Two New Species of Zoothamnium (Ciliophora,Peritrichia) from Korea,with New Observations of Z. parahentscheli Sun et al., 2009

Three peritrichous ciliates, Zoothamnium arcuatum n. sp., Z. grossi n. sp., and Z. parahentscheli Sun et al., 2009, were collected from an estuary of the Taehwagang River, Korea. All these species were investigated based on live observations and silver staining, and their small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene was also sequenced. Zoothamnium arcuatum can be identified by a goblet‐shaped colony, double‐layered peristomial lip, and abstomally shortened row 3 of infundibular polykinety 3 (P3). Zoothamnium grossi is morphologically characterized by an alternately branched stalk with the lowest secondary stalk diverging from the main part of colony, asymmetrically bell‐shaped zooids, and three short, parallel ciliary rows in P3. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the three Zoothamnium species described in this paper clustered with other members of the family Zoothamniidae, as expected.     

Taxonomic characterization of two marine peritrichous ciliates, Epicarchesium corlissi n. sp. and Pseudovorticella jiangi n. sp. (Ciliophora: Peritrichia), from northern China

Two new marine peritrich ciliates, Epicarchesium corlissi n. sp. and Pseudovorticella jiangi n. sp., were discovered in mariculture waters on the coast of northern China near Qingdao. Their morphology, infraciliature and silverline system were investigated based on both living and silver-impregnated specimens. E. corlissi is characterized as follows: marine Epicarchesium with dichotomously branched stalk; zooids elongate, approximately 60–70×25–35 μm in vivo; peristomial collar double-folded; macronucleus J-shaped; single, small contractile vacuole ventrally positioned; more than 60 striations between peristome and aboral trochal band, 13–18 from aboral trochal band to scopula; abstomal end of row 1 of infundibular polykinety 3 terminating at same level as rows 2 and 3 of infundibular polykinety 3; rows 2 and 3 of infundibular polykinety 3 much longer than row 1 and converging adstomally with infundibular polykinety 1. The new species P. jiangi is diagnosed as follows: marine Pseudovorticella; zooid inverted bell-shaped, approximately 80×60 μm in vivo and with a broad, flat, thin peristomial collar that measures approximately 90 μm across; pellicle with transparent cortical vesicles; macronucleus J-shaped; number of silverlines between peristome and aboral trochal band 20–24, from aboral trochal band to scopula 9–11; abstomal end of row 1 of infundibular polykinety 3 diverges from the other two rows of this polykinety and ends alongside row 3 of infundibular polykinety 2.     

Pseudovorticella zhengae n. sp., P. difficilis (Kahl, 1933) Jankowski, 1976, and P. punctata (Dons, 1918) Warren, 1987, three marine peritrichous ciliates from north China

The morphology, infraciliature and silverline system of three marine peritrichous ciliates, Pseudovorticella zhengae n. sp., P. difficilis (Kahl, 1933) Jankowski, 1976 and P. punctata (Dons, 1918) Warren, 1987, were investigated by observation in vivo and silver-staining methods. The new species is characterized by its body shape, the appearance of the peristomial lip, the number of transverse silverlines, and the configuration of infundibular polykinety 3; P. difficilis by its body shape, the configuration of infundibular polykinety 3, and unusual annular swellings on the stalk; and P. punctata by the appearance of the pellicle, the configuration of infundibular polykinety 3, and the number of transverse silverlines.     

Morphology and Phylogenetic Placement of Three New Zoothamnium species (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) from Coastal Waters of Southern China

The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of three peritrichous ciliates, Zoothamnium bucciniiformum sp. n., Zoothamnium florens sp. n., and Zoothamnium zhanjiangense sp. n., were investigated based on both living and silver‐stained specimens. Zoothamnium bucciniiformum sp. n., collected from coastal waters (salinity 30‰) off Zhanjiang, southern China, can be distinguished by the following characters: dichotomously branched stalk, peristomial lip with medial circumferential infolding, contractile vacuole apically positioned, 32–49 silverlines between the anterior end and the aboral trochal band, 15–26 between the aboral trochal band and the scopula; two kineties in peniculus 3, not parallel to each other. Zoothamnium florens sp. n., collected from a mangrove wetland (salinity 13‰) off Zhanjiang, is characterized by its large conical zooid, tuberculate peristomial lip, asymmetrical dichotomously branched colony, 59–81 silverlines between the anterior end and the aboral trochal band and 29–36 between the aboral trochal band and the scopula. Zoothamnium zhanjiangense, collected from a mangrove wetland (salinity about 9.5‰) off Zhanjiang, differs from its congeners by the alternately branched stalk, peristomial lip with medial circumferential infolding, 40–63 silverlines from the peristomial area to the aboral trochal band and 13–24 from the aboral trochal band to the scopula. The comparison and analysis of SSU rDNA sequences also support present identifications.     

