New records and unusual morphology of the cave hydrozoan Velkovrhia enigmatica Matjašič & Sket, 1971 (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Bougainvilliidae)

Zagmajster, Maja (author), Delić, Teo (author), Prevorčnik, Simona (author), Zakšek, Valerija (author)

Velkovrhia enigmatica is the only freshwater hydrozoan living exclusively in groundwater. It is endemic to the Dinarides in the Balkan Peninsula, where it has been known from four caves only. Here we report on a new V. enigmatica population from cave Logarček near Laze in southwestern Slovenia. In addition, after almost 30 years since its last recorded presence, we confirm the current presence of numerous V. enigmatica individuals in the type locality, Planinska jama. Individuals from the two caves were morphologically different: polyps from the type locality had 49 tentacles, while the ones from Logarček had 1436 tentacles. The mitochondrial DNA sequences in populations from both caves did not differ. Additional research is needed to provide further insights into species taxonomy, biology and distribution.

• Language: English
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Year: 2013
• Number of pages: Str. 13-22
• Numbering: Letn. 15, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-74376
• UDC: 593.7
• ISSN on article: 1580-0814
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3028047
• Publication date in RUL: 21.12.2015

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Natura Sloveniae. revija za terensko biologijo
• Publisher: Zveza za tehnično kulturo Slovenije, Biotehniška fakulteta Univerze, Nacionalni inštitut za biologijo
• ISSN: 1580-0814
• COBISS.SI-ID: 102784768

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian

Abstract

Velkovrhia enigmatica je edini sladkovodni trdoživnjak, ki živi izključno v podzemeljskih vodah. Doslej so tega endemita Dinarskega krasa na Balkanskem polotoku našli le v štirih jamah. V prispevku poročamo o najdbi nove populacije v jami Logarček pri Lazah v jugovzhodni Sloveniji. Poleg tega lahko, po skoraj 30 letih, ponovno potrdimo pojavljanje velkovrhije na tipski lokaliteti v Planinski jami. Osebki iz obeh jam se medsebojno morfološko razlikujejo: polipi iz tipske lokalitete imajo 49 lovk v primerjavi s polipi iz Logarčka s po 1436 lovkami. V zaporedjih mitohondrijske DNA obeh populacij ni razlik. Šele z dodatnimi raziskavami bi lahko izboljšali vpogled v taksonomijo, biologijo in razširjenost te vrste.

• Keywords: Planinska jama, Logarček, morfologija, Velkovrhia enigmatica