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Protistology 1 (4), 135-147 (2000) August, 2000
Protistology
The fauna of testate amoebae (Rhizopoda, Testacea) in freshwater basins of Apsheron peninsula
Ilham Alekperov and Nataly Snegovaya
Laboratory of Protistology, Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, Baku
Summary
The fauna of testate amoebae in freshwater basins of Apsheron was investigated. 110 species and varieties of testate amoebae from 5 reservoirs were found during investigation period (1996-1999). The descriptions of 33 species of testate amoebae made by in vivo observations as well as by the study of total preparations impregnated by argentic nitrate are presented in the report (Arcella artocrea, A. polypora, A. conica, A. gibbosa, Centropyxis aerophila, C. elongata,
C. spinosa, Trigonopyxis arcula, Lesquereusia epistomium, L. modesta, Nebela barbata, N. penardiana, N. galeata, N. militaris, N. collaris, Quadrulella symmetrica, Difflugia lucida, D. globulosa, D. bipartis, D. decloitrei, D. guttula, Assulina scandinavica, Euglypha filifera, E. rotunda, E. tuberculata, E. acanthophora, Placocista spinosa, Tracheleuglypha dentata, Trinema penardi, T. enchelys, T. verrucosum, Corythion dubium, Cyphoderia ampulla).
Key words: fauna, testate amoebae
Introduction
It is known that testate amoebae are one of the basic groups of free-living protozoa, residentially present in water biocenoses. Testate amoebae, as primary destructors of cellulose and lignin, take an active part in diverse biological processes in water ecosystems. On the territory of the former USSR the most intensive ecological research of this group of protozoa was carried out in Moscow, mainly on the soil testate amoebae. Water testate amoebae were actively studied in Ukraine and Moldova. Despite a wide span of protozoological research carried out in Azerbaijan, water testate amoebae has until recently remained a practically uninvestigated group of the animal world. The findings of the representatives of this group were recorded during the period of 1930-1940. They were taken from general hydrobiological sampling mostly in lost temporary basins (Alizade, 1934; Veysig, 1940). Therefore, even though soil testate amoebae in different parts of Azerbaijan were investigated (Zaidov, 1988, 1990, 1995; Mirza-Zadeh, 1987) up to certain degree, a special study of freshwater testate amoebae in our republic hasn’t been conducted prior to our research (Alekperov and Snegovaya, 1999; Snegovaya, 2000).
Material and methods
The material was collected from 1996 to 1999. More than 1380 samples of plankton, peryphiton and benthos
were collected and processed from 5 fresh water reservoirs of Apsheron peninsula, differing by the degree of saprobical and oil pollution. Deserted quarry, filled by water, in the Yasamal settlement and fresh-water flood in the Shikhov settlement are attributed to beta-mesosaprobical zone, Ganli-Gol lake and a lake overgrown with reed near the Kyurdakhani settlement to beta-mezosaprobical and alfa-mezosaprobical zones of pollution. The polysaprobical waters of the lake near Binagadi settlement were considerably polluted by oil (sometimes from 10 to 50 mg/l). Testate amoebae were caught by microcapillars and studied both in vivo, and with the help of our own method based on total preparations impregnated by argentic nitrate (Alekperov et al., 1994; Alekperov et al., 1996). All measurements were made on no less than 10 specimens (usually 35-50).
Results
Overall 110 species and varieties of testate amoebae were found in the fresh waters of Apsheron. Out of this, the representatives of Difflugiidae family (38 species), Centropyxidae (18 species), Arcellidae (16 species) predominated. Out of total number of freshwater Caucasus amoebae species, 38 species of testate amoebae were recorded for the first time. The composition and distribution of testate amoebae species in the reservoirs studied are shown in Table 1. As this table makes clear, the highest degree of species diversity was noted in the swamped lake
© 2000 by Russia, Protistology.
Table 1. Specific composition and distribution of testate amoebae in the basins of Apsheron peninsula
(Explanation remarks: 1 - Ganli-Gol lake, 2 - quarry in the Yasamal settlement, 3 - lake near Kyurdakhani settlement, 4 - lake near Binagadi settlement, 5 - freshwater flood in Shikhovo settlement. The species marked by asterisk are recorded in the Caucasus fauna for the first time).