Morphology and morphogenesis of Epistylis plicatilis ehrenberg, 1831 (Ciliophora,Peritrichia) from Wuhan,China

A limnetic peritrichous ciliate, Epistylis plicatilis Ehrenberg, 1831, was collected from a freshwater ditch beside Moshan Hill, Wuhan, China. Its morphology, infraciliature, and morphogenesis were investigated based on specimens examined in vivo, following staining with protargol and by scanning electron microscopy. The characteristics of the Wuhan population of E. plicatilis are as follows: 1) colonial, each colony typically comprising 30–50 individuals, with a dichotomously branched, noncontractile stalk; 2) fully expanded zooids measure 90–155 × 30–50 µm in vivo; 3) a series of 6 or 7 conspicuous folds appear in the posterior region of the zooid when it contracts; 4) single horseshoe‐shaped macronucleus oriented transversely; 5) single contractile vacuole located in peristomial region on dorsal wall of infundibulum; 6) myoneme system comprises 20–24 longitudinal fibers, peristomial disk fibers as a wreath‐like net and peristomial ring fibers; 7) narrowly spaced transverse striations on the surface of the body; 8) infundibular polykineties 1 and 2 are three‐rowed, infundibular polykinety 3 is two‐rowed; and 9) stomatogenesis is of the buccokinetal type; in the new oral apparatus, infundibular polykineties 2 and 3, the haplokinety, and the germinal kinety all originate from the germinal kinety of the parental oral apparatus whereas the polykinety and infundibular polykinety 1 originate from the parental haplokinety. An improved diagnosis of E. plicatilis is supplied. J. Morphol. 275:882–893, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Morphological and Molecular Identification of a New Ciliate,Zoothamnium palmphlatum nov. spec. (Ciliophora,Peritrichia) from North China

A new peritrichous ciliate, Zoothamnium palmphlatum nov. spec., was collected from an estuary in Yantai, China. It was investigated, using both live observation and silver staining. The new species can be identified by a palm‐shaped colony consisting of highly developed and alternately arranged secondary branches, a double‐layered peristomial lip, and an infundibular polykinety 3 composed of two parallel kinetosomal rows. Phylogenetic analyses of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequence show that Z. palmphlatum clusters with other members of the family Zoothamniidae. Furthermore, the comparison of primary and secondary SSU rDNA structures indicates that Z. palmphlatum is distinctly different from its morphologically similar species (93.2–97.0% in sequence similarity) in combination of H10 and H31 regions. Although Z. palmphlatum shares highest sequence similarity with Zoothamnium mucedo (98.9%), the new species has distinctly different structures in the H11, H12, H18, and H31 regions compared to Z. mucedo, which indicates that sequence similarity may not determine the similarity of the secondary structure.     

Morphology of two new marine peritrich ciliates from Yellow Sea,Pseudovorticella dingi nov. spec. and P. wangi nov. spec., with supplementary descriptions of P. plicata,P. banatica and P. anomala (Ciliophora,Peritrichia)

Two new marine peritrich ciliates, Pseudovorticella dingi nov. spec. and Pseudovorticella wangi nov. spec. were collected from coastal waters of Qingdao, China. Their living morphology, infraciliature and silverline system were studied using light microscopy and silver staining methods. Pseudovorticella dingi is characterized mainly by the apically located contractile vacuole and the presence of pellicular granules. There are 28–36 and 13–18 transverse silverlines above and below the trochal band, respectively. Infundibular polykinety 3 is composed of three rows, with row 1 conspicuously shorter than the other two. P. wangi is distinguished mainly by having two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. There are 17–20 and 9–11 transverse silverlines above and below the trochal band, respectively. Abstomal end of row 1 of infundibular polykinety 3 diverges from the other two and ends alongside row 3 of infundibular polykinety 2. Pseudovorticella plicata, P. banatica, and P. anomala have been described in Sun et al. (2009); we supplement morphometric data and photographs from life and after silver staining of these three species in the present study.     

