Reconciling cladistic and genetic analyses in choreotrichid ciliates (Ciliophora, Spirotricha, Oligotrichea)

Fifty-six features of halteriid, oligotrichid, and choreotrichid ciliates are cladistically analysed, including an updated hypothesis about the evolution of the somatic ciliary patterns. Based on its morphology, Lynnella clusters with Parastrombidinopsis, Parastrombidium, and Strombidinopsis, while it is basal to the other choreotrichids in the molecular phylogenies. The two clusters of Favella species in small subunit rRNA gene trees are supported by morphological features, justifying a separation at genus and family level. The genus Favella has a smooth lorica surface and a somatic ciliary pattern comprising a left and lateral ciliary field as well as two dorsal kineties and a monokinetidal ventral kinety abutting on the right ciliary field. The new genus Schmidingerella n. gen., established for the second Favella cluster, groups with Metacylis and Rhabdonella in the molecular trees. It differs from Favella in (i) a lorica wall with reticulate surface ridges and minute openings and (ii) a ventral kinety that is distinctly apart from the right ciliary field and composed of a monokinetidal anterior and a dikinetidal posterior portion. The genera Codonaria, Codonella, and Codonellopsis are affiliated with the family Dictyocystidae, whose diagnosis is improved to include the lorica sac.     

Redescription of Tintinnopsis parvula Jörgensen, 1912 (Ciliophora: Spirotrichea: Tintinnina), Including a Novel Lorica Matrix

Tintinnopsis parvulaJ?rgensen, 1912 has apparently a cosmopolitan distribution in the pelagial of marine and brackish coastal waters. The species is redescribed based on material from the Irish Sea off the Isle of Man, using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy. The agglomerated and stiff lorica measures 38-60 × 24-31 μm and is composed of a usually broadly obovate bowl and a slightly narrowed cylindroidal collar with an inner diameter of ~ 20 μm. The somatic ciliary pattern is of the most complex type, viz., it comprises a ventral, dorsal, and posterior kinety as well as a right, left, and lateral ciliary field. The left ciliary field comprises four kineties, the lateral field about ten kineties, and the right field five kineties. The oral primordium develops apparently apokinetally posterior to the lateral ciliary field and generates ~ 15 collar membranelles and one buccal membranelle. Two further populations were studied: one from the North Sea off the Island of Sylt, the other from brackish polder basins at the German North Sea coast; they match the Irish Sea specimens in all main features. The loricae formed in almost particle-free cultures have a thin wall composed of an irregular network of fibres and very few attached or interwoven particles. This matrix type differs from the other three types found in congeners. Hence, the matrix ultrastructure might represent a promising feature for a reliable subdivision of the species-rich genus TintinnopsisStein, 1867 in the future.     

Updated hypothesis on the evolution of oligotrichid ciliates (Ciliophora, Spirotricha, Oligotrichida) based on somatic ciliary patterns and ontogenetic data

The two recently established genera ApostrombidiumXu et al., 2009 and VaristrombidiumXu et al., 2009 and the analysis of ontogenetic data in Strombidium constrictum, S. montagnesi, S. wilberti, Omegastrombidium elegans, and Paratontonia gracillima necessitated a revision of the hypothesis about the somatic ciliary pattern evolution in oligotrichid ciliates. As a consequence, the species-rich genus Strombidium was split, establishing two genera for species with a horizontal girdle kinety posterior to the oral primordium: Opisthostrombidium nov. gen. with the extrusome attachment sites along the anterior margin of the girdle kinety and posterior to the oral primordium and Foissneridium nov. gen. with the extrusome attachment sites distinctly apart from the girdle kinety and anterior to the oral primordium. The ontogenetic data revealed that the Ω-shaped girdle kinety pattern evolved convergently from the Pseudotontonia pattern with its horizontal girdle kinety in the tailed genus Paratontonia and from the Novistrombidium pattern with its dextrally spiralled girdle kinety in the tailless genus Omegastrombidium. The somatic ciliary pattern of the latter genus probably gave rise to the patterns of Apostrombidium and Varistrombidium.     

