Additions to the Rotatoria of New Zealand—Part VIII

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 87, 1959, Page 69

Additions to the Rotatoria of New Zealand—Part VIII By C. R. Russell [Received by the Editor, September 15, 1958.] Abstract Sixteen species of the Rotatoria from New Zealand and the outlying islands are listed which have not previously been recorded. Introduction This paper lists sixteen species of the Rotatoria not previously recorded from New Zealand and the outlying islands. One new species from the Chatham Islands is described, and one new form of the Bdelloidea from Westland. Of special interest are rotifers from the Rotorua thermal district, as it has been known for some years that these animals have established themselves in the thermal regions of other countries, where the presence of dissolved minerals and gases does not appear to be any bar to their existence. Slides of the rotifers described in this paper, and many of those listed in previous parts, have been added to the rotifers collection of the Canterbury Museum. In 1957 the Canterbury Museum Trust Board decided to build up a research collection of rotifers, and this now includes slides from Malaya, the South Sea Islands, the Antarctic, and Australia, as well as rotifers from New Zealand and outlying islands. The Systematic List Short titles only have been given to the literature as Harring's “Synopsis of the Rotatoria”, 1913, Bulletin 81 of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, gives all titles up to 1912. Voight's new work on the Rotatoria, “Die Radertiere Mitteleuropas” (1957) includes literature up to 1956. For ease of reference genera have been listed in alphabetical order, and the genera Lecane and Monostyla treated as separate, although now included under Lecane. Genus Asplanchna Asplanchna amphora Hudson 1889. The Rotifera, Supplement, p. 13. Locality. Pools at Rotorua. Common. Although Harring (1913) gives this species as a synonym for A. brightwelli the latter species has never been found in New Zealand with lateral humps, and there are, as Voight (1957) shows, differences in the trophi of the two species. For this reason A. amphora is considered to be a valid species. Total length, 400 microns. Width over humps, 300 microns. Length of trophi, 75 microns. Genus Brachionus Brachionus zahniseri Ahlstrom 1934. Trans American Micr. Soc., vol. 53, p. 256. Locality. Pools in Auckland Domain. Not common. Temp. 16° C. The chief variation from the type is the longer intermediate spines, which are turned inwards at an angle of almost 90° to the laterals. Total length 250 microns. Width, 110 microns. Length of posterior spines, 100 microns. Length of anterior spines—lateral, 40 microns; intermediate, 20 microns; median, 45 microns. Genus Cephalodella Cephalodella eva (Gosse) Furculariva Gosse 1887. Jour. Royal. Micr. Soc., p. 864. Locality. Wainuiomata River, Wellington. Length of body, 74 microns. Length of toes, 46 microns. Typical specimens. Not common.

Text-Fig. 1.—Fig. 1—Dissotrocha aculeata form dukest, new form. Fig. 2—Lecane smiths n.sp.

Cephalodella intuta Myers 1924. The Rotifer Fauna of Wisconsin, Part 2, pp. 500–501. Locality. Swampy pools on Waihi River, South Canterbury. Not common. Temp. 17°C., pH 6. Total length, 114 microns. Length of toes and claws, 34 microns. The claws have no basal spicules, otherwise typical specimens. Genus Colurella Colurella salina Althaus 1957. Wissenschaftlichen Zeitschrift der Martin-Luther Univ., Halle-Wittenburg, 6, 1956/7, Heft 1, p. 134. Locality. Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury. Not common. Temp. 18°C. Both of the forms shown by Althaus are found in this habitat, but the differences may be due to the preservative. Length of body, 88 microns. Depth of body, 58 microns. Length of toes, 34 microns. Genus Dissotrocha Dissotrocha aculeata form dukesi. New form (Fig. 1). The general characteristics of this form are those of Dissotrocha aculeata except that on the anterior portion of the body section are two large robust forward pointing lateral spines, broadly based, and reinforced by a membranous ridge which extends from near the median line on the ventral side of the body. The body has no other spines and with the exception of the head section, which is almost opaque, the body is hyaline. The spurs are long and incurved Total length, 410 microns. Length of spurs, 42 microns. Length of lateral spines from base, 30 microns. This form was collected by Mr. W. Dukes from pools in the high country near Buller. The specimens were found in a fully extended condition amongst preserved material, and it was considered that they were washed from mosses into the pools and had died before the preservative was added. Moderately common. A type slide (No 126) is deposited in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. Genus Filinia Filinia major (Colditz) Triarthra termanalis var. major Colditz 1924. Zeit. f. wiss. Zool., 108, p. 615. Locality. Pools in Kurau Park, Rotorua. Common. Lake Pearson, Canterbury Abundant. The measurements include specimens from both habitats. Length of body 120–130 microns. Anterior appendages, 300–320 microns, and 350–380 microns. Posterior appendage 200–230 microns. This species is common in many New Zealand waters and has recently been found in Antarctic material. Genus Hexarthra Hexarthra intermedia Wiszniewski 1929. Bull. Ak. Pol. Sc. Math. Nat., ser. B, Sc. Nat., 2. Locality. Amongst plankton Mayor Island. Fairly common. Overall length, 350 microns. Typical specimens. The specimens were collected by Mr. I. A. Bayly, of the Zoological Department, University of Auckland. Hexarthra propinqua Bartos 1948. Casopis Narodniho Musea, odd prir, opis 117. Locality. Lake Ngahewa, Rotorua. Common. Temp. 25° C., pH 7.0. The specimens have an approximate total length of 170–200 microns and are typical. The animals were collected by Mr. S. B. Hargh, of Henderson. Genus Keratella Keratella cochlearis var. hispida (Lauterborn). Anuraea cochlearis var. hispida Lauterborn 1900. Verh. Nat.-Med, Ver. Herdelberg, vol. 6, pp. 430–1.