Morphology and Phylogeny of Four New Vorticella Species (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) from Coastal Waters of Southern China

Four new species of Vorticella, V. parachiangi sp. n., V. scapiformis sp. n., V. sphaeroidalis sp. n., and V. paralima sp. n., were isolated from coastal brackish waters of southern China. Their morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system were investigated based on observations of specimens both in vivo and following silver staining. Vorticella parachiangi sp. n. is distinguished by: a J‐shaped macronucleus; a single dorsally located contractile vacuole; a two‐rowed infundibular polykinetid 3, in which row 1 is shorter than row 2; 21–31 silverlines between peristome and aboral trochal band, 6–11 between aboral trochal band and scopula. Vorticella scapiformis sp. n. is characterized by its conspicuously thin and irregularly edged peristomial lip; a J‐shaped macronucleus; a single, ventrally located contractile vacuole; row 1 of the infundibular polykinetid 3 proximally shortened; 18–25 silverlines between peristome and aboral trochal band, 8–12 between aboral trochal band and scopula. Vorticella sphaeroidalis sp. n. can be identified by its small, sub‐spherical zooid; a C‐shaped macronucleus; a ventrally located contractile vacuole; an aboral trochal band adjacent to the scopula; 16–18 silverlines between persitome and aboral trochal band, two between aboral trochal band and scopula. Vorticella paralima sp. n. can be identified by its ovoidal zooid; a J‐shaped macronucleus; a dorsally positioned contractile vacuole; rows 1 and 2 of the infundibular polykinetid 3 proximally shortened; 26–35 silverlines from peristome to aboral trochal band, and 7–13 from aboral trochal band to scopula. The SSU rDNA genes of these four species were sequenced and their phylogeny was analyzed.     

A new species of shrimp of the genus Anachlorocurtis Hayashi, 1975 from the Red Sea,with range extension of A. commensalis Hayashi, 1975 (Crustacea,Decapoda, Pandalidae)

A new species of pandalid shrimp Anachlorocurtis occidentalis sp. n., associated with antipatharian corals, is described and illustrated from the north-eastern Red Sea. This new species is closely related to Anachlorocurtis commensalis Hayashi, 1975, the only other species in the genus, and can be distinguished by the more slender body and appendages; the carapace with 3 large, and one small, subtriangular lobes in the middorsal line; a flattened dorsal outline of the third abdominal segment; the sixth abdominal segment twice as long as fifth one; propodi of the ambulatory pereiopods bearing only a single posterior spinule; and harbouring 3–5 pairs of dorsolateral spines on the telson. A revised generic diagnosis is provided here to accommodate the present new species. The genetic divergence of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) between Anachlorocurtis occidentalis sp. n., and A. commensalis is 15.2–15.4%. Molecular analysis also confirmed a sister position of the genus Anachlorocurtis to Miropandalus. The present records of A. commensalis from Taiwan constitute an extension of the known range of the species.     

Description of Zoothamnium foissneri n. sp. and redescription of Z. duplicatum Kahl, 1933 and Z. mucedo Entz, 1884, three species of marine peritrichous ciliates

Three marine peritrichs, Zoothamnium foissneri n. sp., Z. duplicatum Kahl, 1933 and Z. mucedo Entz, 1884, were isolated from the littoral area of Qingdao, China. The morphology, infraciliature and silverline system were studied on living and silver-impregnated specimens. Z. foissneri is distinguished from congeners by its slender zooid shape, size, appearance of peristomial border, the form of peniculus 3, colony form and habitat. Based on the Qingdao populations, supplementary information is given for two known species showing that Z. duplicatum can be distinguished by the zooid shape and size, the number of silverlines between the aboral trochal band and the scopula, and the form of peniculus 3, while Z. mucedo can be distinguished from other species of similar zooid shape and size by the form of peniculus 3 and the number of silverlines between the oral area and the aboral trochal band.     

