Typification of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841 (Ciliophora,Rhynchostomatia)

In their monograph of the dileptids, Vďačný and Foissner (2012) could not clarify the type species of the genus Dileptus Dujardin, 1841. Thus, they suggested that the problem be referred to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. However, recently we discovered that Dujardin (1841) has originally typified Dileptus with Amphileptus anser sensu Ehrenberg (1838) which is in fact a misidentified Amphileptus margaritifer Ehrenberg, 1833, a common species also originally classified in Dileptus. Under Article 70.3.2 of the Code, Dileptus margaritifer (Ehrenberg, 1833) Dujardin, 1841, thoroughly redescribed by Foissner et al. (1995), is now the type of Dileptus. This has the great advantages of historical continuity and that new combinations (names) are not required.     

Phylogeny of the Poorly Known Ciliates,Microthoracida, a Systematically Confused Taxon (Ciliophora), with Morphological Reports of Three Species

Three species of Microthoracids, Lopezoterenia paratorpens n. sp., Trochiliopsis australis Foissner et al., 1988 and Discotricha papillifera Tuffrau, 1954, collected from Chinese coastal waters, were investigated using live observation and protargol staining methods. Lopezoterenia paratorpens n. sp. was characterized by its squarely shaped cortical papillae and by dorsal kineties which contained loosely distributed basal bodies. Trochiliopsis australis was revealed to have two oral membranelles, which was not recorded in the original report. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out based on SSU rRNA gene sequence data from each of the three species, and on other available data for microthoracids. The results showed that the order Microthoracida is not monophyletic because the family Discotrichidae, which contains L. paratorpens and D. papillifera, forms a clade separated from the “core” Microthoracids clade. The topologies of the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference trees, along with the distinct morphological characteristics found previously, suggest that the family Discotrichidae should not be assigned to the order Microthoracida. We propose to designate a new order, Discotrichida n. ord. which diagnosed as: flattened ciliates with conspicuous cortical papillae on both dorsal and ventral faces, rod‐shaped mucocysts, and an asymmetric cytopharyngeal basket. Also, the fact that Leptopharynx clusters with the assemblage including T. australis, and Pseudomicrothorax is located distantly from Leptopharynx indicates that the classification of Pseudomicrothoracidae and Microthoracidae by Foissner (1985) is justified.     

Morphologic and molecular characterization of Apertospathula pilata n. sp., a novel freshwater spathidiid (Ciliophora,Litostomatea) from Idaho,USA

Order Spathidiida Foissner and Foissner, 1988 comprises a large group of morphologically diverse, primarily predatory, free living ciliates, the phylogeny of which has remained stubbornly unresolved. Families Arcuospathidiidae and Apertospathulidae are two morphologically similar groups established on the basis of differences in the morphology of the oral bulge and circumoral kinety. While Arcuospathidiidae is non-monophyletic in 18S rRNA gene analyses, the Apertospathulidae has been represented by only a single Apertospathula sequence in public databases. In this report, a novel freshwater species, Apertospathula pilata n. sp. is described on the basis of living observation, silver impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. The phylogeny of the new species is assessed based on the rRNA cistron. The main features distinguishing A. pilata n. sp. from all congeners are: the oral bulge extrusomes (filiform, up to 25 µm long), the combination of body size (130–193 µm) and shape (spatulate), the extensive oral bulge length (41% of the cell length after protargol impregnation), and multiple micronuclei (one to five, two on average). The monophyly of Apertospathulidae Foissner, Xu and Kreutz, 2005 is rejected.     

A New Subspecies of Oxytricha granulifera (Hypotrichia: Oxytrichidae) from Mexico,with Notes on its Morphogenesis and Phylogenetic Position

The genus Oxytricha Bory de Saint‐Vincent in Lamouroux, Bory de Saint‐Vincent and Deslongchamps, 1824 comprises about 38 species distributed worldwide and has been considered to be a nonmonophyletic group. Based on living observations, protargol preparations, and a small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequence, we describe a new subspecies Oxytricha granulifera chiapasensis n. subsp. This new taxon is morphologically characterized by undulating membranes basically in a Stylonychia‐pattern, six dorsal kineties, size in vivo ca. 60–120 × 20–40 μm, 21–30 right and 21–31 left marginal cirri, 22–29 adoral membranelles, and spherical cortical granules arranged in longitudinal rows on the dorsal side. In terms of the SSU rRNA gene sequence, the new subspecies differs from populations of O. granulifera from GENBANK by 7–35 nucleotides. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Oxytricha granulifera gene sequences were nested into three groups, with the new subspecies included in one of them. Oxytricha granulifera chiapasensis n. subsp. is different from Oxytricha granulifera granulifera Foissner and Adam, 1983 and Oxytricha granulifera quadricirrata Blatterer and Foissner, 1988 based on: (i) undulating membranes in Stylonychia‐pattern, (ii) formation of a sixth dorsal kinety during morphogenesis, (iii) the adoral membranelles number, and (iv) inhabiting freshwater habitats.     

