I find Neogossea fasciculata exclusively in the Simmelried. Most specimens are found in the siltation zone with very shallow water depths (< 10 cm) and large amounts of decomposing plant masses. So far, I have only found Neogossea fasciculata in the summer months from June to August, which is in contrast to the information provided by Schwank (1992), according to which Neogossea fasciculata prefers cooler temperatures.

Neogossea fasciculata differs from the similar species Neogossea antennigera by the round head, the long terminal spines and above all by a pair of finger-shaped appendages at the posterior end, which bear a short, claw-shaped spine (s. figs. 3a and 16). The long spines at the posterior end were about 100 µm long in my specimens, whereas they are said to be only 10–35 µm long in Neogossea antennigera.

According to Krivanek (1959), of the long spines at the posterior end, a pair of each 3 spines should arise dorsally and a pair of each 5–8 spines on the ventral side. Remane (1936) found only one pair of each 6 spines on the ventral side (i.e. 12 spines in total). In my population the specimens had constantly a pair of each 8 spines on the ventral side (i.e. 16 in total, s. figs. 17 and 18). The number of terminal, elongated spines therefore appears to be variable.

The shape of the scales on both the ventral and dorsal sides differed considerably from Schwank’s description. According to this description, both the ventral and the dorsal scales should be rhombic in shape with short spines. According to my observations, the dorsal scales are shield-shaped, with a distal notch and a short, simple spine (s. fig. 14). Their length is 3–4 µm. In contrast, the ventral scales are very slender, have a comb-shaped keel and do not overlap (s. fig. 11). The keel has a short tip at the distal end. The scale also ends in a point, giving the impression of a distal double point (s. fig. 12).