Podophrya fixa ( O .F. Müller, 1786), O.F. Muller, 1786

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 : 50

Podophrya fixa ( O.F. Müller, 1786)

Fig. 3 c.

The cell is spherical, stalk long, thin, slightly bent. Numerous capitate tentacles, variable in length, equally spaced over the body surface. There is one centrally located, spherical macronucleus, and one contractile vacuole. Reproduction by pseudo-scissiparity producing a bud that is approximately a same size as a mother cell with about 12 longitudinal rows of cilia and several rudimentary tentacles ( Curds, 1986). The stalked oviform cyst with four transversal ribs is characteristic for this species.

Dimensions (in μm): body diameter 10–40; length of stalk 80–100; stalk diameter 4–5; macronucleus diameter 11–15; length of tentacles 12–25. Previous measurements: body diameter 25–70; length of stalk 35–140; length of tentacles until 120.

Material examined. Found as epibiont of: Plea leachi . Ukraine. Small lake in high-water bed of Desna river near village Klad’kovka, Chernigov region, 12.07.1984.

Additional records. On Cambarus Erichson ( Morado & Small, 1995) . On algae; seawater, wastewater; aquatic plants, copepods, sewage treatment plants ( Matthes et al. 1988). On aquatic plants, copepod, sewage treatment plants ( Aladro-Lubel et al. 2006). On Gammarus wilitzkii Birula ( Fernandez-Leborans, 2009; Fernandez- Leborans et al. 2006).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Some epibiotic suctorians of nepomorphans. a. Discophrya ochtebii. b. Tokophrya quadripartita from Lethocerus sp. (Mexico). c. Podophrya fixa. d. Kormosia linguifera. e. Metacineta longipes.