title: Molecular Phylogeny of the Family Ophryscolecidae (Ciliophora, Litostomatea) Inferred from 18S rDNA Sequences.
abstract: The 18S rDNA was used to infer oral ciliature patterns of evolution within the family Ophryoscolecidae, with the addition of five new sequences of ciliates from the genus Ostracodinium. Our data confirmed the monophyly of the subfamilies Entodiniinae and Ophryoscolecinae, but more analysis would be required for the definition of the status of the subfamily Diplodiniinae. The oral infraciliature patterns reflect evolutionary divergence in the family Ophryscolecidae, observing monophyly on Entodinium-type, Diplodinium-type, Ostracodinium-type, Epidinium-type, and Ophryoscolex-type. The ancestral infraciliature of Entodinium-type cannot be proven, however, the position of Entodinium-type showed closer of Diplodinium-type than Ophryoscolex-type, corroborating previous studies using morphological characters. The observed inconsistencies reflect the need to increase the number of 18S rDNA sequences to family Ophryoscolecidae and investigate the evolution of this group using other molecular markers.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protozoology, Postgraduate Program in Animal Behavior and Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, CEP: 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protozoology, Postgraduate Program in Animal Behavior and Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, CEP: 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto Júnio P
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protozoology, Postgraduate Program in Animal Behavior and Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, CEP: 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.|Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes and Simbionts, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcus V X
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Senra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protozoology, Postgraduate Program in Animal Behavior and Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, CEP: 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martinele
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of Eukaryotes and Simbionts, Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos A G
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protozoology, Postgraduate Program in Animal Behavior and Biology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, CEP: 36036-900, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Agosto
mesh_terms: D016798:Ciliophora / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: 18S rDNA phylogeny; Ostracodinium; cattle; ciliates; oral ciliature; rumen protozoa