Cephalodella ventripes Dixon-Nutall, 1901
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Ulmisried
Phylogenetic tree: Cephalodella ventripes
Diagnosis:
- body stout and dorsally curved
- length 127–140 µm (with toes)
- large head with well marked neck fold
- lateral cleft narrows anteriorly
- corona oblique with two beak-like lips
- manubria are short, very slender and the ends strongly recurved,
- ganglion large and saccate with eyespot at posterior end
- eyespot a flat disc, doubled or with dividing furrow
- no retrocerebral organ
- toes ventrally curved with pointed ends
- foot short and conically shaped
So far I have found only one specimen of Cephalodella ventripes in floating plant masses from the Ulmisried. However, I cannot exclude that I missed the species earlier. Characteristic are the ventrally curved toes, with their pointed ends. The eyespot can be double and also with a division furrow only. It is also flat and disc-shaped (s. fig. 4). However, a definite classification of Cephalodella ventripes can only be made by a detailed examination of the trophi. The manubria of Cephalodella ventripes are curved in a characteristic sickle-shaped manner (s. fig. 5). Another special feature of Cephalodella ventripes are two beak-shaped processes, which are apically located in the corona (s. fig. 2 c). According to Plewka (2014), they serve to grasp small algal cells.
More images and information about Cephalodella ventripes: Michael Plewka-Freshwater life-Cephalodella ventripes
Fig. 1 a-d: Cephalodella ventripes. L = 147 µm (with toes). A slightly squashed specimen from ventral. The specimen was very flexible and agile. Obj. 40 X.
Fig. 2 a-d: Cephalodella ventripes. L = 147 µm (with toes). The same specimen as shown in fig. 1 a-c from left. Note the two beak-shaped lips (BL) of the corona. ES = eyespot, FT = foot, GA = ganglion, LA = lateral antenna, NF = neck fold, ST = stomach, TO = toes, Vit = vitellarium. Obj. 60 X.
Fig. 3: Cephalodella ventripes. L = 147 µm (with toes). Focal plane on the lateral cleft between the ventral and dorsal plate of the lorica. The cleft narrows anteriorly (arrows). FT = foot, TO = toes. Obj. 60 X.
Fig. 4: Cephalodella ventripes. Focal plane on the flat, disc-shaped eyespot from ventral. Obj. 60 X.
Fig. 5: Cephalodella ventripes. The trophi in a strongly squashed specimen. Note the curved manubrium (Man), characteristic of this species. FU = fulcrum. Obj. 60 X.