![Thumbnail: [Volume 78, 1950 page 165]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_78/thumbnails/rsnz_78_02_0261_0165_ac_02.gif)
Filiniidae
Pedalia mira (Hudson)
1871. Pedalion mira Hudson. Month. Micr. Jour., vol. 6, p. 121.
1886. Hudson and Gosse, The Rotifera, p. 132.
Locality. Lakes Brunner, Grassmere, Alexandrina, Wanaka. (P.) A discussion of the variabilities of this species will be given under Pedalia fennica.
Pedalia fennica (Levander)
1892. Pedalium fennicum Levander. Zool. Anz., vol. 15, p. 403.
Locality. Lakes Wanaka, Hawea, Lyndon, Brunner. (P.) Professor Percival suggested that there were two species of Pedalia in the Southern lakes, and examination confirmed this view. In the case of P. mira the number of bristles on the appendages was found in some cases to be less than stated in the original description; also specimens were found with the bristles on the ventral appendage paired instead of separate. Rudimentary bristles were also seen together with specimens having the bristles broken off at the appendage. It is considered that little reliance can be placed on the number and type of the appendage bristles in comparison with the more stable characteristics such as the trophi, and shape of the coronal lip.
Only minor differences were noticed in P. fennica. A smaller number of bristles than stated in the original citation was found in the Lake Brunner specimens. Some specimens from the Southern
![Thumbnail: [Volume 78, 1950 page 166]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_78/thumbnails/rsnz_78_02_0262_0166_ac_02.gif)
lakes had a slightly flared coronal lip, but in no case was the deeply grooved lip of P. mira found. In general, the trophi of both species agreed with the original descriptions. Wiszniewski (1933) gives an excellent description of five species of Pedalia together with the variations he has found, and from a study of this paper in conjunction with the original citations it is considered that the specimens are merely geographical variations of P. mira and P. fennica. Finally, it should be noted that Pedalia is not the only genus of the Filiniidae in which there is a marked variability of the appendages.