Author: Gregorio Fernandez-Leborans

Source: Acta Zoologica, Volume 85, Number 2, April 2004 , pp. 101-112(12)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Fernandez-Leborans, G. Protozoan epibionts on Mysis relicta Loven, 1862 (Crustacea, Mysidacea) from Lake Lüiai (Lithuania). — Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 85: 101–112

Protozoan epibionts were found on specimens of the mysid Mysis relicta collected in Lake Lüiai (Lithuania). These protozoans belong to three genera of ciliates: Vorticella, Dendrosoma and Tokophrya, and were located on the antennae, carapace, appendages and abdomen of the basibiont. The ciliates of the genus Vorticella had a bell-shaped body, with concave-type striations and a very long contractile stalk. The stalk joined the body via a truncated and overlapping zone. The macronucleus was J-shaped, and the contractile vacuole was anterolateral. Only one ciliate species of Vorticella has been found on mysids, although on species other than M. relicta, and this is therefore the first record of Vorticella on M. relicta, and the second on the order Mysidacea. The ciliates of the genus Dendrosoma had an irregular body directly attached to the substrate. Finger-like actinophores arose from the body, with a bundle of tentacles at their ends. The macronucleus ramified into branches that followed the actinophores. These ciliates were included in the species D. astaci. The presence of this ciliate represents the first record of this genus on Mysis relicta. The ciliates of the genus Tokophrya had a pyramidal body, the apical surface of which showed two conspicuous actinophores, with a short, longitudinally striated stalk joining to the body via a narrow unstriated band. The macronucleus was spherical or ovoid, centrally located, and there was an apical contractile vacuole. Only one previous study has referred to the presence of this genus on Mysis relicta, and the data contained in it were compared with those of the present study. The biometrical data and taxonomical position of the ciliate epibionts was considered.

Keywords: ciliate protozoa; crustacean mysids; Dendrosoma astaci; epibiosis; Mysis relicta; Tokophrya; Vorticella

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0001-7272.2004.00162.x

Publication date: 2004-04-01

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