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Stentor muelleri Ehrenberg, 1831 (Figs. 3���5, Tables 1, 2) Improved diagnosis. Body size 205���570 �� 60���180 ��m in vivo (on average 365 �� 135 ��m), 500���1200 �� 60���150 ��m when extended, about 70���190 �� 35���140 ��m after protargol impregnation. Body slender trumpet-shaped to conical when extended, colorless cortical granules scattered throughout whole body, contractile vacuole with connecting canal located in anterior left margin adjacent to peristome, 9���15 peristomial kineties, 30���80 somatic ciliary rows, 5���14 moniliform spherical macronuclear nodules located at mid-body, 7���20 micronuclei located around macronuclear nodules. Mucilaginous lorica present. Locality and habitat. Freshwater pond, Gonggeomji in Yangjeong-ri, Gonggeom-myeon, Sangju-si, Gyeongsanbuk-do, Korea (36��30���45.0������N, 128��09���42.5������E). Voucher material. A slide with protargol-stained specimens was deposited in the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), Incheon, Korea, with registration number NIBRPR0000110185. The slide contains many specimens, but relevant specimens are marked by black ink circles on the slide. Description. Cell size 205���570 �� 60���180 ��m in vivo (on average 365 �� 135 ��m in vivo) (Fig. 4A), when fully extended they are 500���1200 ��m in length and 60���150 ��m in width in the peristomial area (Fig. 4D) usually about 70���190 �� 35���140 ��m in protargol impregnated specimens (Fig. 5A). Body slender trumpet-shaped when fully extended, and inverted pear-shaped in contracted specimens (Fig. 4A, D, 5A). The specimens appear dark and colorless under lower magnification (Fig. 4D, E). A small individual of S. muelleri has some brown or yellowish color spots scattered throughout the body, most likely caused by crystals or foods (Fig. 4A). Colorless cortical granules scattered between somatic kinety rows, round or oval-shaped 0.5���0.8 ��m in diameter (Fig. 4F). Cortex thin and translucent, which makes cytoplasmic organelles identifiable (Fig. 4A). 30���82 longitudinal rows of somatic cilia on surface of body parallel to the antero-posterior axis (Fig. 3D, E, 4F, 5A). Somatic cilia arise from dikinetids, 7���13 ��m long (Fig. 3C, D, arrowhead, 4F). Mitochondria (?)- type organelles were also spread on the pellicle (Fig. 4G). One contractile vacuole with a long collecting canal, located left of the peristome, 30 ��m in diameter during diastole (Fig. 3A, 4H). Peristomial area contains 9 to 15 peristomial kineties, size of peristomial cilia alike somatic cilia (Fig. 3D, 4B, 5A, B). Buccal pouch absent. Adoral zone of membranelles composed of 120���225 membranelles (Fig. 3D, 4B, 5B). The longest adoral membranelles are 10���20 ��m long. The paroral membrane is typical of the genus, consisted of a single and continuous row of thin cilia, 25���50 ��m long surrounding peristome (Fig. 3D, 5A, C). Nuclear apparatus consists of a moniliform macronucleus with 5���14 spherical nodules almost 5���25 ��m in diameter in vivo (Fig. 3A, E, 4A, 5B). Seven to 20 spherical micronuclei, 1���4 ��m in diameter in vivo located near macronuclear nodules (Fig. 4C, 5B). Cells usually live inside of mucilaginous lorica (Fig. 4D, arrowhead) composed of sand grains and other sticky particles, with length 150���700 ��m. Food vacuoles are 4���35 ��m in diameter; containing bacteria and diatoms as food (Fig. 3A). Lipid droplets, 2���10 ��m in diameter, scattered throughout body. Cell has a holdfast organelle that assists with attachment to the substrate of benthic bottom or basement of lorica (Fig. 4A, arrowhead)., Published as part of Taher, Md Abu, Kabir, Ahmed Salahuddin, Shazib, Shahed Uddin Ahmed, Kim, Min Seok & Shin, Mann Kyoon, 2020, Morphological Redescriptions and Molecular Phylogeny of Three Stentor Species (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea: Stentoridae) from Korea, pp. 435-452 in Zootaxa 4732 (3) on pages 439-440, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4732.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/3667262, {"references":["Ehrenberg, C. G. (1831) Uber die Entwickelung und Lebensdauer der Infusionsthiere; nebst ferneren Beitragen zu einer Vergleichung ihrer organischen Systeme. Physikalische Abhandlungen der Ko ¨ niglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1831, l- 154."]}

The morphologies of the three freshwater stentorid ciliates in Korea, Stentor coeruleus (Pallas, 1766); Stentor muelleri Ehrenberg, 1831, and Stentor tartari Murthy & Bai, 1974, were investigated based on live observations and protargol impregnation. The Korean population of S. tartari exhibits the following characteristics: body size 200–355 × 85–135 µm in vivo, 62–106 somatic kineties, 8–13 peristomial kineties, 110–180 adoral membranelles, mostly two macronuclear nodules and 5–18 micronuclei, reddish and colorless cortical granules and the presence of symbiotic algae. We identified S. tartari based on unique characteristics compared to close congeners. Korean populations of S. coeruleus and S. muelleri are congruent with previously described populations in most aspects of their morphologies. Here, for the first time, we report molecular gene sequence information for S. tartari. Small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequence-based phylogeny indicates that S. tartari, which has multiple macronuclei, forms a monophyletic group with other Stentor species having a single macronucleus. Our findings based on morphology and SSU rRNA gene sequence information corroborate the hypothesis that the elongated macronucleus evolved from the compact single or multi macronucleus state.

