Philodina acuticornis-complex
The morphotypes that are presented here on this page have been identified as "Philodina acuticornis odiosa" on this website before, but it turns out that -based on the different descriptions of "Philodina acuticornis" by different authors (MURRAY 1902; MURRAY 1906; MONTET 1915, MILNE 1916, PAX et WULFERT 1941, DONNER 1965)- this species is differently described, especially concerning the upper lip and the bolsters between upper lip and trochal columns. Therefore now on this page those morphotypes are presented, which maybe considered similar in some traits to P. acuticornis as described by Murray 1906 (which is shown here), but also show some differences that are mentioned by one of the other authors, and thus may represent differentspecies.
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; the bolsters between upper lip and trochal columns of this specimen from (5) extend to the sulcus.
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; head of specimen from (5); focus plane on the eyespots and dorsal antenna.
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; whirling. In some population this species tends to have a reddish integument and can be confused with Philodina roseola.
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; left: crop of the above image. Focus plane on the bulges between upper lip and trochal columns. Right: head of the same specimen, brightfield.
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; attached to a Zygnema filament, whirling.
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; left image, whirling; focus plane on the bulges between upper lip and trochal columns. Right: foot with characteristic spurs.
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; another specimen from (2).
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; crop of the above image, showing the bulges between upper lip and trochal columns (arrowheads). The bulges are triangle-shaped and do not reach the sulcus. Also visible is the papillae on the right trochal disc with two setae (arrow). (2)
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; toes of 3 different specimens. DONNER (1965) reports that P. acuticornis is the only Philodina species which keeps the dorsal toes extended (upper images). The lower left image shows the dorsal (dT) and ventral toes (vT) and the tips of the spurs. (3) So this might be a feature that separates P. acuticornis from P. roseola. Lower right: spurs of specimen from (6)
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; specimen from (4)
 
Philodina acuticornis-complex; foot with spurs from above specimen (4)
 
 
Location: Hattingen, Wodantal, puddle, together with Cephalodella auriculata, Notommata cyrtopus, Notholca squamula (1); Anhausen near Augsburg, fishpond (2); Hagen, garden, bird bath (3); Hattingen Oberstüter (4); Recker Moor, NRW, trench (5);
Habitat: between algae (Zygnema sp.) ; Periphyton (2); detritus with green algae (3); moss on roof (4); between Sphagnum (5);
Date: 2.3.2014 (1); 09.08.2012 (2); 26.02.2016 (3); 01.11.2014 (4); coll.: 06.06. 2018; img.: 04.07.2018 (5);
freshwater life
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