Ultrastructural Features of Three Ectocommensal Protozoa Attached to the Gills of the Red Swamp Crawfish,Procambarus clarkii (Crustacea: Decapoda)1

Because heavy branchial infestations are thought to interfere with respiration, we examined the attachment of three stalked ciliates commonly found in the branchial chambers of Louisiana crawfish. Attachments by Cothurnia sp., Epistylis sp. and Acineta sp. differ in their fine structure. Stalks of the peritrichous ciliates. Cothurnia and Epistylis, contain striated tubules that differ in their arrangement, diameter, and in the periodicity of their striations. In both species the striated tubules branch within the basal disk and attach to a pad of adhesive material secreted by the organism during initial attachment to the gill surface. The stalk of the suctorian Acineta is composed of a striated honeycomb-like matrix. Within the basal disc the matrix is disorganized; however, striated elements anchor the stalk to a pad of adhesive material. Attachment sites also differ in the amount of secretory material deposited. Cothurnia forms a multi-layered, granular pad; Epistylis forms an indistinct, microfibrillar layer, and Acineta deposits a thick mucoid pad. None of the ciliates appear to damage the gill epicuticle nor is there an obvious host response. Harmful effects are probably limited to a decrease in respiratory surface area and disruption of normal water flow patterns. This may impair respiration sufficiently to increase the susceptibility of crawfish to low dissolved oxygen concentrations encountered periodically in commercial crawfish ponds.     

Description of a New Freshwater Ciliate Epistylis wuhanensis n. sp. (Ciliophora,Peritrichia) from China,with a Focus on Phylogenetic Relationships within Family Epistylididae

Two populations of Epistylis wuhanensis n. sp., a new freshwater peritrich ciliate, were isolated from different freshwater ponds located in Hubei, China. Their morphological characteristics were investigated using live observation, protargol impregnation, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Specimens from the two populations showed identical arrangement of the infraciliature and identical small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene and ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 sequences. The zooids present bell‐shaped and 90–175 × 27–54 μm in vivo. Macronucleus is variable in shape and located in the middle of cell. Pellicle is usually smooth with 139–154 and 97–105 striations above and below the trochal band, respectively. SSU rRNA gene and ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 sequences of E. wuhanensis n. sp. did not match any available sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetically, E. wuhanensis n. sp. clusters with the other Epistylis within the family Epistylididae, but is distinct from the major clades of Epistylis. Above all, the morphological characteristics and molecular analyses support that the present Epistylis is a new species. Expanded phylogenetic analyses of sessilids based on both SSU rRNA gene sequences and ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 sequences reveal that the genus Epistylis consists of Epistylis morphospecies and taxonomic revision of the genus is needed.     

Taxonomic characterization of two marine peritrichous ciliates, Pseudovorticella clampi n. sp. and Zoothamnium pararbuscula n. sp. (Ciliophora: Peritrichia), from North China

The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of two new peritrichous ciliates, Pseudovorticella clampi n. sp. and Zoothamnium pararbuscula n. sp., have been investigated based on both living and silver-impregnated specimens. Partial sequence of 18S-ITS1-5.8S rDNA of Z. pararbuscula is also determined in order to compare it with the closely related congener, Zoothamnium arbuscula. Zoothamnium pararbuscula can be distinguished from its close form Z. arbuscula by the different habitats, the appearance of the main stalk, the position of the contractile vacuole, and the information derived from 18S-ITS1-5.8S rDNA sequence analysis. Pseudovorticella clampi n. sp. is distinguished from its congeners by its body shape and size, pellicle granules, habitat, and number of transverse silverlines.     

Morphology,ontogeny, and molecular phylogeny of two novel bakuellid-like hypotrichs (Ciliophora: Hypotrichia), with establishment of two new genera

The morphology, ontogeny and molecular phylogeny of Apobakuella fusca gen. n., sp. n. and Parabistichella variabilis gen. n., sp. n., from south China were investigated. Apobakuella fusca, brown colored, demonstrates bakuellid-like infraciliature, and a similar ontogenesis as the genus Bakuella. It is argued, however, that this species represents a novel genus, Apobakuella, which is characterized by two or more marginal rows on the right, several buccal and parabuccal cirri, and lack of frontoterminal and caudal cirri. Phylogenetic analysis based on SSU rRNA gene sequences supports the close relationship of Apobakuella with Neobakuella and Diaxonella within the core Urostylida. By contrast, Parabistichella variabilis has a dominant frontoventral row, few midventral pairs, a long midventral row, and one marginal row on each side. Its morphogenesis exhibits: (1) partial reorganization of the parental adoral membranelles; (2) over six frontoventral-transverse cirri anlagen; (3) intrakinetal development of the midventral row; and (4) very likely, formation of the frontoventral row from the midventral row anlage. Both the morphological characteristics and the SSU rRNA gene sequences suggest that it is incertae sedis among the basal hypotrichs. Further investigation of key taxa with additional molecular markers is required to reveal a better understanding on the phylogeny of Parabistichella.     

