Turbellarian taxonomic database

Abstract / Notes

Three new species, Microdalyellia muyuensis sp. nov., M. shennongjiae sp. nov. and M. sinensis sp. nov., of
the genus Microdalyellia (Platyhelminthes, Rhabdocoela, Dalyellidae) have been described in this paper. Type
specimens are deposited in College of Life Sciences, Shenzhen University. Microdalyellia muyuensis sp. nov.
(Figs. 1-2, 7-8) Material examined. Holotype, SNJ200311-I-1, Mt. Shennongjia, Muyu Town (110.45E,
31.45[degree]N), Hubei Province, China; 3 Nov. 2003. Paratypes 3, SNJ200311-I-2-4, same data as holotype,
collected by WANG An-Tai. Discription. Body length about 1 000 [mu]m. Front end semicircular, tail end
tapering. Two testes, gapped and both comprising two connected parts, are located both sides of the joint
region between pharynx and enteron. Penis, keratose, length 190 [mu]m. Two proximal stalks length 115 [mu]m
and 95 [mu]m respectively. The transverse bar has four filiations: the stout spine, arc-shaped, length 62
[mu]m; the hook-like spine length 12 [mu]m; the median branch, curly-leaf-shaped, length 72 [mu]m; the
lateral distal branch length 45 [mu]m and there are some 6-7 pieces of small spines paratactically situated
in its body, of which the proximal small spines, claw-shaped, length 20 [mu]m, however, the others,
rectangle-shaped, share the similar size with lengths ranged from 10 [mu]m to 12 [mu]m. Vitellaria
stick-shaped. Eggs ellipse-shaped, color brown-yellow, size 140 [mu]m X 110 [mu]m. Habitat. The new species
was found in a freshwater brook in Mt. Shennongjia, Muyu Town, Hubei Province, China. Where altitude 1200 m,
water temperature 8[degree]C, pH8.1. The brook is free from pollution but for a little consumer water. Also
there is no water plant in the brook due to photophase in the area less than 7 h. Etymology. The specific
name reflects the original place from which the material was collected. Remarks. Through careful comparison,
the present species is similar to other two species, one is M. armigera Luther, A. 1955, and the other is
Dalyellia armiger Okugawa, K. I. 1930. M. armigera. characters: penis length 123 [mu]m; handle length 70
[mu]m; transverse bar has three spines; the lateral distal branch has 5-6 small spines, length ranged from 10
to 23 [mu]m. Dalyellia armiger characters in that the lateral distal branch has 8 small spines. However, the
M. muyuensis sp. nov. characters in that penis length 190 [mu]m; the transverse bar has 4 small spines, the
hook-like spine is unique to the species which distinctly differs from the other two similar species.
Microdalyellia shennongjiae sp. nov. (Figs. 3-4, 9-11) Material examined. Holotype, SNJ200311-II-1, Mt.
Shennongjia, Muyu Town (110.45[degree]E, 31.45[degree]N), Hubei Province, China; 3 Nov. 2003. Paratypes 2,
SNJ200311-II-2-3, same data as holotype, collected by WANG An-Tai. Discription. Body length from 1190 to 1230
[mu]m. Two testes, irregular-triangle-shaped and integrated, are located both sides of the joint region
between pharynx and enteron. Penis, keratose, length 145 [mu]m. Two proximal stalks length 75 [mu]m and 63
[mu]m respectively. The transverse bar has four filiations: the median branch, sword-shaped, length 65 [mu]m;
the Stout Spine, spear-shaped, length 64 [mu]m; the hook-like spine length 32 [mu]m; the lateral distal
branch length 55 [mu]m and there are 9 pieces of small spines paratactically located at the body, of which
the proximal small spines are wider than the distal ones. Two vitellaria stick-shaped. Eggs color
brown-yellow, size 150 [mu]m X 90 [mu]m. Habitat. This new species shares the same habitat as that of M.
muyuensis sp. nov. Etymology. The specific reflects the mountain from which the material was collected.
Remarks. Microdalyellia shennongjiae sp. nov. is similar to M. muyuensis sp. nov. but the two species also
have some distinct differences. For M. muyuensis sp. nov., penis length 190 [mu]m; median branch
curly-leaf-shaped; both stout spine and hook-like spine have curving distal end; testis gapped. As for
Microdalyellia shennongjiae sp. nov., penis length 145 [mu]m; median branch sword-shaped; both stout spine
and hook-like spine have thrust-like distal end, testis integrated. Microdalyellia sinensis sp. nov. (Figs.
5-6, 12-17) Material examined. Holotype, STS200310-I-1, outskirt of Shantou City (23.49 N, 116.72[degree] E),
Guangdong Province, China; 5 Oct. 2003. Paratypes 20, STS200310-I-2-21, same data as holotype, collected by
LU Feng. Discription. Body length from 1370 to 1400 [mu]m; body color brownish. Two testis, oval and
integrated, located both sides of the Joint region between pharynx and enteron. Penis, keratose, length 153
[mu]m. Two proximal stalks length 70 [mu]m and 65 [mu]m respectively. The transverse bar also has four
filiations: the median branch, curly leaf-shaped, length 86 [mu]m. The stout spine, spear-shaped, length 75
[mu]m; the hook-like spine length 50 [mu]m; the lateral distal branch length 65 [mu]m and there are 12 pieces
of small spines paratactically situating at its body, of which the proximal small spines has the longest
length of 72 [mu]m. Two vitellaria cable-shaped. Eggs color browrush, oval, size (130-150 [mu]m) X (90-100
[mu]m). Habitat. This new species was found in a freshwater brook near outshirt of Shantou City, Guangdong
Province, China. Where altitude 20 m, water temperature 24[degree]C, pH7.8. There are many water plants in
the brook, especially water chestnut. Etymology. Specific name comes from China. Remarks. Microdalyellia
sinensis sp. nov. is similar to Microdelyellia fusca Luther, A. 1955. The latter characters: penis length 100
[mu]m; transverse bar has three spines; lateral distal branch has 11-13 small spines, the proximal one length
30 [mu]m. However, for the former, penis length 153 [mu]m; transverse bar has four spines, the unique
hook-like spine distinctly differs the new species from Microdelyellia fusca.

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