Protocruzia labiata Kahl, 1932

Jung, Ji Hye Kim and Jae-Ho, 2019, Brief description of newly recorded eight ciliate species (Protozoa, Ciliophora) collected from South Korea, Journal of Species Research 8 (4), pp. 380-388 : 382-384

3. Protocruzia labiata Kahl, 1932 ( Fig. 3 )

Material examined. Brackish water (salinity 12.5‰) collected from Taehahang Port , Taeha-ri , Seo-myeong, Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea (37°30 ʹ 45.72 ʺ N,

130°47 ʹ 44.76 ʺ E) on 30 August 2018.

Diagnosis. Body size 40-50 × 15-20 μm in vivo; slightly contractile; elliptical to ovoid with rounded posterior end; bipartite adoral zone of membranelles recognizable only in vivo, continuous after protargol impregnation; extrusomes scattered throughout the whole body, about 3-5 μm in length; cortical granules sparsely arranged and 0.3-0.4 μm in size; blood cell-like cytoplasmic granules on right side and about 1.2 μm in diameter; 8-11 somatic kineties including loosely arranged single somatic kinety on left side; 6-8 adoral membranelles; paroral membrane curved and composed of dikinetids; single macronuclear complex; one tiny micronucleus near macronucleus.

Distribution. Korea and Germany.

Remarks. Protocruzia labiata Kahl, 1932 is one of the rarely known species in Protocruzia group. It was characterized by the bipartite adoral zone of membranelles ( Kahl, 1932). However, the bipartite adoral zone of membranelles can be recognized only in live observations. According to Kahl (1932), the body shape of the squashed cells became similar to that of P. contrax . The Korean population corresponded with the original description in this view. However, the nuclear apparatus and the cortical granulation differ from those of the type population, which has an inconspicuous nuclear apparatus and cortical granules easily confused with the cytoplasmic granules ( Kahl, 1932).

Voucher slides. One slide with protargol-impregnated specimens was deposited at National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBRPR0000109484) and two slides (GUC001588, GUC001591) were deposited in the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK).

Figures

Fig. 3. Protocruzia labiata in vivo(A, D-M) and after protargol impregnation (B, C, N, O). A. Typical individual showing body shape and extrusomes. B, C. Right and left side view showing somatic, oral infraciliature, and nuclear apparatus. D-G. Various body shapes, gray circles denote anterior portion of adoral membranelles, specimen in (G) slightly squashed. H. Schematic drawing of cortical and cytoplasmic granules. I-K. Various body shapes (arrows and arrowheads indicate anterior and posterior portion of AM, respectively). L, M. Right side views showing extrusomes, cortical granules (arrowheads), and cytoplasmic granules (blood cell-like shaped granules). N, O. Right and left side view showing somatic, oral infraciliature, and nuclear apparatus.AM, adoral membranelles; AMa, adoral membranelles on anterior portion; CG, cortical granules; CyG, cytoplasmic granules; EX, extrusomes; FV, food vacuoles; MA, macronuclei; MI, micronuclei; PM, paroral membrane; SK1-n, somatic kinety1-n; SKC, somatic dikinetid cilium. Scale bars:A, D, I-K=20 μm; C, L, N, O=10 μm; H, M=5μm.