Soil Ciliates from Saudi Arabia, Including Descriptions of Two New Genera and Six New Species

Six soil samples from natural and cultivated sites of Saudi Arabia were investigated for ciliate diversity, using the non-flooded Petri dish culture method, live observation, and silver impregnation. We identified 135 species, all new for the fauna of Saudi Arabia, of which seven were undescribed: Spathidium alqasabi nov. spec.; Enchelyodon alqasabi nov. spec.; Metauroleptus arabicus nov. gen., nov. spec.; Pseudohemisincirra arabica nov. gen., nov. spec.; Saudithrix terricola? Berger, Al-Rasheid and Foissner, 2006; Oxytricha arabica nov. spec.; and Erimophrya monostyla nov. spec. Based on Spathidium alqasabi, S. seppelti foissneri? Vd'a?ny et al., 2006 and S. seppelti etoschense? Foissner et al., 2002 are raised to species rank; for the latter, a new name is required to avoid homonymy: Spathidium fraterculum nov. nom. The new genus Metauroleptus, which possesses two long and two to three short ventral cirral rows, generates all dorsal kineties intrakinetally and produces caudal cirri exclusively in dorsal kinety 1. Metauroleptus belongs to the hypotrichs, while family classification remains doubtful. The same applies to the new hypotrich genus Pseudohemisincirra, which has frontoventral and transverse cirri, while buccal cirri and caudal cirri are absent. The number of species contained in Saudi Arabian soils, including sand dunes, is in the range reported from other regions of the earth, suggesting that ciliates are well adapted to dry habitats, possibly mainly by their ability to produce very resistant resting cysts, most surviving for a long time due to reduced metazoan predation.     

Rosularia globulariifolia var. pallidiflora comb. et stat. nov. (Crassulaceae)

Rosularia globulariifolia (Fenzl) A. Berger and R. pallidiflora (Holmboe) Meikle were originally described as species in Umbilicus DC. in 1842 and 1914, respectively. In the present study, morphological and palynological features were examined in detail to determine the status of these taxa. The general characteristics, seed structure and micromorphology, pollen measurements and pollen characteristics were established. Morphologically, the two taxa cannot easily be distinguished. Pollen grains of both species are tricolporate, subspheroidal and eutectate, ornamentation is psilate and exine structures are similar. Based on morphological and palynological similarities, and the fact that both taxa are found in the same habitats, we propose that R. pallidiflora should be reduced to the rank of variety as Rosularia globulariifolia (Fenzl) A. Berger var. pallidiflora (Meikle) Minareci & K. Yildiz comb. et stat. nov.     

Pseudonotohymena antarctica n. g., n. sp. (Ciliophora,Hypotricha), a New Species from Antarctic Soil

A new soil ciliate, Pseudonotohymena antarctica n. g., n. sp., from King George Island, Antarctica, is described based on live observation, protargol impregnation, and its 18S rRNA gene. The new genus Pseudonotohymena is morphologically similar to the genus Notohymena Blatterer and Foissner 1988 in the following characteristics: 18 fronto‐ventral‐transverse cirri, a flexible body, undulating membranes, dorsomarginal kineties, and the number of cirri in the marginal rows. However, Pseudonotohymena differs from Notohymena particularly in the dorsal ciliature, that is, in possessing a nonfragmented dorsal kinety (vs. fragmented). In addition, the molecular phylogenetic relationship of the new species differs from that of Notohymena species. On the basis of the morphological features, the genetic data, and morphogenesis, we establish P. antarctica n. g., n. sp. In addition, the cyst morphology of this species is described.     

