Cladotricha niesseniae, Li & Han & Wang & Li, 2021

Li, Fengchao, Han, Miao, Wang, Jingyi & Li, Jingbao, 2021, Morphology and morphogenesis of a saline soil ciliate, Cladotricha niesseniae sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia), Journal of Natural History 54 (29 - 30), pp. 1933-1946 : 1934

Cladotricha niesseniae sp. nov.

( Figures 1a–e , 2–5 ; Table 1)

Diagnosis

Size 75–105 µm × 20–25 µm in vivo. Body outline lanceolate with anterior end narrowly rounded and posterior end tapered, flexible but not contractile. Two macronuclear nodules, 2–4 micronuclei. Cortical granules lacking. Invariably 3 frontal cirri; 3–5 buccal cirri; frontoventral row III (excluding right frontal cirrus) composed of 4–6 cirri; frontoventral row IV extends beyond mid-body, composed of 12–23 cirri; frontoventral row V rather short, composed of 4–8 cirri. One left and one right marginal row, composed of 12–22 and 17–27 cirri, respectively. Three dorsal kineties arranged in Gonostomum -pattern and 3 caudal cirri. Adoral zone occupies about 33– 50% of body length, and is composed of 24–34 membranelles. Saline soil habitat.

Figures

Figure 1. Morphology of Cladotricha niesseniae sp. nov. from life (a,b) and after protargol staining (c–e). (a) Ventral view of a representative specimen. (b) Various specimens showing flexibility and variability in body shape. (c) Ventral view of holotype specimen, to show frontoventral ciliature. (d,e) Ventral (d) and dorsal (e) view of holotype specimen, showing ciliature and nuclear apparatus. (f,g) Sample site (f) and surrounding area (f). AZM, adoral zone of membranelles; BC, buccal cirri; CC, caudal cirri; E, endoral; FC, frontal cirri; LMR, left marginal row; Ma, macronuclear nodule; Mi, micronucleus; P, paroral; RMR, right marginal row; III–V, frontoventral cirral rows III–V; 1–3, dorsal kineties 1–3. Scale bars: a,d,e = 50 μm; b,c = 30 μm.

Figure 2. Photomicrographs of Cladotricha niesseniae sp. nov. from life (a–f) and after protargol staining (g–i). (a–c) Different body shapes. (d) Lateral view, to show dorsoventrally flattened body. (e) Ventral view of a slightly squeezed specimen; arrows denote food vacuoles. (f) Dorsal view; arrows mark dorsal cilia. (g,h) Ventral views to show the ciliature; arrow marks the buccal cirri. (i) Dorsal view to show dorsal kineties. AZM, adoral zone of membranelles; E, endoral; LMR, left marginal row; Ma, macronuclear nodule; P, paroral; RMR, right marginal row; 1–3, dorsal kineties 1–3. Scale bars: a– e = 50 μm; g–i = 30 μm.

Figure 3. Morphogenesis in Cladotricha niesseniae sp. nov.after protargol staining.(a) Ventral view of an early divider, showing the oral primordium in the opisthe. (b) Ventral view of an early divider; arrows denote frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen and arrowhead marks the right marginal anlage. (c,d) Ventral and dorsal view of a slightly later divider, to show the frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen (arrows) and marginal anlagen (arrowheads). Note that dorsal kineties anlagen developed intrakinetally. (e,f) Ventral and dorsal view of a middle divider; arrows mark frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen (e) and dorsal kineties anlagen (f). (g,h) Ventral and dorsal view of a late divider, to show formation of the caudal cirri (arrowheads). DKA, dorsal kineties anlagen; LMA, left marginal anlagen; Ma, macronuclear nodules; Mi, micronuclei; OP, oral primordium; RMA, right marginal anlagen. Scale bars: 30 μm.

Figure 4. Morphogenesis in Cladotricha niesseniae sp. nov. after protargol staining. (a,b) Ventral and dorsal view of a late divider, to show the formation of the ciliature. Note the formation of the caudal cirri (arrowheads). LMA, left marginal anlagen; Ma, macronuclear nodules; Mi, micronuclei; RMA, right marginal anlagen. Scale bar: 30 μm.

Figure 5. Photomicrographs of Cladotricha niesseniae sp. nov. during morphogenesis, after protargol staining. (a) Ventral view of an early divider, showing oral primordium of opisthe. (b,c) Ventral views of an early divider. Arrows denote the frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen; arrowhead marks the differentiation of opisthe’s oral primordium. (d) Dorsal view to show nuclear apparatus. (e) Dorsal view; arrows depict intrakinetal development of dorsal kineties anlagen. (f) Ventral view, to denote the frontoventral-transverse cirral anlagen (arrow) and the undulating membranes anlage (arrowhead). (g,j) Dorsal views, to mark the fusion of macronuclear nodules and the dorsal kineties anlagen (arrows). (h,i) Ventral views,to show the formation of the buccal cirri (arrow in h) and marginal anlagen (arrows in i). (k, n) Dorsal views, to show macronuclear nodules, the dorsal kineties anlagen (arrows) and the caudal cirri (arrowheads).(l,m) Ventral views of a late divider,to show the formation of the ciliature.Arrow marks the newly formed adoral zone of membranelles for the opisthe. LMA, left marginal anlagen; Ma, macronuclear nodules; Mi, micronuclei; OP, oral primordium; RMA, right marginal anlagen. Scale bars: 20 μm.