Table 3 Morphometric comparison of Linostomella vorticella populations with significant data and doubtful species reported under that name

ellipsoidal and variable, obliquely truncated at the anterior end, a depression at the posterior end

135–205

70–110

35–60%

36–51

37–51

5–12

A freshwater pond, Qingdao, China

Present work

almost spherical body, large and oblique oral cavity in front

–

–

–

–

–

–

A fire bucket, Berlin, Germany

Ehrenberg [7] (type population)

ovoid body with a broadly rounded rim

210

160

ca. 50%

–

–

8

A polluted pond, Warsaw, Poland

Wrześniowski [12]

ovoid body with broad back and truncated forward

200

–

ca. 50%

–

–

5

Under water lilies, Ariana, Tunisia

Penard [13]

globular, hemispherical or ovoid body with obliquely truncated anterior

100–125

–

ca. 45%^b

–

–

–

–

Fauré-Fremiet [14]

bag-shaped, truncated in front

100–200

–

ca. 51%^b

–

–

6–10

Clear pools and ponds

Kahl [15]

ovoid body, large and evenly rounded toward the posterior extremity, truncated at the anterior end

180

120

ca. 50%

–

–

5

Various ponds, Nanjing, China

Wang & Nie [16]

–

–

–

ca. 47%^b

–

60–70

11

Some ponds, Hungary

Gelei [17]^†

–

160

–

ca. 56%^b

19–22

31–34

2–7

A freshwater pond, Mokolo, Cameroon

Dragesco [18]^†

–

140–170

80–110

ca. 58%^b

ca. 40

30–38

8–12

Kleikuhle, Husum, Germany

Pätsch [19]

oval body, rounded posteriorly

140–170

–

–

ca .44

30–38

2–12

–

Dragesco & Dragesco-Kernéis [20]

bag-shaped, truncated in front, rounded at the back

170–200

100

ca. 53%^b

40–50

39–45

5–9

Meerfelder Maares, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany

Packroff & Wilbert [21]

saccular to ellipsoidal, both ends broadly rounded, ventral anterior half obliquely truncated

100–210

70–160

ca. 50%

40–50

26–45

2–15

Eutrophic pond, Salzburg, Austria

Foissner et al. [22]

ellipsoidal, rounded on anterior and posterior ends

90–160

70–120

ca. 50%

ca. 50

ca. 35

8–12

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, the United States

Alekperov et al. [23]^†