Species Reservoirs
1 2 3 4 5
Fam. Microcoryciidae De Saedeleer, 1934
1. Amphizonella violacea Greeff, 1886* + — + — +
Fam. Arcellidae Ehrenberg, 1843
2. Arcella hemisphaerica Perty, 1852 + + + + +
3. A. rotundata Playfair, 1918 + + + + +
4. A. vulgaris Ehrenberg, 1832 + — + + —
5. A. vulgarisf. undulata Deflandre, 1928* + + — — +
6. A. conica (Playfair, 1918) + + + — +
7. A. catinus Penard, 1890 + — + + +
8. A. dentata Ehrenberg, 1838 + + + — —
9. A. brasiliensis Cunha, 1913* + + + — —
10. A. discoides Ehrenberg, 1872 + + + + +
11. A. excavata Cunningham, 1919 + + + — +
12. A. polypora Penard, 1890 + + + + +
13. A. arenaria Greeff, 1866 — + + — —
14. A. artocrea Leidy, 1876 — + — — +
15. A. crenulata (Deflandre, 1928)* — + + — +
16. A. mitrata Leidy, 1876* — + + + +
17. A. gibbosa Penard, 1890* + — + + +
Fam. Cyclopixidae Schonborn, 1989
18. Cyclopyxis arcelloides Penard, 1902 + — + — +
19. C. eurystoma Deflandre, 1929 + + — + +
20. C. kahli Deflandre, 1929 + — + — —
21. C. penardi Deflandre, 1929* + + + + +
22. Trigonopyxis arcula (Leidy, 1879)* + + + — —
Fam. Centropyxidae Jung, 1942
23. Centropyxis aculeata (Ehrenberg, 1838) + — + — +
24. C. aculeata v. oblonga Deflandre, 1929 + + — + —
25. C. aerophila Deflandre, 1929 + — + — +
26. C. constricta (Ehrenberg, 1838) + + + + —
27. C. discoides (Penard, 1902)* + — + — +
28. C. ecornis (Ehrenberg, 1838) + + + — +
29. C. gibba Deflandre, 1929* — + — + —
30. C. hemisphaerica (Barnard, 1879)* + — + — +
31. C. hirsuta Deflandre, 1929 + + + — +
32. C. laevigata Penard, 1890 + + + + —
33. C. marsupiformis (Wallich, 1864)* + + — — +
34. C. minuta Deflandre, 1929 + + + + —
35. C. plagiostoma Bonnet et Thomas, 1956 + + + + +
36. C. platystoma (Penard, 1890) — — + + —
37. C. sylvatica (Deflandre, 1929) + + + + +
38. C. spinosa (Cash, 1905)* + + + + +
39. C. elongata (Penard, 1890) + + + + +
40. Hoogenraadia cryptostoma Gauthier-Lievre et Thomas, — — + — +
1958* Fam. Hyalospheniidae Schulze, 1877
41. Nebela collaris (Ehrenberg, 1848) + — + — —
42. N. penardiana Deflandre, 1936 + + — + +
Table 1. Contination
43. N. militaris Penard, 1S90 — — + — —
44. N. galeata Penard, 1S90 — + + — +
45. N. barbata Leidy, 1S74 + + — — +
Fam. Difflugiidae Awerintzew, 190б
4б. Difflugia acuminata Ehrenberg, 1S3S + — + + —
47. D. acuminata v. magna Deflandre, 192б* + + + + +
4S. D. acuminata v. curvata Cash, 1909* + + + + +
49. D. acuminata v. inflata Penard, 1S99 + — + + +
50. D. curvicaulis Penard, 1S99 + + + + +
51. D. corona Wallich, 1S64 + — — + +
52. D. difficilis Thomas, 1954* + + + — +
53. D. elegans Penard, 1S90 + + + + —
54. D. ventricolosa Deflandre, 192б* + + + — +
55. D. elongata Penard, 1905* + — + + +
5б. D. lanceolata Penard, 1902 + + + — +
57. D. oblonga Ehrenberg, 1S3S + — + + +
5S. D. oblonga v. angusticollis Stepanek, 1952* + + + — +
59. D. oblonga v. nodosa Leidy, 1S79* + — + — +
б0. D. oblonga v. parva Thomas, 1954* + + + + +
б1. D. penardi Hopkinson, 1909 + — — — +
б2. D. pristis Penard, 1902 + + — — +
б3. D. amphoralis Hopkinson, 1909* — — + + +
б4. D. avellana Penard, 1S90* — + + — —
б5. D. labiosa Wailes, 1919* — + + — +
бб. D. lobostoma Leidy, 1S74 + — — — +
б7. D. pulex Penard, 1902 — + + + —
6s. D. lucida Penard, 1S90 — + + — +
