Species ID
OC-SP-0002636
Discovered
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Species ID
OC-SP-0002636
Provisional Species Name
Paulodora sp_S_630
Lowest Valid Taxon Name in WoRMS
Paulodora
Lowest Known Rank
Genus
Status
Discovered
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Embargo
No
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Platyhelminthes
Order
Rhabdocoela
Family
Polycystididae
Genus
Paulodora
Taxonomic Remarks
Species of Paulodora are differentiable by the morphology of the prostate stylet type II and few other characteristics such as the presence of pigment in the epidermis and the organization of the oocytes in the ovaries. The new species Paulodora sp.1 seems related to a few species of Paulodora with small stylets (<53 µm long) and ovaries with oocytes organised in a raw: P. ancora, P. contortoides, P. drepanophora, and P. fredelyna. In this group of species, P. ancora is excluded from the discussion because its anchor-shaped stylet, with a broad flap that extends from the base of the funnel to the distal part of the stylet. In P. fredelyna, the stylet is spiralised and, therefore, can also be differentiable from the new species. The stylet of P. drepanophora (53 µm long) is much longer than in the other species, including Paulodora sp.1 (41 µm long). Such, Paulodora sp.1 needs major comparison with P. contortoides. However, the stylet of P. contortoides bears two external flaps, which are perpendicular to each other, whereas these structures lack in Paulodora sp.1.
Received All Minimal Data for Discovery
01/04/2026
Description of Material
Species of Paulodora without pigmentation. The prostate stylet type II is very small, 40–42 µm long (x¯ = 41 µm; n = 3), but sturdy; its proximal part is a funnel, followed by a tube that turn 180° distally and forms a hook; and external, spiral gutter surrounds the stylet. The ovaries show the oocytes organised in a raw.
Ecology
Hydrozoan colonies and algae on mangrove roots, 0.5 m deep, salinity 35 ‰.
Distribution
United States of America, Florida, Fort Pierce, Little Jim, 27.47345; -80,31249.
Scientific Name Authorship
Diez, Yander L.
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