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The peritrichous genus Ophrydium is relatively distinctive since its colonies have a gelatinous lorica. In the present work, one morphologically well‐described species, Ophrydium crassicaule, was collected from a freshwater habitat in China. Both morphological characters and sequence data for SSU rDNA, ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 region and LSU rDNA were obtained. Morphologically, O. crassicaule is characterized by its elongated vase‐shaped zooid, single‐layered peristomial lip, dichotomously branched stalk, colony with gelatinous lorica, and infundibular polykinety 3 (P3) containing one short inner row and two long outer rows. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the genus Ophrydium is monophyletic and nests within the family Vorticellidae. In addition, we briefly revise the nominal congeners for aiding the species identification in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the genus Paradileptus are apex predators in microbial food webs. They are often encountered in freshwater biotopes and have been used in research on water quality monitoring and ecology. Nevertheless, our understanding of the biodiversity of Paradileptus , especially its ecological and genetic diversities, is very poor which hinders our ability to understand the ecosystem services it provides. The present study gives a detailed account of two Chinese populations of Paradileptus elephantinus and P. conicus including their living morphology, infraciliature, and molecular phylogenies based on 18S, 5.8S, and ITS ribosomal DNA sequences. The phylogenetic relationships between these two species and other rhynchostomatians are investigated. We also explore the potential contribution of differentiation of the proboscis (e.g., extrusomes, dorsal brush, and differentiated kineties) to niche partitioning and speciation in Paradileptus. The global distribution of Paradileptus is summarized based on published data. Finally, a key to the identification of the valid species of Paradileptus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology and phylogeny of two new sessilid species, Zoothamnium weishanicum n. sp. and Epicarchesium sinense n. sp., two insufficiently known species, Zoothamnium arbuscula Ehrenberg, 1831 and Zoothamnium hentscheli Kahl, 1935, and a well-known species, Carchesium polypinum (Linnaeus, 1767) Ehrenberg, 1838, collected from freshwater habitats of China, were investigated. Zoothamnium weishanicum n. sp. is characterized by its inverted bell-shaped zooids, double-layered peristomial lip, alternately branched stalk, and two different-length rows in infundibular polykinety 3 (P3). Epicarchesium sinense n. sp. is recognized by its asymmetric-pyriform zooids, single-layered peristomial lip, conspicuous cortical blisters on the pellicle, dichotomously branched stalk, and P3 containing one short inner row and two long outer rows. Based on previous and newly obtained data of the three known species, improved diagnoses and redescriptions are provided including, for the first time, data on the infraciliature of Z. arbuscula and Z. hentscheli. In addition, we analyzed the phylogeny of each species based on SSU rDNA sequence data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The classification of loricate peritrich ciliates is difficult because of an accumulation of several taxonomic problems. In the present work, three poorly described vaginicolids, Pyxicola pusilla , Cothurnia ceramicola and Vaginicola tincta , were isolated from the surface of two freshwater/marine algae in China. In our study, the ciliature of Pyxicola and Vaginicola is revealed for the first time, demonstrating the taxonomic value of infundibular polykineties. The small subunit rDNA , ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region and large subunit rDNA of the above species were sequenced for the first time. Phylogenetic analyses based on these genes indicated that Pyxicola and Cothurnia are closely related. The present study suggested that the loricate species probably represent a distinct lineage in peritrich evolution and both genera Cothurnia and Thuricola are monophyletic. Pyxicola pusilla , Cothurnia ceramicola and Vaginicola tincta are recircumscribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three epibiotic Epistylis species, i.e., Epistylis weishanensis sp. nov., Epistylis daphniae Fauré-Fremiet, 1905, and Epistylis pygmaeum (Ehrenberg, 1838) Foissner et al., 1999, were investigated based on their living morphology, infraciliature, and small subunit (SSU) rDNA sequence data. Epistylis weishanensis sp. nov. is characterized by its double-layered peristomial lip, contractile vacuole located on the dorsal wall of the infundibulum, infundibular polykinety 3 (P3) composed of three equal-length rows that terminate above infundibular polykinety 1 (P1), 50–62 silverlines between the peristome and the trochal band, and about 30 silverlines between the trochal band and the scopula. Based on previous and newly obtained data for E. daphniae and E. pygmaeum , improved diagnoses and redescriptions are provided including, for the first time, data on their infraciliature. