Updating the trachelocercids (Ciliophora, karyorelictea). VI. A detailed description of Sultanophrys arabica nov. gen., nov. spec. (Sultanophryidae nov. fam.)

• Published in: European journal of protistology Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 146 - 160
• Main Authors: Foissner, W., AL-Rasheid, K.A.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier GmbH 21-06-1999
• Subjects: Arabian Gulf; Ciliophora; Infraciliature; Karyorelictea; Kovalevaia; Loxodids; Mesopsammon; Sultanophrys arabica; Kovalevaia; Loxodids; Mesopsammon; Arabian Gulf; Infraciliature
• ISSN: 0932-4739; 1618-0429
• DOI: 10.1016/S0932-4739(99)80032-7

Sultanophrys arabica nov. gen., nov. spec, was discovered in the mud of a saline coastal pond at the Arabian Gulf coast. Its morphology and infraciliature were studied in live and silver-impregnated specimens as well as in the scanning electron microscope.
Sultanophrys arabica has two unique features warranting separation from other trachelocercids at genus and family level: (1) the anterior secant system is at the right side of the glabrous stripe, (2) there is a special “lateral kinety” between the left branch of the bristle kinety and the first ordinary somatic ciliary row. All other (five) genera, whose type species were reinvestigated, have the anterior secant system at the left side of the glabrous stripe and lack a lateral kinety. The lateral kinety is very likely homologous to the dorsolateral kinety of loxodid karyorelictids because both have the same location and conspicuous fibres extending into the cytoplasm. It is thus argued that trachelocercids evolved from loxodids and
S. arabica is an ancient species being near the node where loxodid and trachelocercid karyorelictids separated from a common ancestor. At species level,
S. arabica is distinct by its size (about 800 × 70 pm); a glabrous stripe almost as wide as the cell; conspicuous, brilliant brown cortical granules; and the number of macronuclear nodules (13–47, 31 on average) and ciliary rows (31–40,34 on average).