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School of Ocean, Yantai University, Yantai, China; Department of Oceanography, Inha University, Incheon, Korea

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New discoveries of the genus Thuricola Kent, 1881 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia, Vaginicolidae), with descriptions of three poorly known species from China

Daode Ji

Acta Protozoologica, Volume 57, Issue 2, 2018, pp. 123 - 143

https://doi.org/10.4467/16890027AP.18.011.8985

Members of the genus Thuricola are a highly specialized group of peritrichous ciliates possessing a protective barrel-shaped lorica. The genus presents many difficulties in terms of species separation and definition, and in this context the present study investigates three species by protargol staining and analyses of SSU rDNA sequences. Based on their morphologic characteristics and biotope, they were identified as three poorly known forms in Thuricola, namely T. obconica Kahl, 1933, T. kellicottiana (Stokes, 1887) Kahl 1935 and T. folliculata Kent, 1881, respectively. T. obconica is characterized by possessing curved lorica and a single valve in vivo. T. kellicottiana is distinguished by two valves with a spine on the main valve, and a generally long internal stalk upon which the zooids sit. T. folliculata also has two valves but lacks a spine. The ciliature of the three species are basically similar. The main features are characterized as follows: infundibular polykineties 1–3 (P1–3) are relatively long and composed of three rows each; P1 bends twice and comprises three equally long rows; P2 ends near the second bend of P1 with all rows exhibiting a staggered arrangement; P3 converges with P1 at adstomal end, its row 1 at least twice as long as the other two rows; epistomial membranes 1 and 2 are present. Silverline system in Vorticella-pattern. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that the three ciliates in this study cluster together within one of the two major sub-clades within the Vaginicolidae.

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Taxonomic Characterization of Three Marine Peritrichous Ciliates from China: Zoothamnium alrasheidi spec. nov., Z. marinum Kahl, 1933 and Z. vermicola Precht, 1935 (Ciliophora: Peritrichia)

Daode Ji

Acta Protozoologica, Volume 48, Issue 2, 2009, pp. 171 - 183

Three marine peritrichous ciliates, Zoothamnium alrasheidi spec. nov., Z. marinum Kahl, 1933 and Z. vermicola Precht, 1935, were isolated from littoral areas near Qingdao, China. The living morphology, infraciliature and silverline system were studied in living and silver-impregnated specimens. Zoothamnium alrasheidi is distinguished from its congeners by the giant, leaf-shaped colony, the differentiation of zooids, the structure of the infundibular polykineties and in having 57–75 silverlines between the oral area and the trochal band and 24–42 between the trochal band and the scopula. Zoothamnium marinum and Z. vermicola are reported for the first time in over 70 years. Each was identified by its zooid shape and size, colony shape, the branching pattern of its stalk and its marine habitat. As a result of the present study, additional features for characterizing these species now include the structure of infundibular polykinety 3 and the number of silverlines between the aboral trochal band and (a) the scopula, and (b) the peristomial lip. Redescriptions and improved diagnoses of both species are supplied based on the Chinese populations.

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