Stentor tartari Murthy & Bai, 1974 (Figs. 6���8, Tables 1, 2) Improved diagnosis. Body size 200���355 �� 85���135 ��m in vivo (on average 300 �� 105 ��m), 250���700 �� 70���135 ��m when extended, about 200 �� 160 ��m after protargol impregnation. Body slender trumpet-shaped to conical when extended, irregular pinkish and colorless cortical granules scattered throughout whole body, symbiotic green algae present, contractile vacuole located in anterior 1/3 of body near left margin with a collecting canal, 8���13 peristomial kineties, 62���106 somatic ciliary rows, 1���4 (average 2) macronuclear nodules located at mid-body. 5���18 micronuclei located around macronuclear nodules. Locality and habitat. Small freshwater pond (0 psu), Cheongnyang-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, Korea (35��31��� 47��N, 129��13��� 41��E). Voucher material. A protargol-stained slide with fixed specimens was deposited at the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), Incheon, Korea, with registration number NIBRPR0000107178. The voucher specimens are marked by a black ink circles on the slide. Description. The freely motile cell is inverted pear-shaped and size ranges, 200���355 �� 85���135 ��m (on average 300 �� 105 ��m) in vivo (Fig. 7A). After extension, when cell relaxed, the body looks like trumpet-shaped and size ranges, 250���700 ��m in length and 70���135 ��m in width in the peristomial area. Specimens shrink considerably after protargol impregnation, i.e., 95���310 �� 75���230 ��m (on average 200 �� 160 ��m) (Fig. 8A). Two types of cortical granules, colored and colorless, irregularly arranged between somatic kineties (Fig. 7C, D). The colored cortical granules appeared pinkish red, reddish, or brown red, round or oval-shaped 0.5���1 ��m in diameter (Fig. 7C, D). Density of the colored cortical granules is higher in anterior than in mid to posterior parts of body (Fig. 7A). Colorless cortical granules are smaller than reddish granules; shape of colorless cortical granules is round to oval, 0.3���0.5 ��m in diameter (Fig. 7C). Transparent cortex makes cytoplasmic organelles easily identifiable (Fig. 7A, C, F). Sixtytwo to 106 parallel somatic kineties composed of dikinetids longitudinally arranged parallel to antero-posterior axis of cell (Fig. 6E, F, 7C, 8B). Each somatic cilium is 6���12 ��m long (Fig. 7D). Average gap between adjacent somatic kineties is 7 ��m in vivo. Mitochondria (?)-like organelles distributed on pellicle slightly more densely packed near somatic kineties (Fig. 7D, arrowhead). One contractile vacuole with a long collecting canal located left of the buccal cavity about 35 ��m in diameter during diastole (Fig. 6A, 7G). Eight to 17 peristomial kineties were observed in peristomial region (Fig. 6E, 7B, 8B) and size of peristomial cilia was similar to the size of somatic cilia. Buccal pouch absent. Adoral zone of membranelles conspicuous consist of 110���180 membranelles (Fig. 6E, 7B, 8B). Adoral zone of membranelles surrounds the peristome and finally ends at the buccal cavity (Fig. 7A, 8A). The longest adoral membranelle, 12 ��m long. The Paroral membrane is typical of the genus, consisted of a single and continuous row of thin cilia, 20���35 ��m long (Fig. 6E, 8B). Nuclear apparatus comprised of 1���5 spherical macronuclear nodules (on average 2), about 20���35 ��m in diameter in vivo, usually located at the mid-body, however the position of macronuclear nodules is not fixed (Fig. 7A, F, 8A, C). Five to 18 spherical micronuclei with a diameter of 1���2 ��m in vivo adjacent to macronuclear nodules (Fig. 7F, 8C). Symbiotic algae, 2���4 ��m in diameter in vivo, present throughout body giving it a dark to light green appearance (Fig. 7A, E, 8A). Food vacuoles are 5���30 ��m in diameter; contain bacteria, diatoms as food (Fig. 6A). Lipid droplets 2���5 ��m in diameter scattered throughout body. Holdfast organelle present at posterior end of cell (Fig. 7E, inset: arrowhead); colored cortical granules densely packed in this region exhibiting a red appearance (Fig. 7A)., Published as part of Taher, Md Abu, Kabir, Ahmed Salahuddin, Shazib, Shahed Uddin Ahmed, Kim, Min Seok & Shin, Mann Kyoon, 2020, Morphological Redescriptions and Molecular Phylogeny of Three Stentor Species (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea: Stentoridae) from Korea, pp. 435-452 in Zootaxa 4732 (3) on pages 441-442, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4732.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/3667262, {"references":["Murthy, K. V. N. & Bai, A. R. K. (1974) Stentor tartari sp. n. from India. The Journal of Protozoology, 21, 505 - 506. https: // doi. org / 10.1111 / j. 1550 - 7408.1974. tb 03687. x"]}

