Paulodora drepanophora Artois & Tessens, 2008

Willems, Wim R., Reygel, Patrick, Steenkiste, Niels Van, Tessens, Bart & Artois, Tom J., 2017, Kalyptorhynchia (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela) from KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa), with the description of six new species, Zootaxa 4242 (3), pp. 441-466 : 455

Paulodora drepanophora Artois & Tessens, 2008

( Fig. 6 B–C)

New localities. iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Eastern Shores, Mission Rocks (28°16’50.4’’S, 32°29’06.5’’E), sand and shrubby red algae from rock pool in the mid-eulittoral of a highly-exposed tidal area with sandstone terrace covered with invertebrates (barnacles, mussels, limpets, corals, tunicates), December 5, 2009 ; same locality (28°16’41.5"S, 32°29’10.6"E), red algae from a swirl hole close to the footpath from the parking lot, December 12, 2009 .

Known distribution. Kenya, Mombasa, McKenzie Point & Tiwi ( Jouk & De Vocht 1989; Artois & Tessens 2008) . Somalia, north of Mogadiscio , Hawadli and Warshek ( Schockaert 1982).

Material. Two whole mounts from South Africa (HU, nos VII.3.49–VII.3.50). All material from the original description, including the holotype.

Additional remarks. Habitus and general organisation do not differ from that of other species of Paulodora Marcus, 1948 , a monophyletic taxon to which it undoubtedly belongs (see Tessens et al. 2014). The umbrellashaped, sclerotic "nozzles" on each of the oviducts typical of all species of Paulodora (see Artois & Schockaert 1998) are clearly visible on live specimens as well as on whole mounts ( Fig. 6 C). The prostate stylet type I of the South African specimens is 64–67 µm long (n = 2), which is only marginally longer than the known range (42–62 µm; Artois & Tessens 2008). In contrast with the specimens from the original description, the distal part of the stylet is not folded downwards. Therefore, the sickle-shape is less obvious. This folding is probably an artefact caused by the degree of squeezing of the specimen and also occurs in species with similar stylet morphology, such as Paulodora felis ( Marcus, 1948) Artois & Schockaert, 1998 and P. asymmetrica Artois & Schockaert, 2001 (see Artois & Schockaert 2001).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Paulodora contortoides Artois & Tessens, 2008. A. Prostate stylet type I. Paulodora drepanophora Artois & Tessens, 2008. B. Prostate stylet type I. Phonorhynchoides gondwanae n. sp. C. umbrella-shaped " nozzle " D. Habitus of freeswimming animal. E. Caudal body end with the atrial organs (from a live specimen). F. Accessory stylet type IV (from the holotype). G. Prostate stylet type IV (from the holotype).