New Rotifera from the River Murray, South-eastern Australia, with a Review of the Australian Species of Brachionus and Keratella

Abstract

Brachionus keikoa, sp. nov., Keratella shieli, sp. nov. (family Brachionidae Bartos, 1959), and Filinia pejleri var. grandis, var. nov. (family Filiniidae Bartos, 1959), from the River Murray at Mannum, South Australia, and Lecane ungulata var. australiensis, var. nov. (family Lecanidae Bartos, 1959), from waters associated with the Goulburn River at Alexandra, Victoria, are described and figured. B. keikoa has affinities with the angularis-caudatus species group, differing in the location of the foot-opening, the site of the lateral antennae, and in the morphology of the lorica surface. K. shieli is closely related to the quadrata species group, differing in the morphology of the caudal plate and lorica facets. L. (s.str.) ungulata var. australiensis differs from the type in the form of the anterior lorica border and in larger size. F. pejleri var. grandis has the greatest measurements in length of body and bristles of all described forms so far known from other continents. Figures of some 10 species of Brachionus and of eight species of Keratella are presented for comparative purposes.