title: Morphology and small subunit rRNA gene sequence of Uronemita parabinucleata n. sp. (Ciliophora, Uronematidae), with an improved generic diagnosis.
abstract: The morphology and infraciliature of a new species, Uronemita parabinucleata n. sp., isolated from intertidal sediments in a coastal region in northern China, were investigated using live observation and silver impregnation methods. The new species is characterized by an in vivo body size of about 20-50×10-25μm, 22 or 23 somatic kineties, two macronuclear nodules, and one caudal cilium. Its small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) was sequenced and compared with those of other Uronemita species to reveal nucleotide differences. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that Uronemita is monophyletic and that the new species clusters with its congener Uronemita filificum, with full support provided by both Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood algorithms. Based on previous studies and the present study, an improved diagnosis of the genus Uronemita is supplied, which has been absent since the establishment of this genus. A key to the Uronemita species is also provided.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
authors.forename: Mingjian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China. Electronic address: gaof@ouc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Farraj
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China. Electronic address: xiaozhonghu@ouc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D016798:Ciliophora / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal
keywords: Infraciliature; Phylogeny; SSU rDNA; Scuticociliates; Uronemita parabinucleata n. sp.