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Issue: Vol. 4392 No. 1: 8 Mar. 2018
Type: Article
Published: 2018-03-07
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4392.1.9
Page range: 169–178
Abstract views: 74
PDF downloaded: 1

Morphology and infraciliature of two new earthworm ciliates, Hoplitophrya polymorphus sp. nov. and Anoplophrya simplex sp. nov. (Ciliophora: Oligohymenophorea: Astomatia)

Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon Laboratoire Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement, Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6023, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Department of Biology, Higher Teacher Training College, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bamenda, Cameroon
Laboratoire Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement, Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6023, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Laboratoire Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement, Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6023, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Laboratoire Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement, Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6023, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
Protozoa Anoplophrya Astomatia Ciliophora earthworms Hoplitophrya

Abstract

Morphological and infraciliature studies carried out using pyridinated ammoniacal silver carbonate and the 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining techniques, led to the identification of two new species of ciliates pertaining to the subclass Astomatia. The first species, Hoplitophrya polymorphus sp. nov., displays two main cellular forms: the elongated form (150–247 μm long and 40–87 μm width) and the stocky form (140–170 μm long and 70–98 μm width). The macronucleus is generally skinny in the elongated forms and ribbon-shaped in the stocky forms. The common feature of the two cellular shapes uniting them in the same species is the identical structure of their skeletal apparatus, a V-shaped element located in an apical depression and bearing skeletal fibres on its ventral face. The second species, Anoplophrya simplex sp. nov., is totally deprived of skeletal apparatus. The cell shape is fusiform and dorsoventrally flattened (105–180 μm long and 65–125 μm width). Six to 12 pulsatile vacuoles form two rows arranged symmetrically on either side of the macronucleus. These two newly identified species highlight the extremely rich diversity of ciliates inhabiting the digestive tract of tropical earthworms.

 

 

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