Stentor coeruleus (Pallas, 1766) Ehrenberg, 1831 (Figs. 1, 2, Tables 1, 2) Improved diagnosis: The Korean Stentor coeruleus population is highly contractile, cell size is 250���400 �� 105���160 ��m in vivo but can become more than 1000 ��m during complete extension. 100���239 �� 80���185 ��m after protargol impregnation. They are trumpet-shaped when completely extended, but freely motile or contracted specimens are inverted pear-shaped. Under low magnification, specimens are blue green in color but at higher magnification cortical granules are reddish brown in the absence of symbiotic algae; a contractile vacuole is present on the left of the oral cavity. 55���65 somatic kineties are longitudinally arranged; 20���25 peristomial kineties are vertically arranged within adoral zone membranelles; 145���165 adoral membranelles comprise the peristome. The moniliform macronucleus is composed of 6���15 spherical nodules. Micronucleus and lorica were not observed in the present study. Locality and habitat: freshwater pond, Bugokji pond in Samrak-ri, Maam-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do province, Korea (35��01���35.2������N, 128��20���40.2������E). Voucher material: A slide with protargol-stained specimens was deposited in the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), Incheon, Korea, with registration number NIBRPR0000109602. The slide includes many specimens, but the relevant specimens are marked by a black ink circle on the slide. Description: The freely motile cell is inverted pear-shaped and size ranges 250���400 �� 105���160 ��m (on average 325 �� 125 ��m) (Figs. 1A, 2B). After extension, when cell relaxed, the body looks like trumpet-shaped and size ranges, 575���1050 ��m in length and 120���135 ��m in width in the peristomial area (Fig. 1A). The specimens shrink considerably after protargol impregnation, i.e., 100���239 �� 80���285 ��m (on average 165 �� 116 ��m) (Figs. 1D, E, 2 H���J). Greenish (due to limitations of microscope and camera, CG appears greenish-brown in pictures) cortical granules (~ 0.5 ��m in diameter) irregularly arranged densely between somatic kineties (Fig. 2D). The transparent cortex makes cytoplasmic organelles easily identifiable (Figs. 2B, E, G). 55���65 somatic kineties composed of dikinetids longitudinally arranged parallel to the antero-posterior axis of cell (Figs. 1D, E, 2D, J). Each somatic cilium is 11���12 ��m long (Fig. 1C). One contractile vacuole without any visible collecting canal located left of the buccal cavity about 38 ��m in diameter during diastole (Fig. 2E). 20���25 peristomial kineties present in the peristomial region (Figs. 1D, E, 2C, I). The size of the peristomial cilia is similar to that of somatic cilia. The buccal cavity is clearly visible. Adoral zone of membranelles conspicuous, consisting of 145���165 membranelles (Figs. 1D, E, 2C, I). Adoral zone of membranelles surrounding the peristome ends at the buccal cavity (Figs. 1A, D, 2B, C, I). The breadth of adoral membranelles 12���13 ��m long, feather-like extension is nearly 33 ��m. The paroral membrane is typical of the genus, consisted of a single and continuous row of thin cilia, 20���35 ��m long (Fig. 2C). Nuclear apparatus comprised of 6���12 spherical macronuclear nodules and each nodule are connected by macronuclear bridges; nodules are globular (20���22 ��m in diameter in vivo) to ellipsoidal (25���30 ��m in length), usually located at the mid-body; however, the position of macronuclear nodules is not fixed (Figs. 1E, 2G, H). Micronucleus was not observed. Food vacuoles are 20���30 ��m in diameter; contain bacteria and algae (Figs. 1A, 2B). Lipid droplets 1.5���3.5 ��m in diameter scattered throughout the body (Fig. 2E). Holdfast organelle present at the posterior end of the cell (Fig. 2F)., Published as part of Taher, Md Abu, Kabir, Ahmed Salahuddin, Shazib, Shahed Uddin Ahmed, Kim, Min Seok & Shin, Mann Kyoon, 2020, Morphological Redescriptions and Molecular Phylogeny of Three Stentor Species (Ciliophora: Heterotrichea: Stentoridae) from Korea, pp. 435-452 in Zootaxa 4732 (3) on pages 436-437, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4732.3.6, http://zenodo.org/record/3667262, {"references":["Pallas, P. S. (1766) Elenchus Zoophytorum. Petrum van Cleef, Hagae-Comitum, 451 pp.","Ehrenberg, C. G. (1831) Uber die Entwickelung und Lebensdauer der Infusionsthiere; nebst ferneren Beitragen zu einer Vergleichung ihrer organischen Systeme. Physikalische Abhandlungen der Ko ¨ niglichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, 1831, l- 154."]}

