title: Rigidosticha italiensis n. gen., n. sp. (Ciliophora, Spirotricha), a novel large hypotrich ciliate from the soil of Lombardia, Italy.
abstract: The morphology of Rigidosticha italiensis n. gen., n. sp., which was found in a soil sample collected from an uncultivated field in Lombardia, Italy, was investigated using live observation and protargol staining. Rigidosticha n. gen. is characterised by a rigid body, undulating membranes resembling a Steinia pattern, oxytrichid frontal ciliature, distinct mid-ventral cirral pairs, transverse cirri, one right and one left row of marginal cirri, absence of dorsal kinety 3 fragmentation, more than two dorsomarginal rows, and caudal cirri. The new species shows the following features: size in vivo 230-330×100-170μm, on average 230×115μm in protargol preparations; two ellipsoidal macronuclear nodules; 51 adoral membranelles; one buccal cirrus; one parabuccal cirrus; two frontoterminal cirri; 16 mid-ventral cirral pairs; and three transverse cirri. Rigidosticha mainly differs from Rigidothrix, Afrophrya, Uroleptus, and Territricha, in having the undulating membranes in Rigidosticha (vs. oxytrichid and cyrtohymenid) pattern. The oxytrichid frontal ciliature and midventral pattern in the present species further support the CEUU (Convergent Evolution of Urostylids and Uroleptids) hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy. Electronic address: daizybharti83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Daizy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bharti
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: School of Bioscience and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III da Varano, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy. Electronic address: antonietta.laterza@unicam.it.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Terza
mesh_terms: D016798:Ciliophora / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology*; D007558:Italy; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D012987:Soil
keywords: Lombardia; Rigidosticha italiensis n. gen., n. sp; Rigidosticha pattern; Soil ciliates; Steinia pattern