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Uncinata bradburyae (Gong et al., 2001) Luo et al., 2015 Description (Figures 3, 5, Table 2) Cell size in vivo quite variable, 160–340 × 40–70 μm, mostly 240 × 45 μm; ratio of length to width about 4–7:1; body flexible and contractile, shape generally elongated fusiform and somewhat sigmoidal (Figures 3A, 5A–C). Anterior end broad, round, often slightly bent to left, with anterior-left margin slightly snout-like (Figures 3A, 5A, C); posterior end narrowly round and spoon-like (Figures 5B, E). Dorsoventrally flattened, ventral side flat while dorsal side vaulted at mid-body. Two kinds of cortical granules: one is smaller pigments (0.5–1 μm in diameter), yellowish, irregularly arranged subpellicularly, which render cells brownish to yellowish at low magnification (Figure 5E); the other is larger, 1–1.5 μm across, colourless, discoid with central depression (erythrocyte-shaped), densely arranged underneath cortex (Figure 5F), which is very likely a kind of extrusome because in protargol-stained specimens they are often ejected with a hair-like process (Figure 5H). The former will burst over live observation or fade during cultivation. Food vacuoles variable in size, often containing diatoms, located at middle portion of cell (Figure 5B, arrows). No contractile vacuole observed. Macronuclear nodules numerous, each ovoidal (Figures 3B, D, 5G, I, J), distributed circumferentially, which can be recognised even in live observation (Figure 5A, D). Replication bands of DNA visible in interphasic cells (Figure 5K, arrowheads). Movement moderately fast, crawling on substrate, and always jerking back and forth. Abbreviations: CV = coefficient of variation, in %; ALMR = the transverse part of left marginal row; PLMR = the longitudinal part of left marginal row; Max = maximum; Mean = arithmetic mean; Min = minimum; n = number of specimens examined; SD = standard deviation; SE = standard error of mean. Buccal field about one-quarter to one-third of body length in live cells, its proximal part covered by a thick buccal lip (Figures 3A, 5A–C). Adoral zone bipartite by a conspicuous gap (Figures 3D, 5A, arrowhead, 5G, M, arrow); frontal portion including 21–34 membranelles, with the distal ones extending down to about half of buccal field length (Figures 3B, arrow, D, E, 5A, D, G, M, N); ventral portion consisting of 18–34 membranelles, each basically composed of 4 rows of kinetosomes, the anteriormost row shortest, with only 2 or 3 basal bodies, the third and fourth rows equal in length, the second one intermediate in length (Figures 5K, L, N, inset). Cilia of frontal membranelles about 14 μm long. The bases of posteriormost 2–5 membranelles distinctly lengthened, up to 30 μm wide (Figures 3B, D, E, 5I, double arrowhead, 5K and L, arrows). Paroral and endoral membranes parallel to each other for the most part but intersecting spatially at posterior ends, the latter longer than the former; both almost dikinetidal except in the posterior part of paroral membrane of a few specimens trikinetidal, kinetosomes arranged more densely in paroral membrane than in endoral membrane (Figures 3B, D, 5J, M, N). One buccal cirrus ahead of paroral membrane (Figures 3D, arrow, 5M, double arrowhead, N). Several frontal cirri arranged in an atypical bicorona, of which 3 are enlarged and positioned on anterior cell margin (Figures 3E, 5M and N, arrowheads). Two small, relatively fine frontoterminal cirri located close to distal membranelles (Figures 3D, 5M). Midventral complex composed of cirral pairs, which are arranged in typical zig-zag pattern, extending anteriorly continuous with frontal cirri and posteriorly to the rear end of cell; the right cirrus in each pair usually larger than the left one in interphasic cells (Figures 3B, D, 5G, M, N), whereas both cirri almost equal in size in filial cells just after fission (Figure 3D). Transverse cirri row extending anteriorly to about mid-body (Figures 3B, D, E, 5G). Invariably 2 fine pretransverse ventral cirri (Figure 3D). One marginal row on each side of cell, both being distinctly separated by transverse cirri at posterior end (Figures 3B, D, E, 5G). Left marginal row with 9–18 transversely arranged cirri at anterior portion, which are located at buccal vertex covering the proximal adoral membranelles (Figures 3B and 5N, double arrowhead, 5J, arrow); right marginal row commencing right of frontoterminal cirri (Figure 3B, E, 5G, N). Frontal and transverse cirri 15 μm long, other cirri 12 μm in length. Nine to 11 dorsal kineties, of which the right 5 or 6 kineties extend the whole length of body and the middle ones are shortened anteriorly (Figure 3A, B); basal body pairs closely spaced, with only the anterior basal body bearing a cilium about 3 μm in length. Deposition of specimens. A voucher slide (registration number: HX20230418-2) with protargol-stained specimens has been deposited in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China. Ecological data. Occurring commonly during the period from late autumn to midspring. Water temperature 14.2–21.2°C, pH 8.1–8.2, salinity 33.8–34.7‰, and Dissolved oxygen 5.78–7.87 mg /L. Note on binary fission (Figures 4A–E and 6A–H, M, N) A few dividers were obtained, which show some details of this part of the life cycle. In a middle divider, the new anlagen of marginal rows originate independently from the old structures on each side; meanwhile, the frontal–ventral–transverse cirral anlagen appear. Only a few old cirri dedifferentiate during the formation of these anlagen (Figures 4A, 6H, arrow), and the opisthe̍s anlage occurs earlier than the proter̍s. Simultaneously, two sets of anlagen for dorsal kineties are formed de novo subpellicularly, the right one appearing as several short kineties near the rightmost old dorsal kinety (Figure 4A, 6G, arrows), the left as a long streak close to the leftmost parental dorsal kinety (Figure 6A). With the proliferation of basal bodies in later stages, the right dorsal kinety anlagen lengthen, and become a lantern-like structure composed of five or six equally long streaks in a subcortical pouch (Figures 4B, inset, C, E, 6B, arrowheads, C, arrows). The left dorsal kinety anlagen also elongate and consist of two long rows at both ends and several short rows in the middle portion (Figures 4B, C, D, 6D, F, arrows). These anlagen finally migrate dorsally to replace the old structures in the filial product (Figure 6M)., Published as part of Ghaffar, Abdul, Bai, Yang & Hu, Xiaozhong, 2023, First record of two urotsylid ciliates (Protozoa: Ciliophora: Spirotrichea) from Japan expanding the circumscription of species, pp. 724-743 in Journal of Natural History (Oxford, England) (Oxford, England) 57 (9 - 12) on pages 731-736, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2023.2206586, http://zenodo.org/record/8071692, {"references":["Gong J, Song W, Hu X, Ma H, Zhu M. 2001. Morphology and infraciliature of Holosticha bradburyae n. sp. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichida) from the Yellow Sea, China. Hydrobiologia. 464: 63 - 69. doi: 10.1023 / A: 1013901621439.","Luo X, Gao F, Al-Rasheid KAS, Warren A, Hu X, Song W. 2015. Redefinition of the hypotrichous ciliate Uncinata, with descriptions of the morphology and phylogeny of three urostylids (Protista, Ciliophora). Syst Biodivers. 13: 455 - 471. doi: 10.1080 / 14772000.2015.1046967"]}

Ghaffar, Abdul, Bai, Yang, Hu, Xiaozhong (2023): First record of two urotsylid ciliates (Protozoa: Ciliophora: Spirotrichea) from Japan expanding the circumscription of species. Journal of Natural History (Oxford, England) 57 (9-12): 724-743, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2023.2206586, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2023.2206586

Trichototaxis marina Lu et al., 2014 Description (Figures 1, 2; Table 1) The November and April populations studied here are so similar that conspecificity is beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, the description below includes data from both populations. Body size highly variable, but shape very similar in the two populations. Size 200– 360 × 40–80 μm, mostly 250 × 50 μm in life, and 178–328 × 53–118 μm for stained specimens (Table 1); ratio of length to width about 4–6: 1 in live specimens; flattened ca. 2:1 dorsoventrally with anterior and posterior portions thin. Body elongate elliptical and often sigmoidal in outline, anterior end wider than posterior one, widest at mid-body (Figures 1A, 2A–C), conspicuously reddish in colour at low magnification (Figure 2B, C, F). Pellicle very flexible and highly contractile (Figure 2D, F) and to some extent thigmotactic. Conspicuous furrows recognisable along cirral rows on ventral side (Figure 2G). Cortical granules not observed, but rice-shaped granules (1 × 0.5 μm, mitochondria?) densely arranged along cirral rows (Figure 2E). Many brick-reddish, weird pigment patches of variable size densely distributed under pellicle and in cytoplasm, which render cells red (Figure 2I), and often decreasing in number after some time at room temperature in raw culture. Endoplasm usually packed with numerous small (ca. 30% of body length in live cells (Figures 1A, 2A–C, F, G), its proximal part covered by a thick buccal lip (Figure 2H and J, arrow). Adoral zone composed of 45 to 80 (on average 63 and 74 in two populations) membranelles, with distal end extending far onto right ventral side (Figures 1B–D, 2A, D, G, K, N); cilia of apical membranelles about 10 μm long. Paroral membrane (Figures 1D, arrow, and 2K, N, P) about half length of endoral membrane (Figures 1B, arrow, and 2N, arrowhead), almost parallel to each other, the former dikinetidal and the latter monokinetidal (Figure 2K, P). Pharyngeal fibres conspicuous in vivo. Twelve to 23 frontal cirri, cilia of which are 10–15 μm long in vivo, arranged in a conspicuous bicorona (Figures 1B–D and 2N). Usually 1 buccal cirrus (rarely 2 or 3) (Figures 1B–D, 2K, N, arrow,P, arrowhead); cilia ca.10 μm long, located adjacent to right posterior third of paroral membrane. Invariably 2 frontoterminal cirri near distal end of adoral zone (Figures 1B–D, 2K, N). Midventral complex composed of 39–75 pairs of cirri (including 2 pretransverse ventral cirri), arranged in a zig-zag pattern, running in a slightly sigmoid pattern along