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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 2571

Mario F. Canella; [Osservazioni Morfologiche, Biologiche e Sistematiche su Paradileptus estensis sp. n. e su Altri Tracheliidae (Holotricha)]. Annali Dell'Universita di Ferrara,Sezione III 1(2):81-170, 1951

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The Author describes in detail the complex organisation of a new Ciliate: Paradileptus estensis (Gymnostomata, Pleurostomata, Tracheliidae), and relates his observations on the biology and behaviour of this singular hunter of Rotifers (it captures almost exclusively Keratella quadrata f. valga), offering a very interesting example of adaptation to pelagic life. The A. gives also some direct morphological and biological observations on other Tracheliidae: Paradileptus conicus Wenrich, Dileptus anser (O.F. Muller), Dileptus cygnus (Claparede & Lachmann), Teuthophrys trisulca Chatton and Beauchamp, Trachelius ovum Ehrenberg. Of all these species, as well as of the sure or dubious ones known up to the present, of the genus Paradileptus (flagellatus Rousselet, elephantinus Svec, robustus Wenrich, caducus Kahl, ovalis Huber-Pestalozzi), a critical and comparative revision is given. The possible and probable descent of Paradileptus from Dileptus is examined. In the course of his paper, the Author hint at some to the topics of research in modern Ciliatology (ectosarc rodlets, trichocystogenesis, excretory organelles, Silberliniensystem and other fibrillar structures, structure of macronucleus, adaptation problem, etc.), and at the same time points out several problems of general biological interest.