Morphological and Molecular Description of Three New Species of the Cyrtophorid Genus Chlamydodon (Ciliophora, Cyrtophoria)

Abstract

This study investigates the morphology and molecular characteristics of three new cyrtophorid ciliates isolated from China seas: Chlamydodon salinus n. sp., Chlamydodon caudatus n. sp., and Chlamydodon paramnemosyne n. sp. Of these, C. salinus n. sp. differs from its congeners through a combination of body size, a cross-striated band that is not continuous, the presence of 30-34 somatic kineties, 11-15 nematodesmal rods, and 13 contractile vacuoles. Chlamydodon caudatus n. sp., meanwhile, is characterized by having a conspicuous tail, a continuous cross-striated band, 34-40 somatic kineties, about 15 contractile vacuoles, and 20-24 nematodesmal rods. Compared with other Chlamydodon species, the third new one, C. paramnemosyne n. sp., could be identified by its continuous cross-striated band, 16-18 somatic kineties, 5 contractile vacuoles, and 9-12 nematodesmal rods. Based on the sequence of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene, the phylogeny of these three new species was analyzed, indicating that they all clustered with other congeners to form a monophyletic assemblage. Based on previous studies and the present work, a brief revision of the genus Chlamydodon is supplied, and a key to aid the identification of Chlamydodon species is given.