Locality. Pools at Rotorua. Common. The dorsal pattern is almost entirely obscured by the heavy pustulation. Length of body, 80 microns. Maximum body width, 43 microns. Length of posterior spine, 26 microns. Length of anterior spines: median, 28 microns; intermediate, 12 microns; lateral, 12 microns. Genus Lecane Lecane similis n.sp. (Fig. 2, ventral). The integument is moderately flexible, but the body retains its shape. The anterior dorsal margin is straight to slightly convex. The ventral margin is very slightly narrower than the dorsal and also convex. The general shape of the animal is sub-circular with a truncated anterior portion, and this is the shape of the dorsal plate. The ventral plate is sub-oval and considerably narrower than the dorsal plate and has irregular lateral edges. The dorsal markings consist of a small transverse fold at about three-quarters of its length, the ventral markings are two short irregular longitudinal lines near its lateral edges at about one-third of its length. The lateral sulcr are deep and irregular, and the posterior segment is moderately large and rounded. It extends beyond the lorica. The co-axial plates are rudimentary. The first foot joint is sub-square; the second joint is short and conical. The toes are heavily shouldered at the base, conical, and terminating in claws which may be straight or out-turned. The inner edges of the toes may be widely separated or close together; the variation probably being due to the state of contraction. Total length, 134–140 microns. Length of dorsal plate 86–90 microns. Length of ventral plate, 96–105 microns. Width of dorsal plate 82–86 microns. Width of ventral plate 66–70 microns. Width of anterior margin, 36–40 microns. Length of toes and claws, 36–40 microns. Length of claws, 6–10 microns. Lecane similis has the general outline of Lecane palinacis Harring and Myers (1926) to which it is evidently related. It differs, however, in the following characteristics: the presence of a definite dorsal and ventral plate, and in having lateral sulci. The posterior section of the body is rounded, and the foot does not protrude beyond the lorica. The toes are longer and of a different form. This new species was found in reserve material collected by Mr. J. Eyles from Waitangi West, and Hemokawa, Chatham Islands. Russell (1953) described the specimens from Hemokawa as L. palinacis; this is incorrect as a re-examination of the slides shows the animals to be poorly preserved specimens of the new species showing, under transmitted light, separate plates and sulci, and with its characteristic toes. A type slide (No 130) is deposited with the Canterbury Museum. Genus Lepadella Lepadella quadricarinata (Stenroos) Metopidia quadricarinata Stenroos 1898. Acta. Soc. Flora Fennica, 17, No 1, p. 165. Locality. Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury. Not common. Temp 18° C, pH 6.5. Total length, 100 microns. Harring (1916, p. 540) considers that the folds on each side of the foot groove are individual rather than specific characteristics, and places this species as a synonym of L. patella. In New Zealand waters the two species are sharply separated not only by the folds but by the shape of the anterior margins. Genus Monostyla Monostyla pyriformis Daday 1905. Maths. Term. Ertes, Budapest, 23, p. 330. Locality. Swamp near Heaphy River, Buller. Fairly common. Also from the mouth of Hart's Creek, Lake Ellesmere, Canterbury. Not common. The Lake Ellesmere specimens are typical and have a total length of 60–70 microns. The Heaphy River animals seldom exceed 60 microns in total length and have, in some cases, a slightly rounded anterior margin approaching that of Lecane pomiformis Edmondson (1938). Monostyla styrax Hairing and Myers 1926. The Rotifer Fauna of Wisconsin, Part 3, pp. 389–90.

Locality. Wainuiomata River, Wellington. Not common. Length of body 120 microns. Length of toes and claw 50 microns. Length of claw, 24 microns. Typical specimens. Genus Trichocerca Trichocerca elongata (Gosse) Mastigocerca elongata Gosse 1886. The Rotifera, vol. 2, p. 62. Locality. Weedy pools on the Waihi River, South Canterbury. Rare. Temperature 17° C., pH 5.5. Length of body, 86 microns. Length of toe, 128 microns. Sub-toe rudimentary. Except for the shorter body and longer toe the specimens are typical, but Gosse's description and figures are not very clear. Trichocerca iernis (Gosse) Mastigocerca terms Gosse 1889. Supplement to. The Rotifera, p. 35. Locality. Pools near Perry's Pass, Collingwood. Not common. Males also present Length. of body, 170 microns. Length of toe, 70 microns. Length of sub-style, 30 microns. The total length of the males is 36–46 microns. Acknowledgments I am indebted to a large number of people who have sent me collections. I have to thank Mr. S. B. Haigh, F.R.M.S., for collections and mounted slides from Auckland and Rotorua: Miss B. H. Holloway, of the Dominion Museum, for collections from Wellington; Mr. I. A. Bayly, of the University of Auckland, for slides and material of Hexarthra intermedia, Mr. W. Dukes for collections from the high country of Westland, and Mr. J. Eyles for material from the Chatham Islands. Bibliography Edmondson, W. T., 1938. Trans American Micr Soc, vol. 72, No 2, pp. 153–4. Harring, H. K., 1913. Synopsis of the Rotatoria, Bull 81, Smithsonian Institute, Washington. —1916. The Genus Lepadella. Proc U.S. Nat. Museum, vol. 51, p. 540. — and Myers, F. J., 1926. The Rotifer Fauna of Wisconsin, Part 3, pp. 380–1. Russell, C. R., 1953. Rec. Canterbury Museum, vol. 6, No 3, p. 540. Voigt, M., 1957. Die Radertiere Mitteleuropas, Berlin, vols. 1 and 2. C. R. Russell, M.Sc (Eng.), F.R.M.S., Hon Keeper of Rotifers, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch