Epiplocyloides
Epiplocyloides Hada, 1938 (ref. ID; 3597 original paper)
[ref. ID; 3597]
Lorica corn-shaped, with double oral rims, inner one entire, erect, little higher than the flaring outer; shallow oral gutter formed between them; bowl conical or cylindrical in the upper main part, convex conical or broadly rounded in the aboral region having always a short aboral horn; wall separated in the oral border, with a fine primary structure, surface covered with a coarsely anastomosed reticulation and linear striae. This new genus differs from Epiplocylis Jorgensen in having inner and outer oral rims and an almost fused wall except the part of the oral gutter. It differs from Rhabdonella Brandt in bearing an anastomosed reticulation on the surface instead of vertical or spiral striae. This genus has been included in the genus Epiplocylis owing to similarities in outline and reticulation by some authors (Jorgensen, 1924; Kofoid & Campbell, 1929; Marshall, 1934; Hada, 1935), but seems to be distinct because of differences of the construction of the oral region and the constitution of the wall as above described. The species of this genus are allied to those of Rhabdonella having a weakly developed wall in the form of the oral border, they are, however, easily discriminated from the latter on account of the difference of the characteristic ornamentation on the surface of the lorica. In this new genus must be included the following forms: E. reticulata (Ostenfeld & Schmidt), E. reticulata var. acuta (Kofoid & Campbell), E. reticulata var. curta (Kofoid & Campbell), E. ralumensis (Brandt), E. freymadli (Brandt)?, and E. nervosa (Cleve). It is questionable that Brandt's figure of E. freymadli (1906) was drawn from a specimens of E. reticulata in an abnormal condition, for its suboral constriction seems to be due to contraction caused by fixation. Therefore, the existence of E. freymadli is probably uncertain. The last species, E. nervosa, oldest among them, is different from the others in the conical lorica without an aboral horn and in having a net-work consisting of lengthwise and crosswise striae on the surface of the lorica. The species is special in form and similar to simple forms of Rhabdonella. For the same reason Kofoid & Campbell (1929) divided the genus Epiplocylis into the subgenera, Epiplocylis and Epicancella, and included only E. nervosa in the latter. All species of this genus are distributed in tropical or subtropical waters. (ref. ID; 3597)
Type species; Epiplocyloides reticulata (Ostenfeld & Schmidt) (ref. ID; 3597)
- Epiplocyloides reticulata (Ostenfeld & Schmidt) (ref. ID; 3597)
- Epiplocyloides reticulata var. acuta (Kofoid & Campbell) (ref. ID; 3597)
Descriptions
Lorica acorn-like, 1.36-1.75 inner oral diameters in length; outer oral rim flaring (50-67 degrees), 1.2 inner oral diameters; bowl subcylindrical in its anterior half, broadly rounded or convex conical (90-115 degrees) in the aboral region; aboral horn forming an inverted cone of 18-48 degrees, stout, 0.09-0.18 of the total length; reticulation usually covering the surface of the aboral region, sometimes stretching out beyond the middle of the lorica. (ref. ID; 3597)
Comments; The species differs from E. ralumensis (Brandt) in the presence of linear striae on the surface of the upper part of the lorica. This species is exceedingly variable in an elongation of the lorica, the shape of the aboral region, and the area of reticulation of the surface. The reticulation of the original figure given by Ostenfeld & Schmidt (1901) was probably sketched imperfectly, because such a case of reticulation has not been observed. In this examination specimens agreeing with Kofoid & Campbell's (1929) E. brandti which is stout in outline and covered with a wide reticulated area, were detected in company with ones of the form of Kofoid & Campbell's E. healidi which is longer than the former and has a narrow reticulated zone in the aboral region. It is difficult to separated them into two groups because of the gradual changes of the contour and the reticulated area of the surface of the lorica among them. Kofoid & Campbell's E. curta is probably an elongate variety of this species, because it is only different from the typical form in being slender in proportion. (ref. ID; 3597)
Measurements
Length 60-72; inner oral diameter 40-44; outer oral diameter 48-52; length of the aboral horn 6-11 um. (ref. ID; 3597)
Descriptions
Lorica generally conical, 1.6 inner oral diameters in length; aboral region convex conical (55-75 degrees), provided with a stout, sharply tapering aboral horn of 18-20 degrees, of which the length is 0.16 of the total length; reticulation of the surface inconspicuous, covering the posterior half of the bowl. (ref. ID; 3597)
Comments
The variety differs from the typical for, of E. reticulata (Ostenfeld & Schmidt) in the generally narrowing aboral region. (ref. ID; 3597)
Measurements
Length 66-68; inner oral diameter 41; outer oral diameter 50; length of the aboral horn 10-11 um. (ref. ID; 3597)