Rotifers from China (Western Guangdong Province), with description of Lecane zhanjiangensis sp. nov. (Rotifera: Monogononta: Lecanidae) Author Wei, Nan Author Jersabek, Christian D. Author Yang, Yufeng text Zootaxa 2019 2019-05-08 4603 1 66 80 journal article 26902 10.11646/zootaxa.4603.1.3 a4b0f734-1cf2-41e7-88fd-a94ceb8d1505 1175-5326 2673283 508CB39B-A9A8-4D70-982D-4AF9CCBFF08D Brachionus cf. caudatus var. indica Novotná-Dvořáková, 1963 ( Fig. 4 ) The specimens found in the littoral zone of Moyangjiang River ( Fig. 4A ; Tab. 1 ), and in another three localities in Changde City, Hunan Province, on 16 September 2017 ( Fig. 4 B–4E), largely conform to the description of Brachionus caudatus var. indica Novotná-Dvořáková, 1963 , and only differ in minor aspects. The antero-lateral dorsal spines are almost as long as the median spines in specimens from Moyangjiang River and Changde, while they are longer than the median ones in B. caudatus var. indica . Moreover, the ventral median sulcus of the anterior aperture is much deeper in specimens from Moyangjiang River ( Fig. 4A ) if compared to B. caudatus var. indica and specimens from Changde City ( Fig. 4B ). Our specimens also show a high similarity with Brachionus caudatus f. majusculus Ahlstrom, 1940 from Florida, from which they differ by ventrally directed posterior spines ( Fig. 4E ). These are inserted in the same plane as the body axis in B. caudatus f. majusculus . Another similar infraspecific taxon that has been described within the caudatus -complex and that requires attention here is Brachionus caudatus f. apsteini Fadeev, 1925. As in var. indica , posterior spines arise at an angle ventrally in f. apsteini , but are relatively shorter. Previous records of a variant of B. caudatus , sub B. caudatus f. apsteini Fadeev, 1925, as a common taxon in the Southwestern Islands of Japan , show a striking resemblance to our B. cf. caudatus var. indica , and most likely concern the same taxon ( Sudzuki, 1992 : Plate XII: Figs 2–7 ). Further specimen material needs to be examined by also including molecular methods to determine the taxonomic status of these supposedly infraspecific taxa within the highly variable morphospecies B. caudatus Barrois & Daday, 1894 .