Stentor tartari Murthy & Bai, 1974 (Figs. 6–8, Tables 1, 2) Improved diagnosis. Body size 200–355 × 85–135 µm in vivo (on average 300 × 105 µm), 250–700 × 70–135 µm when extended, about 200 × 160 µm after protargol impregnation. Body slender trumpet-shaped to conical when extended, irregular pinkish and colorless cortical granules scattered throughout whole body, symbiotic green algae present, contractile vacuole located in anterior 1/3 of body near left margin with a collecting canal, 8–13 peristomial kineties, 62–106 somatic ciliary rows, 1–4 (average 2) macronuclear nodules located at mid-body. 5–18 micronuclei located around macronuclear nodules. Locality and habitat. Small freshwater pond (0 psu), Cheongnyang-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, Korea (35°31′ 47°N, 129°13′ 41°E). Voucher material. A protargol-stained slide with fixed specimens was deposited at the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), Incheon, Korea, with registration number NIBRPR0000107178. The voucher specimens are marked by a black ink circles on the slide. Description. The freely motile cell is inverted pear-shaped and size ranges, 200–355 × 85–135 µm (on average 300 × 105 µm) in vivo (Fig. 7A). After extension, when cell relaxed, the body looks like trumpet-shaped and size ranges, 250–700 µm in length and 70–135 µm in width in the peristomial area. Specimens shrink considerably after protargol impregnation, i.e., 95–310 × 75–230 µm (on average 200 × 160 µm) (Fig. 8A). Two types of cortical granules, colored and colorless, irregularly arranged between somatic kineties (Fig. 7C, D). The colored cortical granules appeared pinkish red, reddish, or brown red, round or oval-shaped 0.5–1 µm in diameter (Fig. 7C, D). Density of the colored cortical granules is higher in anterior than in mid to posterior parts of body (Fig. 7A). Colorless cortical granules are smaller than reddish granules; shape of colorless cortical granules is round to oval, 0.3–0.5 µm in diameter (Fig. 7C). Transparent cortex makes cytoplasmic organelles easily identifiable (Fig. 7A, C, F). Sixtytwo to 106 parallel somatic kineties composed of dikinetids longitudinally arranged parallel to antero-posterior axis of cell (Fig. 6E, F, 7C, 8B). Each somatic cilium is 6–12 µm long (Fig. 7D). Average gap between adjacent somatic kineties is 7 µm in vivo. Mitochondria (?)-like organelles distributed on pellicle slightly more densely packed near somatic kineties (Fig. 7D, arrowhead). One contractile vacuole with a long collecting canal located left of the buccal cavity about 35 µm in diameter during diastole (Fig. 6A, 7G). Eight to 17 peristomial kineties were observed in peristomial region (Fig. 6E, 7B, 8B) and size of peristomial cilia was similar to the size of somatic cilia. Buccal pouch absent. Adoral zone of membranelles conspicuous consist of 110–180 membranelles (Fig. 6E, 7B, 8B). Adoral zone of membranelles surrounds the peristome and finally ends at the buccal cavity (Fig. 7A, 8A). The longest adoral membranelle, 12 µm long. The Paroral membrane is typical of the genus, consisted of a single and continuous row of thin cilia, 20–35 µm long (Fig. 6E, 8B). Nuclear apparatus comprised of 1–5 spherical macronuclear nodules (on average 2), about 20–35 µm in diameter in vivo, usually located at the mid-body, however the position of macronuclear nodules is not fixed (Fig. 7A, F, 8A, C). Five to 18 spherical micronuclei with a diameter of 1–2 µm in vivo adjacent to macronuclear nodules (Fig. 7F, 8C). Symbiotic algae, 2–4 µm in diameter in vivo, present throughout body giving it a dark to light green appearance (Fig. 7A, E, 8A). Food vacuoles are 5–30 µm in diameter; contain bacteria, diatoms as food (Fig. 6A). Lipid droplets 2–5 µm in diameter scattered throughout body. Holdfast organelle present at posterior end of cell (Fig. 7E, inset: arrowhead); colored cortical granules densely packed in this region exhibiting a red appearance (Fig. 7A).