Discophrya elongata ( Claparède et Lachmann, 1859 ), Claparede et Lachmann, 1859

Mariño-Pérez, Ricardo, Dovgal, Igor & Mayén-Estrada, Rosaura, 2011, New records of suctorians (Ciliophora: Suctoria) as epibionts of aquatic true bugs (Hemiptera: Prosorrhyncha: Nepomorpha) from two regions: Mexico and Eastern Europe, Zootaxa 2798, pp. 48-60 : 55-56

Discophrya elongata ( Claparède et Lachmann, 1859)

Fig. 1 c.

Freshwater species whose body shape is elongate and flattened. Clavate tentacles are arranged in apical fascicle; with or without 2–5 lateral fascicles, or solitary lateral tentacles. Macronucleus varies from spherical to elongate. Stalk often longitudinal or transversal striated, and occasionally with apical cup-like broadening. There are from 3 to 6 contractile vacuoles. Reproduction by inversogemmic budding.

Dimensions: body length 17–101; body width 8.4–46; macronucleus 3–62 х 3–13; length of the tentacles 6–51; contractile vacuole diameter 3–7; length of stalk 8–102; diameter of stalk 4–12. Previous measurements: body length 26–132; body width 17–48.

Material examined. Found as epibiont of: Ranatra sp. 1. Mexico. Tecocomulco lake. State of Hidalgo. 2530 m.a.s.l. (19° 52’ 30.5” N; 98° 23’ 41.2” W). 15.09.2007. Ranatra sp. 2. Mexico. Near Grutas de la Estrella, Ixtapan de la Sal. State of Mexico. 1550 m.a.s.l. (18° 43’ 30.7” N; 99° 35’ 59.1 W). 18.09.2005. Ranatra linearis . Ukraine. Small lake in high-water bed of Snov river near city Sednev, Chernigov region. 15.06.1991. Small lake in highwater bed of river Goryn’ near village Zbuzh, Rovno region. 0 6.07.1985. Small lake in high-water bed of Dnieper river (left bank) near Kiev. 0 8.01.1986. Lake Lyubyaz’ near village Lyubyaz’ (high-water bed of Pripyat’ river), Volyn’ region. 0 8.06.1986. Small lake in high-water bed of river Teterev near village Charitonovka, Zhytomir region. 21.08.1986. Small lake in high-water bed of Dnieper river near village Liplyavo, Cherkassy region. 13.06.1998. Small lake in Kanev reserve, Cherkassy region. 10.06.1998. Belarus. Small lake in high-water bed of river Pripyat’ near village Khojno, 14.06.1986. Ambrysus sp. 1. Mexico. Near Santo Domingo de Morelos. State of Oaxaca. 309 m. a.s.l. (15° 52’ 24.7” N; 96° 37’ 49.6” W). 16.01.2009. Notonecta unifasciata . Mexico. Tecomatlán pond. State of Hidalgo. 2256 m.a.s.l. (20° 10’ 55.6” N; 99° 00’ 41.6” W). 0 2,0 3,0 4,0 5,0 7.2005. Tecocomulco lake. State of Hidalgo. 2530 m.a.s.l. (19° 52’ 30.5” N; 98° 23’ 41.2” W). 10.2006, 0 3,0 9,12.2007, 0 3.2008. Hesperocorixa laevigata . Mexico. Tecocomulco lake. State of Hidalgo. 2530 m.a.s.l. (19° 52’ 30.5” N; 98° 23’ 41.2” W). 15.09.2007. Corixa sp. Ukraine. Goryn’ river near village Duksin, Rovno region. 30.06.1985.

Additional records. On aquatic plants, Lymnaea Lamarck , Planorbis Mueller , Paludina , Nepa , Ranatra , Belostoma , Hydrous Thunberg, Dysticus Linnaeus , Cybister Curtis, Berosu s Leach, and Tropisternus Solier ( Matthes et al. 1988) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Some epibiotic suctorians of nepomorphans. a. Manuelophrya hannae parasite of peritrich epibiont of Lethocerus sp. (Mexico). b. Pseudogemma pachystyla parasite of Periacineta buckei attached to Ranatra sp. (Mexico). c. Discophrya elongata on Ranatra sp. (Mexico). d. Discophrya gessneri epibiont of Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Ukraine); the insert shows the shape of the stalk. e. Discophrya lichteinsteinii found on Ambrysus sp. (Mexico). f. Empty loricaes of Periacineta notonectae from Corixa sp. (Ukraine). g-i. Periacineta buckei from Ranatra sp., Belostoma sp. and Lethocerus sp., respectively (Mexico).