Phylogeny of the order Choreotrichida (Ciliophora, Spirotricha, Oligotrichea) as inferred from morphology, ultrastructure, ontogenesis, and SSrRNA gene sequences

The phylogeny within the order Choreotrichida is reconstructed using (i) morphologic, ontogenetic, and ultrastructural evidence for the cladistic approach and (ii) the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSrRNA) gene sequences, including the new sequence of Rimostrombidium lacustris. The morphologic cladograms and the gene trees converge rather well for the Choreotrichida, demonstrating that hyaline and agglutinated loricae do not characterize distinct lineages, i.e., both lorica types can be associated with the most highly developed ciliary pattern. The position of Rimostrombidium lacustris within the family Strobilidiidae is corroborated by the genealogical analyses. The diagnosis of the genus Tintinnidium is improved, adding cytological features, and the genus is divided into two subgenera based on the structure of the somatic kineties. The diagnosis of the family Lohmanniellidae and the genus Lohmanniella are improved, and Rimostrombidium glacicolum Petz, Song and Wilbert, 1995 is affiliated.     

Three new intestinal protozoan species of the genus Latteuria n.g. (Ciliophora: Trichostomatia) from Asian and African elephants

Three new ciliate species presumably belonging to the family Paraisotrichidae were recognized in the fecal samples from zoo-kept Asian and African elephants. All the ciliates possess a unique but similar arrangement of somatic ciliature, thus a new genus Latteuria n.g. has been created for them. The genus is characterized by the presence of a tapered frontal ‘spout’ at the anterior end of the body, posterior ciliary rows in narrow grooves encircling the posterior half of the body and an anterior arch of cilia. Latteuria polyfaria n.sp. is the largest species in the genus with 9–11 posterior ciliary rows. In L. media n.sp., of medium body size, the number of rows varies from four to six, and the smallest species, L. trifaria n.sp., has only three-four posterior ciliary rows.     

广东沿海的砂壳纤毛虫及3种国内新纪录

对广东沿海的砂壳纤毛虫进行了初步研究,涉及7属16种,其中3种确定为中国的新纪录:僧帽壳铃虫Codonella apicata Kofoid&Campbell,1929,陀螺形拟铃虫Tintinnopsis turbo Meunier,1919和膨胀细壳虫Stenosemella expansa Wailes,1925。另有3种为我国亚热带海域的新纪录:筒状拟铃虫Tintinnopsis tubu-losoides Meunier,1910,罗氏拟铃虫Tintinnopsis lohmanni(J rgensen,1927)Laackmann,1906和贪婪铃壳虫Codonella rapa Kofoid&Campbell,1929。其余10种为常见种:百系拟铃虫Tintinnopsis beroidea Stein,1867,尖底拟铃虫Tintinnopsis acuminata(Daday,1887)Kofoid et Campbell,1929,妥肯丁拟玲虫Tintinnopsis to-cantinensis Kofoid&Campbell,1929,筒状拟铃虫Tintinnopsis tubulosoides Meunier,1910,管状拟玲虫Tintinnopsis tublosa Levander,1900,长形拟铃虫Tintinnopsis clongata Daday,1887,罗氏拟铃虫Tintinnopsislohmanni(J rgensen,1927)Laackmann,1906,小领细壳虫Stenosemella parvicollis(Marshall,1934)Hada,1935,钟状网纹虫Favella campanula(Schmidt,1901)J rgensen,1924和贪婪铃壳虫Codonella rapa Kofoid&Camp-bell,1929。文章对其形态分类学做了简要描述。     

Dexiotrichides pangi n. sp. (protozoa,ciliophora, scuticociliatia), a new marine ciliate from the north China sea

