Pleurotricha curdsi ( Shi et al. 2002 ) Gupta et al., 2003

Xu, Yuan, Li, Lifang, Fan, Xinpeng, Pan, Hongbo, Gu, Fukang & Al-Farraj, Saleh A., 2015, Systematic Analyses of the Genus Architricha and Pleurotricha curdsi (Ciliophora, Oxytrichidae), with Redescriptions of Their Morphology, Acta Protozoologica 54 (3), pp. 183-193 : 189

Pleurotricha curdsi ( Shi et al. 2002) Gupta et al., 2003 ( Fig. 5 and Table 1)

This species was originally described by Shi et al. (2002) as a member of Allotricha . Gupta et al. (2003) reinvestigated it and transferred it to the genus Pleurotricha . As both of the previous reports documented the morphology and morphogenesis, only a brief description based on the new population is supplied here.

Morphological description of Shanghai population. Cells in vivo about 120–230 µm × 50–110 µm, broadly ellipsoid with rigid pellicle; left side straight, right side convex; posterior end tapering to right ( Fig. 5A–C, F ). AZM conspicuous, occupying nearly half of body length; distance between anterior body end and distal end of AZM about 25–32 µm ( Fig. 5D, E ). Cytoplasm containing great number of oil granules, ranging 5–12 µm across, and some large food granules, over 20 µm in length ( Fig. 5A–C ). No cortical granules. Contractile vacuole about 20 µm in diameter when fully extended ( Fig. 5G ). Two macronuclei, two or three (rarely four) micronuclei ( Fig. 5N ). Three frontal cirri, five frontoventral cirri and single buccal cirrus ( Fig. 5H, I ). Six to eight ventral cirri and five (rarely six) transverse cirri, arranged in two groups of three and two cirri (rarely four and two) ( Fig. 5H–K ). Frontal cirri about 17–20 µm long, transverse cirri around 22 µm long, ventral cirri about 14–16 µm long, left and right marginal cirri about 13–14 µm long. Cilia of dorsal kineties about 2.5 µm ( Fig. 5G ). Single left marginal row and two right marginal rows ( Fig. 5H ). Six dorsal kineties and three caudal cirri ( Fig. 5L, M ).

Figures

Figs 5A–N. Photomicrographs of Pleurotricha curdsi from life (A–G) and after protargol staining (H–N). A – a typical individual showing body shape and color; B, C – ventral (B) and dorsal (C) view, showing the food granules (arrowheads), arrow in (B) indicates the cytostome, arrow in (C) marks the collar part of adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) on the dorsal side; D – anterior part, to show the AZM; E – anterior part of dorsal side, to show the AZM in the back collar (arrowhead); F – posterior portion, to show the tapered posterior end (arrow); G – showing the contractile vacuole (arrow) and cilia of dorsal kinety (arrowhead); H – ventral view to show the single left marginal and two right marginal cirri rows; I – to show the cirri in frontal area, noting this specimen owning five frontal ventral cirri and three frontal cirri; J – postoral ventral cirri and pretransverse and cirri; K – transverse cirri; L – caudal cirri (arrowheads); M – anterior part of dorsal kineties; N – macronuclei and micronuclei (arrowheads). BC – buccal cirrus, FC – frontal cirri, FVC – frontal ventral cirri, LMR – left marginal row, Ma – macronucleus, PTVC – pretransverse ventral cirri, PVC – postoral ventral cirri, RMR 1, 2 – right marginal row 1 and 2, TC – transverse cirri. Scale bars: 50 μm.