Trophogemma Jankowski, 1970

Ansari, Kapuli Gani Mohamed Thameemul, Guidi, Loretta, Dovgal, Igor, Balsamo, Maria & Semprucci, Federica, 2017, Some epibiont suctorian ciliates from meiofaunal organisms of Maldivian archipelago with description of a new ciliate species, Zootaxa 4258 (4), pp. 375-387 : 377

Genus Trophogemma Jankowski, 1970

Improved diagnosis. Suctorian ciliates with large, laterally flattened cell body, attaching to the host body surface by a stalk. Two actinophores (cell body protuberances) placed near the base of the body, and a tentacle fascicle at the top. A few tentacle fascicles located at several levels or several tentacles evenly distributed along the margin of the body. Lateral tentacles can be absent. Macronucleus band-like but not branched. Micronuclei small and numerous. Reproduction by vermigemmy with worm-like, unciliate swarmers. Commensal species of marine crustaceans.

Type species. Trophogemma poljanskyi Jankowski, 1970

Remarks. Jankowski (1970) observed that the closest species of Trophogemma poljanskyi is Rhabdophrya wailesi Kahl, 1934 , but proposed the allocation of the two species in separate genera due to the smaller length of the stalk of T. poljanskyi . However, the degree of development of the stalk structure appears not to be a character significant enough to erect a new genus as suggested by Dovgal (2002). In addition, actinophores are absent in representatives of the genus Rhabdophrya Chatton et Collin, 1910 , whereas two basal actinophores like those in Trophogemma are present in R. wailesi . Thus, we propose to transfer Rhabdophrya wailesi into the genus Trophogemma as Trophogemma wailesi (Kahl, 1934) comb. n.