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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Brachonella

Brachonella Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 2014)

Class Polyhymenophora: Subclass Spirotricha: Order Heterotrichida: Suborder Heterotrichina (ref. ID; 2014)

[ref. ID; 2014]
In this metopid genus the anterior part of the body is greatly enlarged compared with the posterior which is reduced in length. Dorso-ventral flattening, armour, cirri and spines all absent but in a few species there may be a spine-like extension posteriorly. Peristome region long, narrow and spiraling in the form of an S around the distinctly twisted cell. The well-developed buccal cavity has resulted in the displaced of the oral aperture to the posterior body half. Single rounded macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus. Sapropelic. The genus was erected by Jankowski who later considered it to be comprised of two subgenera. Most easily confused with Metopus in which genus the AZM runs obliquely across the body but never spirals in an S-like manner.
Quote; Colin R. Curds, Michael A. Gates and David McL. Roberts "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part II Ciliophora: Oligohymenophora and Polyhymenophora" Cambridge University Press, 1983 (ref. ID; 2014)
  1. Brachonella caenomorphoides Foissner (ref. ID; 3698)
  2. Brachonella caduca (Kahl, 1927) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 4868) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 4429)
    Syn; Metopus caducus Kahl, 1927 (ref. ID; 4868)
  3. Brachonella campanula (Kahl, 1932) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 4868) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 4429)
    Syn; Metopus campanula Kahl, 1932 (ref. ID; 4868)
  4. Brachonella cydonia (Kahl, 1927) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 4868)
    Syn; Metopus cydonia Kahl, 1927 (ref. ID; 4868)
  5. Brachonella darwini (Kahl, 1927) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 4868) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 4429)
    Syn; Metopus darwini Kahl, 1927 (ref. ID; 4868)
  6. Brachonella galaeta (Kahl, 1927) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 4868)
    Syn; Metopus galaetus Kahl, 1927 (ref. ID; 4868)
  7. Brachonella intercedens (Kahl, 1927) (ref. ID; 4868)
    Syn; Metopus intercedens Kahl, 1927 (ref. ID; 4868)
  8. Brachonella inversa Jankowski, 1964
    See; Metopus inversus (ref. ID; 2884)
  9. Brachonella lemani (Dragesco, 1960) (ref. ID; 4868)
    Syn; Metopus lemani Dragesco, 1960 (ref. ID; 4868)
  10. Brachonella pyriformis (Levander, 1894) (ref. ID; 4868)
    Syn; Metopus pyriformis Levander, 1894 (ref. ID; 4868)
  11. Brachonella spiralis (Smith, 1894) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 1219, 1621, 2245) or (Smith, 1897) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 4488, 4610, 4868)
    Syn; Metopus contortus Levander, 1894 (ref. ID; 1219, 1621, 2245, 4610); Metopus spiralis Smith, 1897 (ref. ID; 4868) reported year? (ref. ID; 2245, 4610)

Brachonella spiralis (Smith, 1894) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 1219, 1621, 2245) or (Smith, 1897) Jankowski, 1964 (ref. ID; 4488, 4610, 4868)

Synonym

Metopus contortus Levander, 1894 (ref. ID; 1219, 1621, 2245, 4610); Metopus spiralis Smith, 1897 (ref. ID; 4868) reported year? (ref. ID; 2245, 4610)

Descriptions

Body ovoid, peristome spirally diagonal; cytostome dorsally located, near posterior end of the cell; body ciliation uniform except for a group of long caudal cilia; brownish in color; accumulation of refractile granules at the anterior pole; 1 spherical macronucleus and 1 micronucleus located centrally; contractile vacuole near the posterior end; trichocysts present. (ref. ID; 1219)

Measurements

Length 80-150 um. (ref. ID; 1219)