б9. D. claviformis (Penard, 1890)* — — + + —
70. D. rubescens Penard, 1902 + + — — +
71. D. globulosa Dujardin, 1837 + + + + —
72. D. globularis Wallich, 1864* + + — — +
73. D. gramen Penard, 1902 + + + — +
74. D. manicata Penard, 1902 — + + — +
75. D.bipartis Godeanu, 1972* + — — — +
76. D. decloitrei Godeanu, 1972* + + — — +
77. D. guttula Godeanu, 1972* — — — — +
78. D. varians Penard, 1902* — — — — +
79. Pontigulasia bryophila Penard, 1902 — + + — +
80. P. bigibbosa Penard, 1902 + + + — +
81. P. spectabilis Penard, 1902 + — + — +
82. P. compressa (Carter, 1864) — + + — +
S3. P. elisa (Penard, 1893)* — — + — +
Fam. Lesquereusiidae Jung, 1942
84. Lesquereusia epistomium Penard, 1902 + — — — +
85. L. modesta Rhumbler, 1895 — — — — +
86. Quadrulella symmetrica (Wallich, 1863) — — + — —
Fam. Cryptodifflugiidae Jung, 1942
87. Difflugiella apiculata Cash, 1904 — + + — +
SS. Cryptodifflugia compressa Penard, 1902 — — + — +
89. C. oviformis Penard, 1890 — + + — +
Fam. Phryganellidae Jung, 1942
90. Phryganella nidulus Penard, 1902* + + + — —
91. Ph. acropodia (Hertwig et Lesser, 1874) + + + — +
Table 1. Contination
Fam. Euglyphidae Wallich, 1864
92. Euglypha acanthophora (Ehrenberg, 1841) — — + — —
93. E. aspera Penard, 1899* + — — — —
94. E. laevis (Ehrenberg, 1832) + — + + +
95. E. rotunda Wailes, 1911 — — + — —
96. E. tuberculata Dujardin, 1841 — — + — —
97. E. filifera Penard, 1890 — — + — —
98. Assulina muscorum Greeff, 1888 + + + — +
99. A. scandinavica Penard, 1890* — — + — —
100. Placocista spinosa (Carter, 1865) + + + + +
101. Tracheleuglypha dentata (Moniez, 1888) — — + — +
Fam. Trinematidae Hoogenraad et Groot, 1940
102. Trinema enchelys (Ehrenberg, 1838) + + + — +
103. T. penardi Thomas et Chardez, 1958 + — — — +
104. T. verrucosum France, 1914* — — — — +
105. T. complanatum Penard, 1890 + + — — +
106. Corythion dubium Taranek, 1881 + + + + +
Fam. Cyphoderiidae De Saedeleer, 1934
107. Cyphoderia ampulla (Ehrenberg, 1840) + — + — —
108. C. laevis Penard, 1902* + + + — —
Fam. Gromiidae Claparede et Lachmann, 1861
109. Pseudodifflugia gracilis Schlumberger, 1849 — — — — +
110. Gromia fluviatilis Dujardin, 1855* + — + — —
near Kyurdakhany settlement (85 species), then in lake Ganli-Gol (76 species). They are followed by freshwater flood in the Shikhov settlement (79 species) and the quarry in the Yasamal settlement (64 species). The least number of species was found in the oil polluted lake near Binagady settlement (38 species). Below we present brief descriptions of several dominant species of testate amoebae.
Class Lobosea Carpenter, 1861
Family Arcellidae Ehrenberg, 1843
Arcella gibbosa Penard, 1890 (Fig. 1, a-c)
The shell diameter is 85-100 |j,m, the width 50-65 |j.m. The oral part of the shell is spherical with invagination in the aperture zone. The circular aperture (20-35 |jm) is surrounded by a collar. The ratio of aperture and shell diameter is 0.23-0.35. Aboral shell surface bears numerous various prominences. The shell surface is composed of hexagonal shell plates and has numerous pores. Young shell is colourless, older ones are light yellow or brown. Our specimens shows morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by Ogden and Hedley (1980).