Descriptions of two new marine scuticociliates,Pleuronema sinica n. sp. and P. wilberti n. sp. (Ciliophora: Scuticociliatida), from the Yellow Sea,China

Two new marine scuticociliates, Pleuronema sinica n. sp. and P. wilberti n. sp., collected from the sand beach of Qingdao, China, were investigated in vivo and following protargol impregnation. Ciliates of the genus Pleuronema are normally recognizable by their large sail-like paroral membrane although one species, P. grolierei, has shorter cilia in the paroral membrane. Neither of the new forms has the conspicuous paroral membrane in vivo so in this respect they are not typical members of this genus. Pleuronema sinica is characterized by its large, conspicuously flattened body, the possession of only one preoral kinety, the irregular-shaped macronucleus and the rather unusual structure of the oral apparatus. By contrast P. wilberti has a medium-size broad-oval body, six to eight preoral kineties and a highly differentiated membranelle 3 that is five- or six-rowed. An identification key is supplied for the 15 species of Pleuronema for which the infraciliature is known.     

Morphology of Three Species of Amphileptus (Protozoa,Ciliophora, Pleurostomatida) from the South China Sea,with Note on Phylogeny of A. dragescoi sp. n.

Two new and one problematic species of pleurostomatids, Amphileptus dragescoi sp. n., A. wilberti sp. n., and A. marinus from coastal areas of the South China Sea, are described based on observations of live and protargol‐impregnated specimens. Amphileptus dragescoi is different from its congeners by the presence of an apical group of extrusomes and the possession of 12–15 right and five left somatic kineties, two macronuclear nodules, and a single terminally positioned contractile vacuole. Amphileptus wilberti is diagnosed by oval or pyriform body, 15–19 right and seven or eight left somatic kineties, extrusomes arranged only in anterior portion of oral slit, usually three ventrally located contractile vacuoles, and two macronuclear nodules. Amphileptus marinus (Kahl, 1931) Song et al., 2004 is redescribed and its diagnosis is improved. One isolate which was misidentified as A. marinus by Song et al. (2004) is believed to represent an unknown form, named here as Amphileptus songi sp. n. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU rDNA sequences indicate that the genus Amphileptus is paraphyletic, but its monophyly is not rejected by statistical tree topology tests.     

Taxonomic characterization of Vorticella fuscaPrecht, 1935 and Vorticella parapulchella n. sp., two marine peritrichs (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) from China

Two marine peritrich ciliates, Vorticella fuscaPrecht (1935) and Vorticella parapulchella n. sp. were discovered in the littoral zone of Qingdao, northern China. Their morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system were described using live observation and silver impregnation. The poorly known species V. fusca is redescribed, adding information about the oral infraciliature and pellicular morphology. Vorticella parapulchella n. sp. is superficially similar to Vorticella pulchellaSommer (1951) but is distinguished from it by being markedly smaller and having much more widely spaced pellicular ridges. The infundibular infraciliature of V. parapulchella is extremely unusual in having infundibular polykinety 3 reduced to two rows, one of which has almost disappeared.     

A New Ciliate Genus Trichodoxa n. g. (Ciliata,Peritricha, Mobilina,Trichodinidae) with Two New Species from the Genital System of Terrestrial Pulmonates1

ABSTRACT. A new ciliate genus Trichodoxa n. g. and two new species (T. genitalis n. sp., T. phalli n. sp.) are described and figured. These are only the second and third species of the family Trichodinidae to be described from the genital system of terrestrial molluscs. Only one tier of cilia surrounds the basal disc. This character, the course of the infundibular ciliature. structure of the coronal denticles, and structure of the border membrane differentiate the new genus from others in the family.