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that all three species do not group within the major clade of Epistylis , supporting the assertion that the genus Epistylis should be an assemblage of morphospecies and therefore needs to be revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peritrich genus Epistylis is speciose, however many species lack complete morphological description based on modern criteria and/or molecular data. In the present study, one new species, i.e., E. foissneri n. sp., and two morphologically similar species, i.e., E. hentscheli Kahl, 1935 and E. vaginula Stokes, 1884, collected from freshwater habitats in China, were studied. Epistylis foissneri n. sp. is characterized by its extremely slender zooids encased in a gelatinous sheath, symmetrically dichotomously branched stalk, trochal band located at mid-body, contractile vacuole located on dorsal wall of infundibulum, infundibular polykinety 3 (P3) composed of three equal-length rows that terminate above infundibular polykinety 1 (P1), 105–110 silverlines between the peristome and the trochal band, and about 110 silverlines between the trochal band and the scopula. Epistylis hentscheli is characterized by its asymmetric pyriform zooids (average length ca. 160 μm in vivo), dichotomously branched stalk with transverse striations on the surface of the upper portion, P3 three-rowed and terminating slightly above P1, 60–75 silverlines between the peristome and the trochal band, and 55–90 silverlines between the trochal band and the scopula. Epistylis vaginula is characterized by its elongated body shape (about 100 μm in length in vivo), dichotomously branched and smooth stalk, P3 three-rowed and terminating above P1, 80–100 silverlines between the peristome and the trochal band, and 45–80 silverlines between the trochal band and the scopula. The small subunit ribosomal DNA gene (SSU rDNA) of these three species was sequenced and supported the validity of each. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rDNA sequence data revealed that all three morphospecies group with other congeners within the major clade of Epistylis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During an investigation of parasitic ciliates in northern China, two Trichodina species, T. acuta Lom, 1970 and T. nigra Lom, 1960, were isolated from the freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758. The morphology of each species was investigated based on dry silver nitrate-stained specimens. In addition, the molecular phylogeny of each was analyzed based on small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequence data. Trichodina acuta can be distinguished from its congeners by the undefined periphery of the central circle, the distinct gap between the rays and the central circle, and the distinctly sickle-shaped blades. Trichodina nigra is a cosmopolitan ciliate and is characterized by its densely linked denticles, broad, rounded spatula-shaped blades, robust central parts, and well developed rays. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that T. acuta and T. nigra nest within different clades, supporting the assertion that the GC content of SSU rDNA sequences could reflect evolutionary relationships among Trichodina species. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two colonial sessilid peritrichs, Epistylis qingdaoensis n. sp. and Carchesium cyclopidarum Nenninger, 1948, were isolated from a marine crustacean and a freshwater mayfly, respectively. Morphological characters for each species were revealed by in vivo observations and silver staining methods. Epistylis qingdaoensis n. sp. is characterized by the apperance of the colony which is up to 250 μm high and usually contains fewer than eight zooids, the single-layered peristomial lip, the conspicuously conical peristomial disc, and the structure of infundibular polykinety 3 which comprises three isometric ciliary rows. Carchesium cyclopidarum is recognized by the colony height of about 600 μm, the small zooid size of 35-50 × 20-30 μm, and the low number of silverlines. Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences were performed to reveal their evolutionary relationships. Surprisingly, neither species clustered with its congeners. Epistylis qingdaoensis n. sp. nested within a clade of Zoothamnium species that was sister to a clade comprising core Epistylis species and several Zoothamnium species. Carchesium cyclopidarum nested within a clade comprising solitary peritrichs and was distantly related to the type species of Carchesium, C. polypinum. These findings imply for the first time that Carchesium is non-monophyletic., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The morphology and ciliature of a new freshwater ciliate, Frontonia apoacuminata sp. nov., isolated from an artificial pond in Qingdao, PR China, were investigated using live observation and silver staining methods. The main features separating F. apoacuminata sp. nov. from its congeners are as follows: a broad elliptical body that is slightly pointed at the posterior end, four ophryokineties, one or two spherical micronuclei of a 'compact' type, a dorsally positioned contractile vacuole, and peniculi 1-3 each with five kinetosome rows though the left-most two rows in peniculus 3 are extremely shortened (with only two or three kinetosomes each). Additionally, an improved diagnosis of F. acuminata is provided. Phylogenetic analyses based on the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene show that F. apoacuminata sp. nov. clusters with F. atra , F. minuta , F. acuminata and F. terricola . These five species group with Disematostoma , Marituja and Stokesia rather than with other Frontonia species, causing polyphyly of the genus Frontonia .