It is the first record of this species for Azerbaijan fauna.
Arcella conica (Playfair, 1918) (Fig. 1, d-f)
The shell diameter is 50-70 |jm, the width 30-40 |j,m. The shell is more or less pentagonal in oral view. A small circular aperture (12-18 |jm) is surrounded by a collar and situated in buccal depression. The ratio of aperture and shell diameter is 0.24-0.26. The shell structure is represented by fine grains, between which at higher magnifications numerous fine pores are visible. Shell colour is light yellow.
It is the first record of this species for the fauna of the Caucasus.
Arcella artocrea Leidy, 1876 (Fig. 1, g, h)
The shell diameter is 170-200 |j,m, the width - 35-44 |jm. The shell is circular in apertural view and conical in lateral view. The circular aperture is surrounded by a small collar, around which from 25 to 35 large pores are present. Aperture is invaginated and situated in buccal depression (18-25 |jm). The ratio of aperture/shell diameter is 0.100.13. The colour of the shell varies usually from brown to black (in reservoirs with high contents of organic substances). A fine reticulate surface of shell is typical for the majority of Arcella species and it is well noticeable on specimens impregnated by argentic nitrate.
Fig. 1. Some testate amoebae of Apsheron peninsula. a - Arcella gibbosa, apertural view; b - A. gibbosa, lateral view; > c - A. gibbosa, surface of the shell; d - A. conica, lateral view; e - A. conica, apertural view; f - A. conica, surface of the shell; g - A. artocrea, apertural view; h - A. artocrea, lateral view; i - A. polypora, apertural view; j - A. polypora, lateral view; k - Centropyxis elongata, apertural view; l - C. elongata, lateral view; m - C. aerophila, apertural view; n - C. aerophila, lateral view; o - C. spinosa, apertural view; p - Trigonopyxis arcula, apertural view; q - Lesquereusia modesta, lateral view; r - L. epistomium, lateral view.
Arcella polypora Penard, 1890 (Fig. 1, i, j)
The shell diameter is 110-115 |j,m, the width - 25-50 |jm. The shell is circular in oral part and hemispherical in aboral view. A large (50 |jm) circular aperture is surrounded by a small collar, more than 70 large pores and buccal depression. The ratio of aperture/shell diameter is 0,43-0,45. The surface of the shell has fine pores. The shell colour varies from yellow to brown.
Vikol (1992) considers this species a synonim of A. discoides Ehrenberg, 1872. In the opinion of Ogden and Hedley (1980), in spite of the fact that A. polypora has some similarities with A. discoides and A. megastoma, it is an independent valid species, which can be allocated on the basis of the shell size, diameter of aperture and distribution of pores around the circular aperture.
It is the first record of this species for the fauna of the Caucasus.
Family Cyclopyxidae Schonborn, 1989
Trigonopyxis arcula (Leidy, 1979) (Fig. 1, p)
The diameter of brownish shell is 120-165 |j,m, the width 60-90 |jm. Central aperture (35-55 |jm) clearly invaginated, surrounded by a small ring of organic cement. Shell spherical.The shape of aperture more or less triangular. Shell surface with inorganic particles of variable size and form.
It is the first record of this species for the fauna of the Caucasus.
Family Centropyxidae Jung, 1942
Centropyxis elongata (Penard, 1890) (Fig. 1, k, l)
The shell length is 60-80 |j,m, the width 30-45 |jm. Shell in ventral view elliptic and elongated. Apical part is flattened laterally. Aperture sub-terminal, oval-shaped. The whole surface of the shell is covered with various xenosomes. The colour of the shell is light yellow. Nucleus with single central nucleolus. Our species differs from the Austrian specimens (Luftenegger et al., 1988) by smaller shell dimensions.
It is the first record of this species for the fauna of the Caucasus.
Centropyxis aerophila Deflandre, 1929 (Fig. 1, m, n)
The length of the shells varies between 70-90 |jm, the width 50-70 |jm. The shell is oval, in ventral view nearly circular. Sub-terminal aperture (diameter 25-30 |jm) transverse oval and invaginated. The colour of the shell varies from yellow to brown. The surface of the shell is smooth, xenosoms on the dorsal side differ by size and form.
