Paulodora contortoides Artois & Tessens, 2008, n. sp.

Paulodora contortoides n. sp.

(Figs 3 B–E, 4F)

Paulodora sp. in Watson 2001

Localities in the Indian Ocean. McKenzie Point (Kenya), a short distance beyond the Four Seasons Restaurant, at the second obelisk, fine-branched algae from a sandy plane with a rocky underground, mid-eulittoral (01/10/1991). Tiwi (Kenya), on the reef, white-brown, heavily branched, crustaceous algae (06/10/1991). Bird Island (Seychelles), south-east part of the island, coarse sand from a little pool on the reef front (24/12/1992). La Réunion, Plage Cap Homard, crustaceous, leathery algae (30/10/1992).

Localities outside the Indian Ocean. Arrawarra (New South Wales, Australia), Sargassum -like algae in a large tide pool near some rocks, south of the beach (27/08/1996) (type locality). Several other localities in Arrawarra, always on algae in tide pools (27/08/1996, 28/08/1996 and 27/10/1997). Stradbroke Island (Queensland, Australia), tide pools with sea grasses (13/08/1996). Coffs Harbour (New South Wales, Australia), Mullaway headland, red-brown alga from rock pools (24/07/2003). Nouville (New Caledonia), Kuendu Beach, algae from the lagoon, covered with organic material (10 & 16/08/2003).

Material. Several animals studied alive at the different localities. 19 whole mounts from Australia, one of them designated holotype (SMNH, no. 7445a), six others paratype, one of which on the same slide as the holotype (SMNH, no. 7445b), the other five in the collections of the Hasselt University (HU, nos. 356-360). Also from Australia, 17 serially-sectioned specimens (one sagitally- and one horizontally-sectioned specimen designated paratypes, HU, nos. 361-362). Eight whole mounts from the Indian Ocean (four from Kenya, one from Seychelles, three from La Réunion).

Etymology. This new species bears close resemblance to P. contorta.

Description. Construction of pharynx and proboscis and the organisation of the male atrial system are the same as in P. contorta (see Schockaert & Karling 1975). The prostate stylet type I is very small, only 18–27 µm long (= 24, n = 8) in the specimens from the Indian Ocean; 27–41 µm long (= 33; n = 16; in three specimens the stylet could not be measured) in the Australian populations. It is bent at a right angle, with a long part proximally from the angle and a very short part distally from it. The outer stylet forms two plate-like extensions, which are perpendicular to each other. One starts about in the half of the proximal part as a gutter and keeps running straight where the stylet curves, extending clearly beyond the stylet. The other plate is parallel to the short distal part of the stylet and protrudes behind the curve of the stylet. The stalk of the male bursa is very short, lined with a low anucleated epithelium and surrounded by a circular muscle-layer.

The organisation of the female system resembles that of Paulodora felis (Marcus, 1954) Artois & Schockaert, 2001 (see Artois & Schockaert 2001). The female duct type I leaves the common genital atrium caudally. Distally it bifurcates into the two oviducts. The dorsal wall of the bifurcation is connected to the male bursa through a muscular pore. Both the oviducts and the common genital duct are swollen and contain many sperm. A large amount of sperm is also found at the distal end of the ovaries.

Diagnosis. Species of Paulodora with a prostate stylet type I ca 24 µm (Indian Ocean) to ca 30 µm (Australia) long, turning about 90° near its distal tip. Outer stylet forming two flaps, which are perpendicular to each other. One flap parallel to the proximal part of the stylet, starting about in the middle of this part and extending clearly beyond the curve; the other parallel to the short distal part of the stylet, extending behind the curve of the stylet. Bursal stalk very short, covered with a low, anucleated epithelium. With long-drawn, kidney-shaped ovaries. Seminal receptacles absent.

Discussion. See the discussion on P. w a t s o n i n. sp.