Uronychia transfuga(O. F. Müller, 1786) Stein, 1859 (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia, Uronychiidae): Cortical Structure and Morphogenesis during Division

The morphology, ontogeny, and small subunit rRNA gene sequence analysis of Diophrys parappendiculata n. sp. (Protozoa, Ciliophora, Euplotida), a new marine ciliate from coastal waters of southern China

The morphology, morphogenesis, and phylogeny of Diophrys parappendiculata n. sp., a large marine ciliate isolated from the coastal waters of Daya Bay, southern China, were investigated. This new species is characterized by a combination of its large size, appendiculata-pattern of ciliature, and bipartite adoral zone of membranelles. The main stages of morphogenesis during binary fission were also recorded and described. Comparisons of morphological characteristics with similar congeners support the validity of the new species. The small subunit rRNA gene sequence of D. parappendiculata is 96.3-99.94% similar to those of four other congeners; it differs in four nucleotides from that of Diophrys appendiculata (i.e. structural similarity was 99.94%). Phylogenetic analysis indicates that D. parappendiculata n. sp. falls into the Diophrys clade and is most closely related to the well-known D. appendiculata.

Redescriptions of Two Marine Hypotrichous Ciliates, Diophrys irmgard and D. hystrix (Ciliophora, Euplotida), with a Brief Revision of the Genus Diophrys

Two insufficiently described marine euplotids, Diophrys irmgard Mansfeld (1923) and Diophrys hystrix Buddenbrock (1920), found in coastal waters near Qingdao, China, were reinvestigated with emphasis on their living morphology and infraciliature. Improved diagnoses and redescriptions are supplied for both organisms. Critical redefinitions of nine morphotypes are presented and the validities of the nominal species are discussed and briefly revised. Following Curds and Wu (1983), and based on data obtained during the present study and a critical review of the literature, five additional nominal species are regarded as junior synonyms of known forms: Diophrys quadricaudatus Agamaliev (1967), D. scutoides Agamaliev (1967), and D. tetramacronucleata Kattar (1970) are synonymized with D. scutum (Dujardin 1841), while D. pentacirratus Alekperov (1984) and D. multicirratus Alekperov (1984) are junior synonyms of D. oligothrix Borror (1965).