Taxonomy, Morphology and Phylogeny of a New Oligotrich Ciliate-Omegastrombidium hongkongense n. sp.(Protozoa: Ciliophora) from Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong

One new marine oligotrich ciliate, Omegastrombidium hongkongense n. sp., was isolated from a bloom of Noctiluca scuntillans near Port Shelter, Hong Kong. The morphology and infraciliature of this new species were studied on both living and protargol-stained specimens. Its phylogenetic position was discussed based on the sequence of the small subunit r RNA gene. O. hongkongense is different from its congeners with special characters. The cells are usually heart-shaped, and the cell size usually is(20–35) ×(20–30) μm in vivo. Its deep buccal cavity extends obliquely to about 1/2 of cell length. It shows prominent apical protrusion. The adoral zone of membranelles is divided into 17–19 collar membranelles and four buccal membranelles. It has one ball-like macronucleus. The girdle kinety forms a closed loop which obliquely surrounds the body. The ventral kinety and thigmotactic membranelles are not observed. The SSU r RNA sequence of O. hongkongense was close to those of Strombidium paracalkinsi and Varistrombidium kelum with approximately 99% similarity. In the phylogenetic trees, O. hongkongense can be grouped with O. elegans and V. kielum species with very low support(16% ML).

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of four Remanella species(Protozoa, Ciliophora): A flagship genus of karyorelictean ciliates, with descriptions of two new species

During faunal studies of psammophilic ciliates along the coast of Qingdao, China, several marine karyorelictean species were isolated. Among them,four species within the genus Remanella were investigated, including two species new to science:i.e., R. rugosa, Remanella elongata sp. nov.,Remanella aposinica sp. nov.,and R.unicorpusculata. Remanella rugosa has been reported several times, but this study is the first to provide detailed morphological characters and phylogenetics. Remanella elongata sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the presence of complex cortical granules, fewer macronuclei, and longer body size. Remanella aposinica sp. nov.differs from its congeners by having 14–17 right lateral ciliary rows and 24–37 dikinetids of intrabuccal kinety. Poorly known Remanella rugosa var. unicorpusculata(Kahl, 1933) Foissner, 1996should be elevated from subspecies to species level,Remanella unicorpusculata(Foissner, 1996) stat.nov., based on detailed redescriptions with statistical data, living morphology, infraciliature, and species definitions. Small subunit(SSU) rDNA was sequenced for the four species, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all known taxa in Remanella formed the outline branch to the genus Loxodes with moderate to high bootstrap support among Remanella lineages.

A new hypotrich ciliate,Oxytricha xianica sp.nov.,with notes on the morphology and phylogeny of a Chinese population of Oxytricha auripunctata Blatterer&Foissner,1988(Ciliophora,Oxytrichidae)

The morphology and infraciliature of the new hypotrichous ciliate,Oxytricha xianica sp.nov.,and a Chinese population of Oxytricha auripunctata Blatterer&Foissner,1988,are investigated using live observation and protargol staining.Oxytricha xianica sp.nov.is defined by the body size 85-130µm×30-50µm in vivo,the typical oxytrichid 18 frontoventral-transverse cirri,cortical granules absent,undulating membranes reduced or absent,three caudal cirri,dorsal kineties in Oxytricha pattern,and two ellipsoidal macronuclear nodules.The Chinese population of O.auripunctata differs slightly from other populations in the arrangement and color of cortical granules and position of anterior end of dorsal kinety 4.Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU-rDNA sequences support the assertion that O.auripunctata belongs to Oxytricha and Oxytrichidae.