土壤腹毛类纤毛虫四新纪录种

利用非淹没培养皿法、活体观察和蛋白银染色法,研究了青岛的土壤纤毛虫,发现2属4种我国新纪录种:澳洲管膜虫(Cyrtohymena australis Foissner,1995)、四核管膜虫[C.quadrinucleata(DragescoNjine,1971)]、犬牙管膜虫[C.candens(Kahl,1932)]及迟钝澳纤虫(Australocirrus oscitans BlattererFoissner,1988)。文中对该4种纤毛虫的活体形态和纤毛图式进行了观察记述,补充了前人描述的不足,并依据统计学特征与相近种群进行了比较。     

Morphology,Morphogenesis and Phylogenetic Position of the Soil Hypotrichous Ciliate,Parabistichella dieckmanni (Foissner, 1998) Foissner, 2016 (Ciliophora,Hypotrichia), with Notes on the Phylogeny of Parabistichella

The morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of Parabistichella dieckmanni (Foissner, 1998) Foissner, 2016, isolated from north China, were investigated. The Chinese population was characterized as having five to seven frontal cirri in corona, four to seven buccal cirri arranged in a row, two to four short frontal rows and two long frontoventral rows, three to seven transverse cirri, four macronuclear nodules, three dorsal kineties following a Gonostomum-pattern, and caudal cirri absent. Morphogenetic research reveals that the main characteristics during binary fission are as follows: (1) the long left frontoventral row is formed by two or three anlagen; (2) the posterior part of the parental adoral zone of membranelles is renewed, and the oral primordium of the opisthe is formed intrakinetally; (3) FVT-anlagen I to VI (or V, VII) produce each a frontal cirrus to form the frontal corona; (4) development of dorsal kineties follows the Gonostomum-pattern. Phylogenetic analyses showed that P. dieckmanni does not group with other Parabistichella species. Therefore, the genus Parabistichella is polyphyletic. Additionally, Parabistichella variabilis n. comb. (basionym: Bistichella variabilis He & Xu, 2011) and Parabistichella cheni n. nom. (basionym: Parabistichella variabilis Jiang et al., 2013) were suggested.     

New and little known crickets of the subfamily Phalangopsinae (Orthoptera,Gryllidae): 6. Neotropical taxa of the tribes Phalangopsini and Paragryllini

Two new genera, ten new species, and two new subspecies: Uvaroviella izerskyi sp. n., U. morona sp. n., U. ucayali sp. n., U. pastaza sp. n., U. affinis sp. n., U. bolivia sp. n., U. bora atalaya subsp. n., Kevanacla orientalis contraria subsp. n., Peruacla solitaria gen. et sp. n., Ecuadoracla propria gen. et sp. n., Adelosgryllus spurius sp. n., and A. phaeocephalus sp. n. are described. The tribe Paragryllini is divided into three subtribes: Paragryllina Desutter, 1988 stat. n., Neoaclina Desutter, 1988 stat. n., and Strogulomorphina Desutter 1988, stat. n. The composition of the genera Uvaroviella Chop. and Neoacla Desutter is discussed. The species from Costa Rica and the Antilles are supposed to belong to these genera and subgenera. New synonymy [U. trinidadi Gorochov, 2007 = U. enodos Otte et Perez-Gelabert, 2009, syn. n. and N. multivenosa (Chopard, 1937) = Selvacla choreutes Otte, 2006, syn. n.] is proposed.     

Morphogenesis and Molecular Phylogeny of a New Freshwater Ciliate,Notohymena apoaustralis n. sp. (Ciliophora,Oxytrichidae)

The live morphology, infraciliature, and morphogenesis of a new oxytrichid ciliate, Notohymena apoaustralis n. sp. collected from a freshwater pond in Qingdao (Tsingtao), China, were studied in vivo and after protargol impregnation. Notohymena apoaustralis n. sp. is characterized as follows: undulating membranes in Notohymena‐pattern; cortical granules yellow‐green, grouped around the marginal cirri and dorsal bristles, and in short irregular rows elsewhere in the cell; single contractile vacuole positioned at anterior 1/3 of the body length; two macronuclear nodules and one micronucleus; about 39 adoral membranelles; 18 frontoventral transverse cirri in typical Oxytricha‐pattern; one right and one left marginal row, almost confluent posteriorly; dorsal ciliature in typical Oxytricha‐pattern; 8–10 caudal cirri arranged in three rows, one each at the posterior end of dorsal kineties 1, 2, and 4, indistinguishable from marginal cirri in life. The morphogenetic process in N. apoaustralis n. sp. is consistent with that of the type species, Notohymena rubescens Blatterer and Foissner, 1988. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit rDNA sequence data suggest a sister relationship between N. apoaustralis n. sp. and Paraurostyla weissei, which cluster in a clade with Rubrioxytricha ferruginea.     

Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Pseudocyrtohymena koreana n. g., n. sp. and Antarctic Neokeronopsis asiatica Foissner et al., 2010 (Ciliophora,Sporadotrichida), with a Brief Discussion of the Cyrtohymena Undulating Membranes Pattern

We discovered a new brackish water oxytrichid Pseudocyrtohymena koreana n. g., n. sp. in South Korea and investigated the new species on the basis of morphology, ontogenesis, and 18S rRNA gene sequences. The new genus has the 18 frontal‐ventral‐transverse cirri of typical oxytrichids with flexible body, cortical granules, Cyrtohymena undulating membranes (UM), and one left and one right marginal cirral row. Ontogenesis of the new species indicated that dorsal kinety anlage 3 stretches within the parental row without any fragmentations (Urosomoida pattern) and exclusively forms all caudal cirri. The new genus is morphologically similar to Cyrtohymena Foissner, 1989, but has the following distinctive features: (i) caudal cirri absent in dorsal kineties 1 and 2 (vs. present in Cyrtohymena); and (ii) dorsal kinety 3 nonfragmented (vs. fragmented in Cyrtohymena). Further, we collected an additional species Neokeronopsis asiatica Foissner et al. 2010, from King George Island, Antarctica, and the species shares the morphology of UM with Cyrtohymena. Herein, we describe the previously unidentified characteristics of N. asiatica (i.e., cortical granules, body flexibility, contractile vacuole, and 18S rRNA gene sequence). In addition, we obtained two 18S rRNA gene sequences from Cyrtohymena muscorum and Parasterkiella thompsoni to expand samples for phylogenetic analysis. Our 18S rRNA gene tree supports the hypothesis that the Cyrtohymena UM pattern might have evolved several times in hypotrichs (e.g., Neokeronopsidae, Oxytrichinae, and Stylonychinae).     

Molecular phylogeny of Nothoholosticha (Protozoa,Ciliophora, Urostylida) and systematic relationships of the Holosticha-complex

The marine ciliate Nothoholosticha is characterized by having a Holosticha-like ciliature pattern but without migratory frontoterminal cirri. However, its systematic position and its relationship to other members of the Holosticha-complex have not yet been resolved. In order to gain deeper insights into these relationships, the small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene and the rRNA internal transcribed spacer and 5.8SrRNA (ITS1–5.8S-ITS2) region of two marine Anteholosticha species, as well as the ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 region of N. fasciola, were sequenced, and molecular trees (BI, ML, NJ and MP trees) were constructed. Although our analyses failed to conclusively resolve the phylogeny of this assemblage, certain conclusions could be drawn. Firstly, Nothoholosticha is a valid genus that is more closely related to Pseudokeronopsis than to other Holosticha-complex genera. Secondly, sequence analyses and phylogenetic trees of several Anteholosticha species revealed a high molecular diversity, which does not support the monophyly of this genus. Thirdly, the current assignment of certain well-known genera, e.g. Holosticha, Anteholosticha, Apokeronopsis, Parabirojimia, Psammomitra, Diaxonella, Metaurostylopsis and Thigmokeronopsis, to the families Bakuellidae (sensu Berger 2006), Urostylidae (sensu Berger 2006) or Holostichidae (sensu Berger 2006) is challenged by the molecular data presented here. And fourthly, the families Holostichidae and Pseudokeronopsidae (sensu Lynn 2008) are probably paraphyletic, and their systematic assignments await further evaluation.     

Molecular Phylogeny of an Indian Population of Kleinstyla dorsicirrata (Foissner, 1982) Foissner et al., 2002. comb. nov. (Hypotrichia,Oxytrichidae): an Oxytrichid with Incomplete Dorsal Kinety Fragmentation

Kleinstyla dorsicirrata (Foissner, 1982) Foissner et al., 2002. comb. nov. (basionym: Gastrostyla dorsicirrata) is a slightly flexible oxytrichid, measuring about 88–115 × 27–46 μm in life and possesses cortical granules. Kleinstyla dorsicirrata is the only oxytrichid known so far with incompletely fragmented dorsal kinety. Morphological and morphogenetic data recognise K. dorsicirrata as nonstylonychine oxytrichid. Molecular phylogeny of an Indian population was inferred using 18S rRNA gene sequences and was examined with respect to oxytrichids exhibiting variation in dorsal kinety fragmentation. Kleinstyla dorsicirrata clusters with Oxytricha lanceolata; this proximity is quite significant as both show deviation from typical oxytrichid fragmentation of dorsal kinety. Molecular phylogeny of Indian population confirms its nonstylonychine oxytrichid status.     