ventral surface and extending to posterior portion of body (Figures 1B–D, 2K–O). Cirri about 10 µm long, base of right midventral cirrus (about 2 × 6 basal bodies) conspicuously larger than that of left cirri (2 × 3 basal bodies; Figure 2L). Usually 6 (sometimes 5 or 7; 8 in two of (Continued) 35 specimens) transverse cirri, cilia of which are ca. 20 μm long, arranged in a J-shaped pseudo-row (Figures 1B–D, 2K, O). Total number of fronto–ventral–transverse cirri highly variable, ranging from 94 to 178 for two populations. Ciliary fibres of cirri, especially transverse cirri, conspicuous after protargol staining (Figure 2K, M). Table 1. (Continued). *all cirri derived from frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen. Abbreviations: CV, coefficient of variation, in %; DK, dorsal kinety; LMR, left marginal row; Max, maximum; Mean, arithmetic mean; Min, minimum; n, number of specimens examined; PT, pretransverse ventral cirri; RMR, right marginal row; SD, standard deviation; SE, standard error of the mean. Invariably 1 right marginal row; on average 2 or 3 left marginal rows for November and April populations, respectively (Figures 1A–D, 2K). Cilia of marginal cirri ca. 12 μm long, each cirrus usually containing 2 × 6 basal bodies (Figure 2L). The innermost left marginal row composed of about 68 (November population) or 89 (April population) densely packed cirri, commencing more or less at level of mid-region of buccal field, and ending at posterior end of body. The next left marginal row consisting of 23–52 sparsely distributed cirri, starting behind level of the innermost row, and terminating at about posterior two-thirds of body; sometimes one or more cirri in this row resorbed, forming several gaps; most cells of the April population having the third left marginal row, which is comprised of about 21 loosely arranged cirri and located at mid-body. Right marginal row starting adjacent to right of frontoterminal cirri, composed of 46–104 cirri, running along right body margin, and terminating at the rear end of body (Figures 1B–D, 2K). Six to 8 bipolar dorsal kineties (Figure 1D), with cilia 3 μm long in vivo. Numerous (usually more than 100) macronuclear nodules, scattered throughout body; each spherical to ovoid, varying between 3 and 8 μm in length (Figures 1E, 2K, L, Q), having usually 1 central nucleolus (rarely 2 to 5) (Figure 2R); micronuclei numbering 2–14, each spherical to ellipsoidal (Figures 1E, 2L and Q, arrowheads, R, arrow) and 3–9 μm long. Locomotion by crawling moderately without pause on debris or on bottom of Petri dish or by swimming in water when disturbed. Cells usually very thigmotactic to the substrate. Deposition of specimens. A voucher slide (registration number: HX20230418-1) with protargol-stained specimens has been deposited in the Marine Biological Museum, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China. Ecological data. Water temperature 14.2°C and 16.5°C, pH 8.2 and 8.2, salinity 34.5‰ and 34.7‰, DO (Dissolved oxygen) 7.38 mg /L and 7.87 mg /L for November and April populations, respectively., Published as part of Ghaffar, Abdul, Bai, Yang & Hu, Xiaozhong, 2023, First record of two urotsylid ciliates (Protozoa: Ciliophora: Spirotrichea) from Japan expanding the circumscription of species, pp. 724-743 in Journal of Natural History (Oxford, England) (Oxford, England) 57 (9 - 12) on pages 726-730, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2023.2206586, http://zenodo.org/record/8071692, {"references":["Lu X, Gao F, Shao C, Hu X, Warren A. 2014. Morphology, morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny of a new marine ciliate, Trichototaxis marina n. sp. (Ciliophora, Urostylida). Eur J Protistol. 50: 524 - 537. doi: 10.1016 / j. ejop. 2014.08.002"]}

There are few researches concerning ciliates from “extreme” environments such as plateau salt lakes; nevertheless, such a faunistic survey is of great significance for understanding the diversity and biogeography of these microeukaryotes. In this study, two ciliates, namely, Hemiurosomoida tibetensis sp. nov. and Euplotes euryhalinusValbonesi and Luporini, 1990, isolated from Kyêbxang Co, a Tibet Plateau saline-alkaline lake, China, were investigated based on observations of live and silver-stained specimens, and 18S rDNA sequences were analyzed. The new species can be characterized by having a size of 60–95 × 20–40 μm in vivo, an elongate elliptical body, colorless cortical granules mainly grouped around cirri and dorsal bristles, about 21 adoral membranelles, 20 cirri on each marginal row, and two macronuclear nodules and two micronuclei. The Chinese population of E. euryhalinus corresponds well with the original one. Phylogenetic analyses show that Hemiurosomoida is non-monophyletic, H. tibetensis sp. nov. has a closer relationship with H. longa within this genus, and that Euplotes euryhalinus presents a wide geographic distribution. This study first reveals the ciliature, morphogenesis, and rRNA gene sequence data for H. tibetensis sp. nov. and the Chinese population of E. euryhalinus, which thus increases our knowledge about the diversity of ciliates at high altitudes.