The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of a new marine scuticociliate, Dexiotrichides pangi n. sp. were investigated. The new species is characterized by: size about 45-65 x 20-25 microm in vivo with kidney-like body shape and obliquely truncated semicircle-shaped apical plate; cytostome at bottom of conspicuously depressed oral cavity, which is located at the cell equatorial level; paroral membrane extending anteriorly to membranelle 3; scutica multi-rowed; 33-38 somatic kineties; contractile vacuole near ventral side and subcaudally positioned, opening at posterior end of somatic kinety 3; one oval macronucleus and one small micronucleus; caudal cilium positioned in a small pouch; marine habitat. Based on the data obtained, an improved diagnosis for the genus Dexiotrichides is suggested: body with circular cross-section and conspicuous cilia-free apical plate; buccal cavity conspicuously depressed with cytostome located near or at equatorial level; three membranelles transversely orientated each with 2-3 rows; paroral membrane zigzaging structure, extending to about half of the length of buccal field; multi-rowed scutica; somatic kinety one strongly shortened and terminating anteriorly at posterior end of buccal field; basal bodies in equatorial region arranged usually in circular pattern, while in the anterior portion of somatic kinety 2, basal bodies characteristically in pairs and separated from the posterior part of kinety 2; one caudal cilium.     

Gymnodinioides pacifica, n. sp., an exuviotrophic ciliated protozoan (Ciliophora, Apostomatida) from euphausiids of the Northeastern Pacific

A new species of apostome ciliate, Gymnodinioides pacifica n. sp. from the euphausiid Euphausia pacifica is described. The ciliated protozoan encysts on the setae of the appendages, telson and antennae. It excysts and enters the exoskeleton of the host after moulting, where it feeds on exuvial fluid. The phoront and trophont stages of this ciliate are described. The ciliature of the trophont has the following characteristics that distinguish it from the other species of Gymnodinioides: (1) a short kinety 9a (ciliary row 9a or K9a), approximately half of the length of falciform field 8, that extends from the anterior end of the cell posteriorly to the level of K1, (2) a straight K5a, perpendicular to K5b, K6, and K7, and (3) two distinct bands of kineties, K9b-K5b and K4-K1. In addition to those on the host E. pacifica, phoront cysts of similar shape were observed on Thysanoessa spinifera, T. gregaria, T. inspinata, T. longipes, and Nematoscelis difficilis. High prevalence rates were recorded (83%) for these apostome cysts on E. pacifica and T. spinifera during summer collections from the Oregon and Washington coasts. Additionally, we report other apostome ciliate symbionts of euphausiids, including Phtorophrya sp., which preys on apostomes in the genus Gymnodinioides.     

A new species of Lepidodasys (Gastrotricha, Macrodasyida) from Panama with a description of its peptidergic nervous system using CLSM, anti-FMRFamide and anti-SCPB

A new species of Lepidodasys (Gastrotricha: Macrodasyida: Lepidodasyidae) is described from sublittoral sediments in the Bocas del Toro archipelago in Panama and represents the first species of Lepidodasyidae described from the Caribbean. The new species possesses keeled scales that form a crossed-helical pattern across its dorsal and lateral surfaces and ventral scales that form a herringbone pattern between and lateral to the ciliary columns. A bilateral pair of three ventral adhesive tubes at the posterior end further differentiates this new species from its seven congeners. A confocal laser scanning microscope examination of the nervous system using antibodies to small cardioactive peptide B (SCP_B) and FMRFamides reveals a dumbbell-shape cerebral ganglion, paired pharyngeal neurites and paired posterior nerve cords. Expression patterns of immunoreactivity to both classes of neuropeptides show a high degree of similarity. Only within the lateral somata of the cerebral ganglion and a single median pharyngeal neurite is there a difference in immunoreactivity to FMRFamide (positive) compared to SCP_B (negative). Results from this investigation reveal that neuropeptides, among other neuronal markers, might provide phylogenetically informative characters in macrodasyidan gastrotrichs, especially regarding the topology of the cerebral ganglion.     

