Taxonomic and phylogenetic studies on two marine Cyrtophoria ciliates (Protista: Ciliophora: Phyllopharyngea) with the description of a new species

The subclass Cyrtophoria is a group of morphologically specialized ciliates with diverse characteristics, which can be found in a variety of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. In the present study, two cyrtophorian ciliates, <i>Aegyria oliva</i> Claparède &amp; Lachmann, 1859 and <i>A. peculiaris</i> sp. nov., isolated from coastal waters of China, were investigated based on microscopic observations of live and protargol-stained specimens, and SSU rRNA gene sequence analyses. For <i>A. oliva</i>, the type species of the genus, detailed morphometric data, and improved diagnosis are provided. The new species, <i>Aegyria peculiaris</i> sp. nov. is characterized by a body size of 70–115 × 30–65 μm <i>in vivo</i>, an inverted oval body shape with a protrusion at the anterior left and a posterior bulge on the dorsal side, 45–58 somatic kineties, 31–46 nematodesmal rods, 4–6 transpodial segments, and about six contractile vacuoles. Phylogenetic analyses unveiled a close relationship between the newly identified species and <i>A. foissneri</i>, thereby confirming the monophyly of the genus <i>Aegyria.</i> http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F5566374-DA6C-4E95-B8DA-19F935D949C8