Species of Macrostomum (Macrostomorpha: Macrostomidae) from the coastal region of Lima, Peru, with comments on M. rostratum Papi, 1951
Author
Reyes, Jhoe
Author
Brusa, Francisco
text
Zootaxa
2017
2017-12-05
4362
2
journal volume
31237
10.11646/zootaxa.4362.2.4
8efe3297-2365-402f-91af-ef2005961c9f
1175-5326
1084056
D4E09E65-53AC-48F2-817E-ADE3E560BF85
Macrostomum tuba
Graff, 1882
Synonyms:
Macrostomum bulbostylum
Kepner & Stiff, 1932
Macrostomum gigas
Okugawa, 1930
Macrostomum tuba bulbostylum
Ferguson & Jones, 1940
Macrostomum tuba gigas
Okugawa, 1930
Macrostomum tubum
Hyman, 1936
Localities.
The specimens were found in the sampling sites coded as CR-4 (
11°44’1.8’’S
;
76°58’19.56’’W
), CR-5 (
11°44’4.38’’S
;
76°58’20.52’’W
) and CR-6 (
11°43’30.9’’S
;
76°57’54.1’’W
) (
Figure 1
,
Table 1
) in the Chillón River in
Lima
.
Other
localities in
Peru
. The species has been previously found at the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in
Loreto region
: “cocha”
Zapote
and the “caño”
Yarina
(
5°20’16’’S
;
74°29’40’’W
) (
Noreña
et al
. 2006
).
Other localities in the world
. The species has a worldwide cosmopolitan distribution (
Adami
et al
. 2016
; Ferguson 1940;
Gamo & Leal-Zanchet 2004
;
Hyman 1955
;
Marcus 1946
;
Noreña
et al
. 2003
;
Papi 1951
;
Wang
et al
. 2004
;
Young 1976
).
Studied material
. Eight specimens observed alive (squash method) and eight (MUSM 3406–3413) specimens fixed in polyvinyl–lactophenol.
Description
. Adult specimens exhibit whitish–orange body coloration when observed in reflected light. The body is
2.2–2.7 mm
long and
0.8–1.2 mm
wide. The anterior region is rounded in shape, whereas the posterior region is spatula–shaped when the specimen is attached to the substrate (
Figure 5A
).
Male reproductive system: Two ellipsoid–shaped testes at the sides of the body, approximately at the beginning of the intestine. A thin-walled false seminal vesicle stores sperm and continues into a thick-walled, muscular seminal vesicle through a thin and short intervesicular duct. The seminal vesicle is about a quarter of the size of the false seminal vesicle. Distally, the seminal vesicle connects to the prostate vesicle. Within the prostate vesicle, granulations are observed. These are grouped in small and long sacs that enter the stylet proximally (
Figure 5B
). The stylet is a slightly-curved, long and slender tube (
Figure 5C
). The stylet is 206.9 µm long (162.5–291.5 µm;
n
= 8;
sd
= 46.7), and progressively narrows from the base, which is 10.2 µm wide (7.8–15.3 µm;
n
= 6;
sd
= 2.6), to the distal opening, which is 2.8 µm wide (2.2–5 µm;
n
= 8;
sd
= 0.9). The stylet wall is thickened in its distal portion, which is typical for this species (
Figure 5C
).
The female reproductive system is typical for the genus. The ovaries are located in the third part of body, arranged lateroventrally to the intestine (
Figure 5A
). The female genital atrium is anterior to the false seminal vesicle. In some adult specimens, egg formation was observed in the atrium.
Remarks.
The most remarkable feature of
M. tuba
is the penis stylet, although the diameter of the base, size of shaft and diameter of the distal opening vary according to the region and habitat (
Hyman 1936
;
Ferguson 1939
, 1940;
Papi 1951
;
Young 1976
). The shape of the distal region of the stylet, with thickened walls, remains constant (
Wang
et al
. 2004
) (
Figure 5C
), making easily the recognition of the species. Also, the stylet and body length in
M. tuba
are variable; smaller body lengths usually have a straight and not slightly curved stylet, as observed in larger specimens (greater than
3 mm
) (
Young 1976
;
Ferguson 1939
, 1940;
Hyman 1936
; Bois-Reymond Marcus 1957). These characteristics were observed in the specimens found in the Chillón River.
M. tuba
was associated with the same vegetation and physicochemical parameters as
M. quiritium
(
Table 2
).