Centropyxis spinosa (Cash, 1905) (Fig. 1, o)
The length of the yellow or brown shell is 130-155 |j.m, with the lateral part of the shell approaching spherical form. Breadth of shell is 95-140 |j,m. Oral zone is invaginated, oval or uneven in outline. The shell carries up to 11 large lateral spines. According to the data of the
English researchers, the number of lateral spines is up to 6 (Ogden and Hedley, 1980). The shell surface is covered with sand grains and diatomes.
It is the first record of this species for the fauna of the Caucasus. It was one of the dominant species in all investigated basins.
Family Lesquereusiidae Jung, 1942
Lesquereusia modesta Rhumbler, 1895 (Fig. 1, q)
Length of the colourless shell is 90-110 |jm, the width 60-95 |jm. Pear-shaped body with a short neck in oral part and asymmetrically expanded and bent aboral part of shell in lateral plane. Diameter of aperture 20-35 |jm, it is terminal, circular and bordered by small particles of quartz. Shell idiosomes are of mineral origin. On preparations impregnated by argentic nitrate black sites of organic nature are visible between mineral particles. Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by the English researches (Ogden and Hedley, 1980).
It is the first record of this species for the fauna of the Caucasus.
Lesquereusia epistomium Penard, 1902 (Fig. 1, r)
The length of the dark shell is 130-165 |jm, the width 80-100 |jm. The form of the shell is pear-shaped, narrow at the end, and a little bent in the neck region. Diameter of aperture is 35-45 |jm. Its edge is rough and its shape approaches circular, it is surrounded by a small collar. The shell surface is composed of characteristic curved, siliceous rods and occasionally quartz particles.
Some of our specimens were larger than those described by Ogden and Hedley (1980). In the fauna of the Caucasus it was found for the first time.
Quadrulella symmetrica (Wallich, 1863) (Fig. 2, j)
The length of the shell is approximately 55-80 |jm, the width 30-40 |jm. The shell shape is cigar-like, narrowed towards oral end and compressed laterally especially in the apertural region. The aperture is oval (12-15 |jm), often concave in lateral view and surrounded by a thin collar. The shell surface is covered with square shape plates which are usually arranged in regular rows, with smaller plates close to the aperture.
Our specimens shows morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described in the literature (Ogden and Hedley, 1980; Luftenegger et al., 1988).
Family Hyalospheniidae Schulze, 1877
Nebela penardiana Deflandre, 1936 (Fig. 2, a)
Shell length is 170-210 |j,m, the width 70-90 |j,m. The shell is pyriform or elongate and strongly flattened in lateral side. The size of aperture 35-50 |jm. Oval aperture on specimens impregnated by argentic nitrate is well-swept up the apertural plate. The aperture is surrounded by a collar of organic cement. The surface of the shell is covered with fine circular or oval idiosomes.
Our specimens were larger than those described by other researchers (Bonnet, 1966; Laminger, 1972). As well as previous species, it was known in the Caucasus from marshy reservoirs in Northern Ossetia (Tarnogradsky, 1947). For the fauna of Azerbaijan it is its first record.
Nebela barbata Leidy, 1874 (Fig. 2, b, c)
Shell length 70-95 |j,m, the width 50-60 |j,m. The shell is colourless and pear-shaped with an elongated neck, it is flattened laterally. The diameter of aperture is 10-25 |jm. On the edges of oval aperture 6-8 tooth-like protrusions are present. The whole shell surface is covered by round or elliptic freely scattered idiosomes and short numerous spines. The spines are frequently pressing upon the shell surface. According to the English researchers (Ogden and Hedley, 1980) presence or absence of apertural toothshaped idiosomes is a variable enough atribute characteristic. However, in our specimens the presence of the tooth-shaped idiosomes was observed consistently, although their quantity could vary.
For the fauna of Azerbaijan this is the first record of this species.
Nebela galeata Penard, 1890 (Fig. 2, d, e)
The length of shell equals 200-210 |jm, the width varies between 90-100 |jm. The shell has a drop-like shape, with a distinctly thickened lateral margin. The shell surface is composed mainly of oval siliceous plates and smaller plates of organic cement. The aperture is oval (3040 |jm) and usually has an organic collar. It is well visible only on preparations impregnated by argentic nitrate. Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by Schonborn (1965).
According to the English researches (Ogden and Hedley, 1980) the species described above is morphologically closely related to N. carinata and N. marginata, also having characteristic sharp keel on edge of the shell. However, N. galeata differs from these species by the large size of shell and by a slightly different shape of the bordering keel.
