Plagiopyla megastoma, (SMITH, 1898) KAHL, 1931

PLAGIOPYLA MEGASTOMA ( SMITH, 1898) KAHL, 1931 View in CoL

1898: Tillina megastoma – Smith, Trans. Am. Microsc. Soc., 20: 53; pl. IV; fig. 4 (original description, illustrated, no type material available).

1931: Plagiopyla (Tillina) megastoma (Smith, 1899) – Kahl Tierwelt Dtl., 21: 265; fig. 45.9 (guide; revision).

2007: Plagiopyla megastoma (Smith, 1899) – Jankowski, Russian Acad. Sci. , p. 792 (revision).

Improved diagnosis ( Fig. 18J): Body length 100–150 µm, body width estimated around 73 µm in live specimens. The number of somatic kineties is not reported. Striated band present (estimated length: around 68 µm). One ovoid macronucleus (estimated size: 24 × 14 µm) and a single, compact-type micronucleus. One contractile vacuole with two pores opening on the dorsal part of the cell. Curved extrusomes.

Type locality: Freshwater, in Lake Borgne , Louisiana ( Smith, 1898) .

Ecology and distribution: Freshwater and brackish water species. Found in Louisiana, Lake Borgne ( Smith, 1898), in Germany ( Kahl, 1931) and in the Gulf of Mexico ( Borror, 1962).