Limipolycystis libra, Artois, Tom, Willems, Wim, Revis, Nathalie, Martens, Paul & Schockaert, Ernest, 2012

Artois, Tom, Willems, Wim, Revis, Nathalie, Martens, Paul & Schockaert, Ernest, 2012, New species of Limipolycystis Schilke, 1970 (Rhabdocoela: Kalyptorhynchia: Polycystididae) from the Western Mediterranean, Zootaxa 3325, pp. 26-36 : 31-33

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.209538
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6180220
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D17687D8-FFEA-FFBA-6890-FA4DFCCE18DF
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Limipolycystis libra
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Limipolycystis libra View in CoL n. sp. Artois, Willems & Schockaert

( Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 E–F, 4A)

Holotype. One whole mount, France, Corsica, bay of Calvi, sublittoral sand in front of main beach, 19 m deep, 9 April 1984 ( SMNH Type-8315).

Other material. Two whole mounts, France, Corsica, bay of Calvi, Stareso harbour, sand, 6 m deep, 4 April 1984 (HU V.2.46–47). One whole mount, France, Corsica, bay of Calvi, sand bank in front of Occelutia, 9–10 m deep, 16 May 1983 (HU V.2.48).

Etymology. The species name refers to the construction of the stylet, with its opening approximately in the middle, making it somewhat resemble a balance. Libra (Lat.) : weighing scale, balance.

Diagnosis. Species of Limipolycystis with two eyes. Prostate vesicle of type III, well developed. Stylet an accessory stylet of type II, 68–74 µm long, consisting of a proximal plate-like part and distal tubular part, which are almost of equal length. Seminal receptacle consisting of a large, ellipsoid vesicle connected to a funnel-shaped sclerotised part.

Description. Uncoloured animals with two eyes, 0.6–0.8 mm long (measured on whole mounts). As far as could be seen on the live animals and the whole mounts, habitus and internal organisation as in Limipolycystis sicilicula n. sp.

A large, sac-like seminal vesicle ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 E: sv) opens in the most proximal part of the male atrium, close to the stylet. This stylet is 68–74 µm long (x = 72 µm; n = 4) and consists of two clearly distinguishable parts of almost equal length, with the opening of the stylet indicating the transition between both (opening indicated with an arrow in Figs 3 View FIGURE 3 F, 4A). The distal part is a 36–39 µm-long (x = 37 µm; n = 4), slightly-curved tube tapering towards a pointed tip, whereas the proximal part is 32–38 µm long (x = 35 µm; n = 4), plate-like and more blunt. The prostate vesicle ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 E: pv) bulges into the male atrium, close to the opening of the stylet. The accessory glands ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 E: ag) form a spindle-shaped vesicle, from which a narrow duct curls around the proximal part of the stylet, entering it through the opening and running through its tubular part.

A large, sperm-filled bursa ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 E: b) bulges from the oviduct, close to the single, ovoid ovary. The seminal receptacle ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 E: sr) consists of a large vesicle and a funnel-shaped hard part, the detailed construction of which should be checked on sections.