Nebela militaris Penard, 1890 (Fig. 2, f, g)
The length of shell 60-80 |j,m, the width 20-40 |j,m. Shell is drop-like, laterally strongly flattened. There is no sharp keel bordering the shell. On the forward narrow end of the body an elongated slit-like aperture (15-20 |jm) is located. It is concave when viewed laterally and bordered by a pronounced apertural plate. The surface of the transparent shell is composed by oval, circular and rectangular shell plates. Our specimens were larger than those described by other researchers (Golemansky, 1973; Deflandre, 1936; Gracia, 1972).
The shape of the aperture shows that it is a valid species. It was recorded from freshwaters of the Northern Caucasus (Tarnogradsky, 1961). For the fauna of fresh-waters of Azerbaijan it is its first records.
Nebela collaris (Ehrenberg, 1848) (Fig. 2, h, i)
Shell length 125-140 |j,m, the width 60-75 |j,m. Shell is drop-like, compressed laterally. Oval aperture (20-35 |j.m) has a thin organic collar. Surface is covered with oval or circular shell plates.
Our specimens shows morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by Lousier (1976) and Schonborn (1965).
Family Difflugiidae Awerintzew, 1906
Difflugia lucida Penard, 1890 (Fig. 2, k, l)
The shell length varies between 40-60 |jm, the width is 20-30 |jm. The shell is cylindrical in shape, slightly flattened laterally and covered with flat quartz particles. Living specimens accumulate xenosomes of inorganic nature round the oval (17-25 |jm) aperture. The ratio of shell length and width is 2.0 and ratio of shell width and aperture diameter is 1.18-1.2. In the majority of the impregnated specimens, oval xenosomes are collapsed. The living cell is attached to the shell by two epipodes and contains from 2 to 4 contractile vacuoles. Nucleus with a central nucleolus. Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described earlier in the literature (Ogden, 1983; Luftenegger at al., 1988).
This is its first record for the fauna of Azerbaijan.
Difflugia bipartis Godeanu, 1972 (Fig. 2, m)
Length of the shells 45-60 |jm, the width 25-30 |jm. The shell is elongated. Oral part is narrower, back two thirds are wider, so there is an impression that the shell consists of two parts. Aperture is oval, its size not exceeding 12 |jm. The ratio of shell length and width - 1.8-2.0 and ratio of shell width and aperture diameter - 2.0-2.5. Shell surface with sand particles of variable size. Our specimens were larger than those described by Godeanu (1972).
This species has not been recorded in other regions of the world prior to our research.
Difflugia guttula Godeanu, 1972 (Fig. 2, n)
Length of the shell is 45-55 |jm, the width on equator 40-45 |jm, diameter of apically located aperture - 12-20 |jm. The ratio of shell length and width - 1.1-1.2 and ratio of shell width and aperture diameter - 2.3-3.3. The shell is drop-like, with expansion of aboral part. Shell surface is formed by sand particles of variable size; smaller particles in the aperture region. In vivo the shells colour is yellow-brown, on impregnated by argentic nitrate slides it is dark brown.
This species has been rather recently marked in fresh-waters the Romania rivers (Godeanu, 1972) but it was not ever recorded in any other regions of the world prior to our discovery.
Difflugia decloitrei Godeanu, 1972 (Fig. 2, o)
Shell length is 60-85 |j,m, width 55-75 |j,m. Diameter of a large aperture 30-45 |jm. The ratio of shell length
and width - 1.09-1.13 and ratio of shell width and aperture diameter - 1.67-1.83. The shell shape is oval, forward end not rounded. Shell coated with sand particles of variable size, smaller particles being present in the aperture region. On the impregnated materials shell colour is dark-brown, in vivo - light-brown. Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the original description (Godeanu, 1972).
This species, as well as previous ones, was found in fresh waters of Romania (Godeanu, 1972) and prior to our research it was not marked in other regions of the world.
Difflugia globulosa Dujardin, 1837 (Fig. 2, p)
The diameter of spherical, brown shell reaches 120 |jm. The diameter of oval or circular aperture is 40-60 |jm. The ratio of shell diameter and aperture diameter -2.0-2.7. All the surface of the shell is covered with large quartz particles and sometimes includes diatome frustules. This species is very variable in size and shell shape (according to Bartos - 50-260 |jm). Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by the English researches (Ogden and Hedley, 1980).
