Proales tillyensis sp.n. (Monogononta: Proalidae), a new rotifer species from North-West Germany, with reconstruction of its somatic musculature

Abstract

We here describe a new proalid rotifer species Proales tillyensis sp.n. from Oldenburg, NorthWest Germany. The species was initially found in the ph-neutral water of Lake Tilly in August 2006. Its description is based on light and electron microscopy, providing different views of both the whole specimen and its trophi. Additionally, the body musculature of the species was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy using fluorescent-labelled phalloidin and compared with the musculature of other Proales species. Proales tillyensis sp.n. resembles P. fallaciosa Wulfert, 1937 and P. decipiens (Ehrenberg, 1832) but differs in its ecology. Furthermore it can be diagnosed from the former species by the absence of a knob-like projection between the toes, the small body size, the number of uncus teeth and the organization of body musculature. From the latter species it can be diagnosed by the number of uncus teeth, the small body size and the lack of a constriction between stomach and intestine.