Oswaldella tottoni Peña Cantero & Vervoort, 1996

Cantero, A. L. Peña & Molinero, A. González, 2018, On several species of Oswaldella Stechow, 1919 (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa), including the description of a new species, Zootaxa 4457 (3), pp. 397-414 : 407

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4457.3.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:463BBDB3-CBD9-43E3-9520-CDE336BC10ED
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5960856
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B646223D-FFCA-D328-FF24-1469FC3132A2
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Oswaldella tottoni Peña Cantero & Vervoort, 1996
status

Treatment

Oswaldella tottoni Peña Cantero & Vervoort, 1996 View in CoL

( Fig. 6 View FIGURE 6 )

Oswaldella tottoni Peña CanTerO & VerVOOrT, 1996 : 139–142, fig. 2; 1998: 37; 2004: 850; Peña CanTerO et al., 1997: 380–383, fig. 12; Peña CanTerO & García CarrascOsa, 1998: 179; 1999: 214; Peña CanTerO & Marques, 1999: 85; GOnzález MOlinerO & Peña CanTerO, 2015: 439; Peña CanTerO, 2017: 60.

Oswaldella bifurca —TOTTOn, 1930: 208–209, fig. 50.

Material examined. German Antarctic expedition Polarstern ANT XV/3, Stn 48-194, 16 February 1998, 71°14.1’S, 12°27.7’W (Kape Norvegia), 244–246 m, a few stems, up to 120 mm high, with gonothecae. GoogleMaps

Description. Polysiphonic, branched stems up to 120 mm high. Stems not divided into internodes, with two longitudinal series of cauline apophyses. Angle between cauline apophyses and stem ca. 45°. Cauline apophyses with two axillary nematophores, each emerging through a simple hole in perisarc ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ); no ‘mamelons’ present.

Hydrocladia bifurcated ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ), only hydrocladia of second order present. Secondary hydrocladia distinctly bent inwards. First hydrocladial internode bifurcated ( Fig. 6A–B View FIGURE 6 ), with two similar prongs; frequently without node between prongs and first internode of secondary hydrocladia ( Fig. 6A View FIGURE 6 ). Mesial-inferior nematophore emerging from a swelling at proximal third of internode ( Fig. 6C–E View FIGURE 6 ), and provided with a reduced claw-shaped nematotheca ( Fig. 6C–E View FIGURE 6 ); first hydrocladial internode frequently without nematophore ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ). Hydrotheca placed on distal half of internode ( Fig. 6A, C–D View FIGURE 6 ). Hydrotheca low, about as high as wide ( Fig. 6A, C–D View FIGURE 6 ). Abcauline hydrothecal wall straight, but distinctly directed outwards ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ). Hydrothecal aperture circular, perpendicular to longitudinal axis of internode ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ) or leaned adcaudally ( Fig. 6D View FIGURE 6 ); rim even ( Fig. 6C–D View FIGURE 6 ). Internode above hydrotheca with distinct longitudinal groove ( Fig. 6C View FIGURE 6 ).

Gonotheca fusiform with subterminal aperture ( Fig. 6F View FIGURE 6 ).

Remarks. The stems of this species are polysiphonic only at the base. Branching is also restricted to the most basal part, giving the aspect of rooted tufts with stems mostly unbranched.

The SEM study has confirmed the presence of two axillary nematophores on the cauline apophyses, as already known from previous descriptions (Peña Cantero & Vervoort 1996; Peña Cantero et al. 1997). The nematophores are not provided with the short collar-shaped nematotheca observed in other species of the genus (e.g. O. laertesi see fig. 9B in González Molinero & Peña Cantero 2015).

The groove present on the internode above the hydrotheca seems to be related to the mesial superior nematophore. The adcauline hydrothecal wall is practically adnate in its whole length, so the groove would facilitate the nematophore emergence.

Distribution. Circum-Antarctic (Peña Cantero & Vervoort 2004).