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.