Albertia reicheltae Koste, 1970
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: Albertia reichelti
Sampling location: Mühlweiher Litzelstetten
Phylogenetic tree: Albertia reicheltae
Diagnosis:
- body slender, vermicular
- length 120–315 µm
- cuticle divided by shallow annular folds
- head with small rostrum
- corona almost circular in ventral view
- foot with two small claws (5 µm)
- trophi small, unci needle-shaped
- endoparasitic livestyle in the intestine of Stylaria
So far I have only found a single specimen of Albertia reicheltae in December 2024. The location was the Mühlweiher in Litzelstetten. The specimen was found between floating Myriophyllum.
Albertia reicheltae is actually an endoparasitic rotifer that lives in the intestines of Stylaria. However, free-swimming, released specimens can also be found.
The species Albertia reicheltae was first described by Koste in 1970. The main characteristic is the articulated foot with two very small claws, which are difficult to recognize (s. fig. 3). In addition, the reservoirs of the foot gland are described to be tripartite, but I was unable to recognize this exactly. Koste gives the length of the trophi as approx. 17 µm. In my specimen the trophi had a length of 15 µm (s. fig. 5).
More images and information on Albertia reicheltae: Michael Plewka-Freshwater life-Albertia reicheltae
Fig. 1 a-c: Albertia reicheltae. L = 179 µm. A freely swimming specimen from left (a, b) and from ventral (c). Obj. 40 X.
Fig. 2 a-b: Albertia reicheltae. L = 179 µm. Two focal planes from ventral of the specimen as shown in fig. 1 a-c. Note the almost circular shaped corona (CO) and the small claws (Cl) of the foot. St = stomach, Vit = vitellarium. Obj. 60 X.
Fig. 3: Albertia reicheltae. A crop of fig. 2 a, showing the claws (Cl) of the foot (FT) in detail. Obj. 60 X.
Fig. 4: Albertia reicheltae. The slightly squashed specimen from ventral with focal plane on the inconspicuous rostrum (RO) of the head. Obj. 60 X.
Fig. 5: Albertia reicheltae. The trophi in a strongly squashed specimen. Obj. 100 X.