Epispathidium amphoriforme (Greeff, 1888)

Kim, Ji Hye & Jung, Atef Omar and Jae-Ho, 2020, Brief description of 18 newly recorded ciliate species from soil and inland waters (Protozoa, Ciliophora) in South Korea, Journal of Species Research 9 (3), pp. 251-268 : 259

9. Epispathidium amphoriforme (Greeff, 1888)

Foissner, 1984 ( Fig. 9 )

Material examined. Terrestrial moss collected from Mt. Yeonhwasan , Sinbun-ri , Yeonghyeon-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea (N 35°4 ʹ 8.2 ʺ, E 128°13 ʹ 47.1 ʺ) on 4 February 2019 .

Diagnosis. Body size 110 - 156 × 32 - 49 μm after protargol impregnation (n = 3). Body typical spathidiid shape, i.e. oral bulge moderately spatulate, mid-body slightly swollen. Ribbon-like macronucleus. Three dorsal brush rows; single circumoral kinety; about 45 somatic kineties anteriorly curved and parallel to circumoral kinety. Single contractile vacuole centrally located at posterior end.

Distribution. Austria and Korea.

Remarks. The Korean population of E. amphoriforme is most similar to an Austrian (from Zillertal, Tyrol) population described by Kahl (1930) especially in the number of somatic kineties (about 45 vs. 40 - 50). It is also very similar to another Austrian (from Lower Austria) population described by Foissner (1984) but differs mainly in the number of somatic kineties (about 45 vs. 24 - 38) and the absence (vs. presence) of spindle-like extrusomes ( Foissner, 1984).

Voucher slides. Two slides with protargol-impregnated specimens were deposited at the Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources (NNIBRPR11670, NNI BRPR11671).

Figures

Fig. 9. Epispathidium amphoriforme after protargol impregnation.A. Right side view to show circumoral kinety and somatic kineties. B, C. Left side views to show dorsal brush rows, ribbon-like macronucleus and spherical inclusions. B, brush rows; CK, circumoral kinety; MA, macronucleus. Scale bars=30 μm.