Paulodora ancora, Artois, Tom J. & Tessens, Bart S., 2008

Artois, Tom J. & Tessens, Bart S., 2008, Polycystididae (Rhabditophora: Rhabdocoela: Kalyptorhynchia) from the Indian Ocean, with the description of twelve new species, Zootaxa 1849, pp. 1-27 : 11-13

Paulodora ancora n. sp.

( Figs 3 A, 4E)

Localities in the Indian Ocean. Zanzibar Island ( Tanzania): beach between the Institute of Marine Sciences and the Floating Restaurant, Ulva -like algae with sand from some rocks beside a stair from the beach to the dike, lower eulittoral at low tide (03/08/1995) (type locality); Pete (southern region of Unguja): arborescent algae from a tide pool, which was exposed to the sun, in a mangrove area at low tide (16/08/1995).

Material. Three animals studied alive and mounted, one of them designated holotype ( SMNH, no. 7444), another one paratype (HU, no. 355).

1. P. elixus was erroneously scored as lacking a female bursa by Artois and Schockaert (2005; Table 1 ).

Etymology. The stylet is anchor-shaped. Ancora (Lat.) : anchor.

Description. Animals about 1 mm long, without pigmentation and with two eyes. Gonads paired with short testes and elongated ovaries with the oocytes in rows. The internal organisation seems to be identical to that of P. contorta (see Schockaert & Karling 1975). The double-walled prostate stylet type I is 39–46 µm long (x = 43, n = 3). About in its middle it makes a 90° turn. At this turn, the outer stylet forms a ± 16 µmlong “spur”, which gives the stylet its typical anchor shape at lower magnifications. From the tip of the spur, two flaps depart, one at each side of the stylet. The proximal rim of the larger one almost reaches the proximal end of the stylet. At the other end, this flap is attached to a small projection of the outer stylet, which is perpendicular to the spur. The smaller flap attaches to the distal part of the stylet. The inner stylet can be followed throughout almost all of the outer stylet. The bursal stalk is rather long and seems to be covered by an epithelium, not a pseudocuticula. We did not observe any sperm in the oviducts, nor in the distal part of the ovaries.

Diagnosis. Species of Paulodora with a prostate stylet type I ca 43 µm long, turning about 90° about in its middle. Curve with a ca 16 µm long spur. Outer stylet forming two flaps, both attached to the spur at one side. The larger one attached to a small projection of the outer stylet; the smaller one to the distal part of the stylet proper. Bursal stalk relatively long, covered with an epithelium (?). With long-drawn, kidney-shaped ovaries. Seminal receptacles absent.

Discussion. See the discussion on P. w a t s o n i n.sp.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Paulodora ancora n. sp. A, Prostate stylet type I (from the holotype). P. contortoides n. sp. B, Caudal body end (from a live specimen). C, Reconstruction of the atrial organs from the left side. D, Prostate stylet type I (from the holotype). E, Prostate stylet type I (from a specimen from La Réuniuon). P. drepanophora n. sp. F, Prostate stylet type I (from the holotype). P. h a m i f e r n. sp. G, Prostate stylet type I (from the holotype). P. porcellus n. sp. H, Prostate stylet type I (from the holotype).