Mytilina wangi, Luo & Segers, 2014

Luo, Yongting & Segers, Hendrik, 2014, The genus Mytilina in China, with description of a new species (Rotifera: Monogononta: Mytilinidae), Zootaxa 3846 (4), pp. 561-568 : 563-565

Mytilina wangi n. sp.

( Figs 1–7 )

Type locality and types. A shallow pond south of Wuritala Sumu , in a place locally called Anda Tribe, Inner Mongolia, P. R. China, July 18th, 2013 (N 43°05′24.5″, E 116°03′03.3″, Altitude 1302 m). The surface of the pond is about 50 by 150 m. pH 8, Temperature 29.2° C .

Holotype: 1 female specimen in permanent slide, deposited in RBINS ( IG32753 , RIR 215 ) ; Paratype: 1 female specimen in permanent slide, deposited in SHNU .

Differential diagnosis. Mytilina w angi sp. nov. most closely resembles species of the Mytilina mucronata - ventralis group, by having a clearly developed stippled collar and a pair of anterior and of posterior ventral spines. It can, however, hardly be confused with any of its congeners by its remarkably arched lorica and low head aperture. These features are especially obvious in lateral view. The species further has the shortest toes of all taxa in the group.

Description. Lorica stiff, smooth, transparent, with a granulated collar surrounding the head aperture, strongly arched dorsally in lateral view, ventral lorica relatively flat longitudinally, convex transversally. Lateral lorica plates longitudinally convex, dorsally divided by a deep sulcus running from head aperture to posterior end of lorica. Head aperture broad but low, dorsally a V-shaped, ventrally a U-shaped sinus, with a pair of sharp ventral spines present laterally of the head aperture. and a pair of longer, sharp spines beside the foot opening. Foot opening broad, U-shaped ventrally, V-shaped sinus dorsally, lateral lorica plates drawn out into a pair of sharp, elongate ventral spines lateral of the foot aperture. Foot pseudosegments indistinct. A pair of equal, relatively short, slender toes present, without claws. Trophus malleate. Measurements as in Table 2 .

*no reliable measurement could be made due to condition of the specimen.

Male unknown.

Ecology and distribution. Only 4 specimens of Mytilina wangi n. sp. were found at the type locality, and the species has not been found in any of the other samples collected during this study. This indicates that the species is rare, and it must be considered endemic to Inner Mongolia. However, the habitat in which the species occurred is a relatively weedy pond in a shallow depression along road G 207 in an otherwise rather arid region ( Fig. 11 ). The water was alkaline, and the co-occurring rotifers ( Table 3) represent a relatively species-rich assemblage, including three congeners, M. brevispina , M. ventralis , and M. mucronata .

Etymology. The species is named after the first author’s supervisor, Professor Quanxi Wang of SHNU.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Photograph of the type locality of Mytilina wangi n. sp.

FIGURES 1–3. Mytilina wangi n. sp.. Photomicrograph of specimens. 1: ventral, 2: lateral, 3: frontal view.

FIGURES 4–7. Mytilina wangi n.sp.. 1: dorsal, 2: ventral, 3: lateral, 4: cross section.