Morphology and molecular phylogeny of the anaerobic freshwater ciliate Urostomides spinosus nov. spec. (Ciliophora, Armophorea, Metopida) from China

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new metopid ciliate, Urostomides spinosus nov. spec., discovered in a freshwater ditch in Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation, morphometry and protargol staining as well as molecular phylogenetic methods. Diagnostic features of the new species include a broadly obpyriform body carrying three posterior spines, eight somatic kineties, five preoral dome kineties with specialized row 3, adoral zone composed of about 28 membranelles, making a 270 degrees turn around body axis. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU rDNA sequence revealed that the genus Urostomides is monophyletic, but its interspecific relationships remained unresolved. Moreover, a closer relationship of the new species with the morphologically similar Urostomides campanula was not supported by the molecular data. (C) 2021 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of a new metopid ciliate, Urostomides spinosus nov. spec., discovered in a freshwater ditch in Qingdao, China, were investigated. Diagnostic features of the new species were identified, and molecular data did not support a close relationship between the new species and the morphologically similar Urostomides campanula.