Class Filosea Leidy, 1879
Family Euglyphidae Wallich, 1864
Euglypha filifera Penard, 1890 (Fig. 3, a-c)
The length of shell is 70-110 |jm, width 30-50 |jm. The shell is ovoid and slightly compressed. Ventral aperture (10-15 |jm) is circular and surrounded by 9-11 apertural idiosomes, which have one larger median tooth and 4 smaller lateral teeth on both sides of it. The shell surface is covered by oval (8-12 |jm) idiosomes. The back half of the shell bears 16-27 siliceous spines, which begin in between idiosomes and are 12-18 |jm in length. These spines are long, thin and may be single or in small groups. In living specimens the cell occupies almost the whole shell cavity. From the aperture 6-8 long thread-shaped pseudopodia emerge. In endoplasm there are 3-8 little food and 1-2 contractile vacuoles. On the back end there is a nucleus with single central nucleolus. Our specimens were larger than those described by Ogden and Hedley (1980) and have lateral tooth more than 2 times larger.
Euglypha rotunda Wailes, 1911 (Fig. 3, d-f)
The shell length is from 30 to 55 |jm, width 10-25 |j.m. Shell ovoid, colourless, compressed. The aperture (510 |jm) is star-shaped, formed by 8-10 apertural idiosomes. Each apertural idiosome has one median tooth which is bent towards the interior of the mouth and three smaller
lateral teeth on both sides of it. There are two contractile vacuoles and a nucleus with a central nucleolus. Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by Ogden and Hedley (1980). In the illustrated description of E. rotunda made by Austrian protozoologists (Luftenegger et al., 1988), the form of apertural idiosomes is different: on given figures it is rounded, i.e. practically has no median tooth. However, on the microphotograph of E. rotunda presented there, the forward sharp median tooth on apertural idiosomes is clearly seen.
Euglypha tuberculata Dujardin, 1841 (Fig. 3, g-i)
The shell length is 40-70 |j,m, the width 25-40 |j,m. The shell is ovoid, circular in transverse section. The aperture (15-18 |jm) is circular and surrounded by 9 oval apertural idiosomes, each of which has one larger median tooth and 4 smaller lateral teeth on both sides from it. Our specimens were smaller than those described by Bonnet (1966) and Green (1975).
Prior to our research in the Caucasus it was known to inhabit the reservoirs of Northern Ossetia (Tarnogradsky, 1959). In the reservoirs of Azerbaijan it was found for the first time.
Euglypha acanthophora (Ehrenberg, 1841) (Fig. 3,
j-l)
The shell length is 50-75 |j,m, width 25-40 |jm. Shell ovoid, elliptic in transverse section. Aperture (15-22 |jm) circular, 8 to 11 apertural idiosomes. Idiosomes thickened, on the anterior end rounded with one median tooth, and 3 pairs of lateral teeth. Nucleus with a central nucleolus.
Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to species described earlier in the literature (Decloitre, 1962, 1965; Golemansky, 1973; Laminger, 1975).
Assulina scandinavica Penard, 1890 (Fig. 3, m, n)
The shell length is 100-135 |j,m, the width 95-120 |jm. The shell, composed of oval shell plates, is dropshaped. Young shells are colourless, older ones light yellow or brown. The oval aperture (25-35 |jm) surrounded by overlapping shell plates with a thin border of organic cement. This species differs from other species of this genus by shell size. Our specimens were larger than those described by Ogden and Hedley (1980).
For the fauna of the Caucasus it is its first record.
Placocista spinosa (Carter, 1865) (Fig. 3, o, p)
The shell length is 120-195 |j,m, the width 75-120 |jm. The shell is ovoid, strongly flattened. There are nu-
< Fig. 2. Some testate of amoebae Apsheron peninsula. a - Nebela penardiana, lateral view; b - N. barbata, lateral view; c - N. barbata, apertural view; d - N. galeata, lateral view; e - N. galeata, narrow lateral view; f - N. militaris, lateral view; g - N. militaris, apertural view; h - N. collaris, lateral view; i - N. collaris, apertural view; j - Quadrulella symmetrica, lateral view; k - Difflugia lucida, lateral view in vivo; l - D. lucida, lateral view; m - D. bipartis, lateral view; n - D. guttula, lateral view; o - D. decloitrei, lateral view; p - D. globulosa, apertural view.