Four epibiotic sessilid peritrichs, i.e., Zoothamnium wilberti n. sp., Baikalonis microdiscus n. sp., Epistylis anastatica (Linnaeus, 1767) Ehrenberg, 1830, and Rhabdostyla commensalisMöbius, 1888, were isolated from one syllid polychaete and three crustacean hosts in Qingdao, China. For each species, specimens were observed both in vivo and following silver staining. Their SSU rDNA was also sequenced for phylogenetic analyses. Zoothamnium wilberti n. sp. is characterized by the appearance of its colony, which is up to 350 μm high, and usually has fewer than 16 zooids, and the dichotomously branched stalk with transverse wrinkles, the conspicuously conical peristomial disc, and infundibular polykinety 3 comprising three isometric ciliary rows. Baikalonis microdiscus n. sp. can be recognized by its barrel-shaped zooid, small peristomial disc, smooth and short stalk, and its unusual infundibular polykinety 3 comprising a long inner row and a short outer row. Two poorly known species, i.e., Epistylis anastatica and Rhabdostyla commensalis, are redescribed and redefined. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that: (i) R. commensalis is closely related to the family Astylozoidae rather than to the morphologically similar Epistylididae; (ii) B. microdiscus n. sp. is sister to the family Scyphidiidae; (iii) E. anastatica groups with vorticellids and ophrydiids, which further supports the polyphyly of the genus Epistylis; and (iv) Z. wilberti n. sp. is nested within the Zoothamniidae, as expected., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Ampullofolliculina Hadži, 1951 is a monotypic genus, the only species being A. lageniformis which was first discovered in estuarine habitats in the U.S. and has never been redescribed. In the present study, we investigated the taxonomy and phylogeny of A. lageniformis Hadži, 1951 based on analyses of a population collected from a brackish wetland in Ningbo, China. The main characteristics of this species are as follows: trophont about 450-700 μm long in vivo with two short, rounded peristomial lobes of equal size; lorica flask-shaped, transparent and smooth with a short, wide neck at the base of which two transparent valves are asymmetrically inserted; cortex with brownish to reddish cortical granules and greenish pigment granules; about 80 somatic kineties evenly arranged; moniliform macronucleus with 4-8 ellipsoidal nodules; swarmer dark green, vermiform in shape, about 200-350 μm long in vivo, with about 60 adoral membranelles and 85 somatic kineties, no mouth nor paroral membrane. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from SSU rDNA sequences show that A. lageniformis is closely related to Folliculina and Eufolliculina which nest within a large clade that comprises five families, i.e. Stentoridae, Blepharismidae, Fabreidae, Maristentoridae, and Folliculinidae., (© 2019 International Society of Protistologists.)

The morphology and infraciliature of a poorly-known colepid ciliate, Pinacocoleps tesselatus (Kahl, 1930) Foissner et al., 2008, collected from brackish-water biotope (salinity 12 per thousand) in Hangzhou Bay, China, were investigated using live observations and silver impregnations. This species is characterized by its length of 60-85 μm in vivo, ovular shape, two anterior and three posterior spines, 21-25 longitudinal and 11 transverse ciliary rows on average, a macro and micro nucleus, and one terminal contractile vacuole. The key to all known seven Pinacocoleps species is updated. Additionally, we characterized the taxon P. tesselatus via small subunit rRNA gene data. Our phylogenetic analyses performed using both maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods indicate that P. tesselatus falls into the core assemblage of the family Colepidae.