Description of a new trypanorhynch species (Cestoda) from Indonesian Borneo, with the suppression of Oncomegoides and the erection of a new genus Hispidorhynchus

A new species of Oncomegas Dollfus, 1929 is described from the cowtail stingray, Pastinachus atrus (Macleay), collected in the Makassar Strait, Indonesian Borneo. Oncomegas trimegacanthus n. sp. possesses 2 oval bothria, gland cells within the bulbs, prebulbar organs, a distinctive basal armature with a single macrohook on the bothrial surface of the asymmetrical basal swelling, and a heteroacanthous, heteromorphous metabasal armature with 10 hooks per principle row. It differs from congeners by its possession of additional enlarged hooks at the base of the tentacle. Because of apparent morphological similarities, we suppress the genus Oncomegoides Beveridge & Campbell, 2005 with Oncomegas, and place the type and only species, Oncomegoides celatus Beveridge & Campbell, 2005 , within Oncomegas as Oncomegas celatus n. comb. Three species of Oncomegas , namely, Oncomegas paulinae Toth, Campbell & Schmidt, 1992, Oncomegas australiensis Toth, Campbell & Schmidt, 1992, and Oncomegas aetobatidis Campbell & Beveridge, 2009, differ from other species, possessing testes posterior to the ovary and a metabasal armature consisting of tiny, relatively homeomorphous hooks, with more than 14 hooks per principle row. Based on these morphological differences, a new genus, Hispidorhynchus n. gen., is erected, with Hispidorhynchus australiensis n. comb. as the type species.     

Establishment of a new amphileptid genus, Apoamphileptus nov. gen. (Ciliophora, Litostomatea, Pleurostomatida), with description of a new marine species, Apoamphileptus robertsi nov. spec. from Qingdao, China

A new pleurostomatid genus Apoamphileptus is described, which is diagnosed as: Belonging to the Amphileptidae with spica on right side; on each side of the cell, a single perioral kinety, which encircles the cytostome and does not extend to the posterior end of the cell; somatic kineties of both sides near ventral margin shortened and forming a postoral suture; two to several extra fragments with densely arranged dikinetids located in anterior portion of left side. As the type species, the morphology and infraciliature of Apoamphileptus robertsi nov. spec., isolated from a shrimp-farming pond near Qingdao (Tsingtao), China, have been investigated using living observations and the protargol silver impregnation method. The diagnosis for this new species is: Apoamphileptus 90-180 x 30-60 microm in vivo, body elongate pyriform-shaped and slightly flattened; with one cross-striated band along the cytostome; 2-6 (generally 4) large macronuclear nodules, one micronucleus; 33-43 right somatic kineties; left side 6-8 kineties; two extra anterior fragments on left side; about 13 contractile vacuoles dispersed throughout whole body; extrusomes absent or not recognizable; marine habitat. Some morphologically related morphotypes are discussed and tabulated. Regarding the pattern of infraciliature and other morphological features, the well-described fresh-water species, Amphileptus claparedii Stein, 1867 is believed to be a member of this new genus, hence a new combination is suggested: Apoamphileptus claparedii (Stein, 1867) nov. comb.     

Phylogenetic Position of the Genus Cyrtostrombidium,with a Description of Cyrtostrombidium paralongisomum nov. spec. and a Redescription of Cyrtostrombidium longisomum Lynn & Gilron, 1993 (Protozoa,Ciliophora) Based on Live Observation,Protargol Impregnation,and 18S rDNA Sequences

We redescribe Cyrtostrombidium longisomum Lynn & Gilron, 1993, the type species of the genus Cyrtostrombidium, and describe the new species Cyrtostrombidium paralongisomum n. sp. using live observation, protargol staining and molecular data. The morphological characters of these two species are clearly distinct, i.e., dikinetid numbers in the girdle and ventral kineties; however, it is difficult to separate them by 18S rDNA sequences because they differ by only 8 bp, indicating that 18S rDNA sequences are insufficient for separating different species in the genus Cyrtostrombidium. We not only observed the position of the oral primordium in the genus Cyrtostrombidium but also observed a possibly homoplasious trait, a dorsal split in the girdle kinety, in (1) Apostrombidium, (2) Varistrombidium, and (3) Cyrtostrombidium/Williophrya. This partially supports the hypothesis of somatic ciliary pattern evolution recently put forth by Agatha and Strüder‐Kypke.     