Fig. 3. a - Euglypha filifera, lateral view in vivo; b - E. filifera, lateral view; c - E. filifera, shell plate; d - E. rotunda, lateral view; e - E. rotunda, apertural view; f - E. rotunda, shell plate; g - E. tuberculata, lateral view; h - E. tuberculata, apertural view; i - E. tuberculata, shell plate; j - E. acanthophora, lateral view; k - E. acanthophora, apertural view; l - E. acanthophora, shellplates; m - Assulina scandinavica, lateral view; n - A. scandinavica, apertural view; o - Placocysta spinosa, lateral view; p - P. spinosa, apertural view.
merous siliceous spines projecting from lateral margin. Slit-like aperture (45-85 |jm) composed of oval shell plates is surrounded by a thin collar of organic cement. The shell colour yellow or brown. Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by Chardez (1961) and Schonborn (1965).
Tracheleuglypha dentata (Moniez, 1888) (Fig. 4, a,b) The shell length is 55-70 |jm, the width 27-35 |jm. The shell is ovoid. Oval up to circular aperture (8-13 |jm) is bordered by a collar of organic material The shell is composed of oval or spherical shell plates. The shell colour is light yellow.
лОцш 5(^ln
Fig. 4. a - Tracheleuglypha dentata, lateral view; b - T. dentata, apertural view; c - Trinema enchelys, apertural view; d - T. enchelys, lateral view; e - T. penardi, apertural view; f - T. verrucosum, apertural view; g - Corythion dubium, apertural view; h - Cyphoderia ampulla, apertural view.
It is its first record for the Caucasus.
Family Trinematidae Hoogenraad et Groot, 1940
Trinema enchelys (Ehrenberg, 1838) (Fig. 4, c, d)
The shell length is 45-90 |jm, the width 20-45 |jm. Shell elliptic, oval in transverse section. A circular aperture (15-20 |jm) is sub-terminal and invaginated. The border of aperture with fine dents. Surface of the shell covered with circular plates of two different sizes. Smaller plates dominate on the aperture area, larger plates - on the rest of the shell. Our specimens show morphological characteristics which correspond to the species described by Ogden and Hedley (1980) and Green (1996).
Trinema penardi Thomas et Chardez, 1958 (Fig. 4, e)
The shell length is 30-50 |jm, the width 25-30 |jm. Transparent colourless shell is is oval in apertural view. Shell surface is covered with circular plates and smaller oval ones, situated in apertural region and in between circular plates. Oval aperture (12-16 |jm) is located in the deepening of a forward ventral part . The border of aper-
ture with fine dents. T penardi differs from the majority of other species of the genus by a strongly deepening apertural zone.
Trinema verrucosum (France, 1914) (Fig. 4, f)
Rarely encountered, the largest representative of Trinema genus. The shell length is 80-135 |jm, width 4560 |j.m. Shell ovoid, strongly flattened. Sub-terminal (20-30 |jm) aperture with numerous teeth on the border. Surface of the shell covered with circular plates of two different sizes. Our specimens were larger than those described by Bartos (1954).
It is the first records for the Caucasus.
Corythion dubium Taranek, 1881 (Fig. 4, g)
The shell length is 45-60 |jm, the width 25-40 |jm. Shell ovoid, flattened. The shell plates oval, irregularly arranged. The subterminal aperture (12-20 |jm) circular to oval, invaginated. The border of aperture with fine median dorsal dents. Our specimens show morphological charcteristics which correspond to the species described
earlier in the literature (Gracia, 1972; Laminger, 1975; Ogden and Hedley, 1980; Luftenegger et al., 1988).
For the fauna of Azerbaijan this is its first record.
Family Cyphoderiidae de Saedeleer 1934
Cyphoderia ampulla (Ehrenberg, 1840) (Fig. 4, h)
Shell length is 150-210 |j,m, the width 45-80 |j,m. The shell is colourless, retort-shaped, rounded in transverse section. Circular aperture (15-21 |jm) surrounded by a row of shell plates. The surface of the shell is composed of circular and flattened siliceous shell plates.
Our specimens were larger than those described by Ogden and Hedley (1980) and Chardez (1991).
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Address for correspondence: Ilham Alekperov. Laboratory of Protistology, Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences, Baku, 370073. E-mail: zoology@dcacs.ab.az
The manuscript is presented by A.V.Goodkov