Morphogenesis and Molecular Phylogeny of the Soil Ciliate Holostichides chardezi (Ciliophora,Hypotrichia, Bakuellidae), with Redefinition of Holostichides Foissner, 1987 and Establishment of a New Genus Anteholostichides

Morphogenesis of the soil hypotrich ciliate, Holostichides chardezi Foissner, 1987, collected from southeastern China, was investigated using the protargol staining method. The main morphogenetic events follow a similar process with that of its congeners. Phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU rDNA sequence data indicate that Holostichides is nonmonophyletic; H. chardezi, the type species of Holostichides, clusters with H. heterotypicus, while H. terrae is distinctly separate from these species. H. terrae can be distinguished from H. chardezi (type species of Holostichides) and H. heterotypicus by undulating membranes relatively long and distinctly curved (vs. relatively short and straight), pharynx with (vs. without) rod‐shaped structure, and two (vs. more than two) frontoterminal cirri. Therefore, a new genus, Anteholostichides nov. gen., has been proposed for H. terrae. Further, the diagnosis of the genus Holostichides is improved.     

BOOK REVIEW

Book reviewed in this article:
Foissner, W., Berger, H. & Kohnmann, F. 1994. Taxonomische und Ökonomische Revision der Ciliaten des Sabrobiensystems.     

Schmidingerothrix salinarum nov. spec. is the Molecular Sister of the Large Oxytrichid Clade (Ciliophora,Hypotricha)

In 2012, Foissner described a curious hypotrich: Schmidingerothrix extraordinaria. This ciliate, which he discovered in hypersaline soils (~100‰) from Namibia, had a frayed buccal lip, three‐rowed adoral membranelles, only one frontal cirrus, and a miniaturized first frontal membranelle, while a paroral membrane, dorsal bristle rows and buccal, transverse and caudal cirri were absent. All opisthe structures developed de novo, while parental structures were involved in the proter. When Foissner's study became available, we discovered a similar species in a Portuguese solar saltern, differing from S. extraordinaria mainly by the number of frontoventral cirral rows (3 vs. 1). Furthermore, parental structures were involved in the ontogenesis of both proter and opisthe. The small subunit (SSU) rDNA shows Schmidingerothrix as sister of a large clade containing most classical oxytrichids (e.g. Sterkiella, Oxytricha, Steinia) and many related taxa (e.g. Pattersoniella, Bistichella, Uroleptus). This clade shows a bifurcation named “Oxytricha subclade” and “Uroleptus subclade”. Foissner ( 2012 ) interpreted the peculiarities of Schmidingerothrix as a reduction caused by the extreme habitat. However, the molecular data do not exclude that Schmidingerothrix presents an ancient state. A morphology‐based scheme is presented, showing how the subclades might have evolved from a Schmidingerothrix‐like ancestor.     

Protein variation,taxonomy and differentiation in five species of marmosets (genusCallithrix Erxleben, 1777)

The electrophoretic patterns of 15 protein systems codified for 20 genetic loci were investigated using horizontal electrophoresis. A total of 150 blood samples, from five species of the genusCallithrix were analyzed. Polymorphic variation was observed in 10 out 20 loci analyzed. The genotypic distributions are in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The average heterozygosity (H) varied from 1% to 5%, similar to those observed for other Neotropical primates. The genetic distance coefficients revealed a phylogenetic separation of these species into two groups: (1) “argentata” (C. humeralifer andC. emiliae); (2) “jacchus” (C. jacchus, C. penicillata, andC. geoffroyi). This arrangement is according to the taxonomic arrangement proposed byHershkovitz (1977),de Vivo (1988), andMittermeier et al. (1988). The results in each group are compatible with the subspecies values recorded for the Platyrrhini. These values showed that:C. humeralifer andC. emiliae are subspecies ofC. argentata;C. jacchus, C. penicillata, andC. geoffroyi are subspecies ofC. jacchus. These results also suggest thatC. j. geoffroyi is the “jacchus” group taxon, most similar genetically to the “argentata” group.