江西崇义地区上泥盆统节甲类(Arthrodira)的新材料

我国泥盆系鱼化石非常丰富,尤其是下、中泥盆统。但是,上泥盆统鱼化石发现尚少,而且主要是胴甲类化石,节甲类化石则很少发现。潘江（１９６２）在对斯行健已记述的一植物化石 Ｃｈａｎｇｙａｎｏｐｈｙｔｏｎ ｈｏｐｅｉｅｎｓｉｓ Ｓｚｅ重新进行观察时认为,该化石应属于盾皮鱼类,并将其归人瓣甲类 Ｍａｃｒｏｐｔｅｔａｌｉｃｈｔｈｙｉｄａｅ（？）,化石仅包括前腹侧片和胸棘。 Ｄｅｎｉｓｏｎ（１９７８）根据潘江的文章和插图则认为, Ｃｈａｎｇｙａｎｏｐｈｙｔｏｎ ｈｕｐｅｉｅｎｓｉｓ属于原始节甲类或者瓣甲类。王念忠等…     

Evolution of ciliary patterns in the Oligotrichida (Ciliophora, Spirotricha) and its taxonomic implications

Although the somatic ciliature of the Oligotrichida typically comprises only a girdle and ventral kinety, a considerable diversity of ciliary patterns occurs. The four main girdle kinety patterns are identically found in tailed and tail-less species. The contractile tail has a complicated and unique ultrastructure and is potentially useful for the cell's movement and/or stabilization during feeding. Accordingly, I assume that this structure has evolved only once, namely, in the Tontoniidae nov. fam., and that the different girdle kinety patterns developed convergently in the tailed and tail-less taxa. Further distinct features suggest the establishment of the families Cyrtostrombidiidae nov. fam. (with cyrtos-like pharyngeal fibres and lack of ventral membranelles and endoral) and Pelagostrombidiidae nov. fam. (with neoformation organelle). An attempt is made to reconstruct the evolution of the kinety patterns based on morphologic, ontogenetic, and ultrastructural data. Some genera of tail-less Oligotrichida base on differences in the ciliary pattern; Omegastrombidium nov. gen. is erected for a further girdle kinety pattern. Likewise, the tailed genus Tontonia is split, resulting in two new genera, viz., Pseudotontonia nov. gen. and Spirotontonia nov. gen. Furthermore, the genus Spirostrombidium is split due to the different origin of the parallel course of girdle and ventral kinety, and Parallelostrombidium nov. gen. is established. However, the genus Thigmostrombidium is rejected because its enlarged thigmotactic membranelles are interpreted as an adaptation to the benthic lifestyle, which occurred several times within different girdle kinety patterns.     

Cytogeometrical determination of ciliary pattern formation in the hypotrich ciliate Stylonychia mytilus

Specification of polar and lateral axes has been investigated in several metazoan developmental systems. In order to analyze this phenomenon in unicellular organisms, singlet cells of the ciliate, Stylonychia mytilus, were cut along their longitudinal axis and the regenerative morphogenetic sequence was analyzed. Morphogenesis in right fragments, which folded such that the posterior and anterior ends were juxtaposed and fused, leads to formation of two partially mirror-imaged incomplete ventral ciliary patterns. Regenerative morphogenesis in singlet hypotrich ciliates typically produces only one complete set of ciliary organelles. These data demonstrate that cytoplasmic orientation (cytogeometry) plays a major role in the determination of ciliary pattern and that polar and lateral axes are determined independently in this species.