in the new species; their unci are highly asymmetric and shorter (25-28 µm), whereas the unci of A. tilba are nearly symmetrical (43 µm). The outside borders of the rami also are thickened and knobbed at the base. (ref. ID; 1945)

Descriptions

Soft, thin integument; head long; well-marked neck fold; body moderately elongated; rostrum prominent; long cilia visible dorsally; foot conical; toes end in long tips. Forcipate mastax; uncus asymmetric, rami narrow basally. The left ramus is stout, with an elongated inner opening; the right has a smaller oval opening. Outside borders of the rami thickened and knobbed at the base, the left larger than the right. Fulcrum long, with a slightly curved triangular lamellar plate. Internal organization without peculiarities. (ref. ID; 1945)

Etymology

The name Tilba is derived from an aboriginal phrase tilba-tilba meaning 'place of many waters'. (ref. ID; 1945)

Measurements

Total length 350; toes 50; trophi 43; manubria 37x41; rami 19x22; fulcrum 17; unci 12x10 µm. (ref. ID; 1945)