title: A new genus of marine scuticociliate (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from northern China, with a brief note on its phylogenetic position inferred from small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence data.
abstract: The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system of a new marine scuticociliate, Wilbertia typica n. g., n. sp., collected from coastal waters off northern China, were investigated. The new genus Wilbertia is characterized as follows: sculptured and dorso-ventrally flattened body; dominant buccal field that is almost completely surrounded by the paroral membrane; three apically positioned long membranelles, arranged in parallel; membranelle (M)1 and M2 prominent, M3 small; reticulate silverline system. The type species W. typica n. sp. is defined by having a conspicuous anterior beak-like protrusion; five to eight caudal cilia; M1 four-rowed, M2 two-rowed; M3, single-rowed, bipartite; 15 or 16 somatic kineties; contractile vacuole positioned just posterior to the buccal field; globular macronucleus. The small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of W. typica is 98.5% similar to the similar morphotype, Eurystomatella sinica. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Wilbertia groups with Eurystomatella sinica forming a branch that diverges at a deep level from all other pleuronematid scuticociliates. The molecular and morphological data indicate that Wilbertia should be placed within the family Eurystomatidae, which is closely related to the well-known Cyclidiidae.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protozoology, KLM, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Xinpeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Khaled A S
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Al-Rasheid
authors.forename: Weibo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D002681:China; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000469:parasitology; D048648:Macronucleus / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016802:Oligohymenophorea / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D054679:Ribosome Subunits, Small / Q000235:genetics*; D012623:Seawater / Q000469:parasitology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal