identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03F687F7FFAEFF9F7720F71EFD9EF929.text	03F687F7FFAEFF9F7720F71EFD9EF929.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pseudourosomoida Ghosh & Bharti & Terza & Bhutiani & Pathania & Kumar 2026	<div><p>Genus Pseudourosomoida gen. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A0BCAE68-1415-4C9B-8B45-E3C687EC1870</p><p>Type species</p><p>Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen. et sp. nov.</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Urosomoididae without caudal cirri.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>The genus-group name is a composite of the Greek word ‘pseudo’ (‘false’) and the generic name Urosomoida . Feminine gender.</p><p>Comparison of Pseudourosomoida gen. nov. with similar genera</p><p>Among the six genera of the family Urosomoididae, the newly proposed genus Pseudourosomoida gen. nov. is mainly distinguished by the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. It differs from Urosomoida in morphogenesis, as primordia V and VI of the proter in Pseudourosomoida originate from the splitting of the opisthe’s anlagen V and VI (vs possible de novo formation). It differs from Erimophrya by forming six frontal-ventral-transverse anlagen as usual (vs five in Erimophrya). The genus Hemiurosomoida can be separated from Pseudourosomoida by the presence of curved and non-intersecting (vs curved and optically intersecting) undulating membranes. Lepidothrix differs from Pseudourosomoida gen. nov. in having undulating membranes reaching the anterior left of the adoral zone of membranelles (vs distinctly posterior to the adoral zone). Oxytrichella is characterized by a single micronucleus between two macronuclear nodules (vs absence of micronuclei in Pseudourosomoida). Paraurosomoida can be distinguished by the absence (vs presence) of pretransverse and transverse cirri. For further details, see Berger (1999), Foissner et al. (2002), Singh &amp; Kamra (2013), and Foissner (2016).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F687F7FFAEFF9F7720F71EFD9EF929	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Ghosh, Arnab;Bharti, Daizy;Terza, Antonietta La;Bhutiani, Rakesh;Pathania, Prakash Chand;Kumar, Santosh	Ghosh, Arnab, Bharti, Daizy, Terza, Antonietta La, Bhutiani, Rakesh, Pathania, Prakash Chand, Kumar, Santosh (2026): Unveiling soil ciliate diversity: Taxonomy of two novel hypotrich ciliates (Alveolata: Ciliophora) from agricultural soil in Mathura, India. European Journal of Taxonomy 1048: 142-163, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2026.1048.3239, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3239/14347
03F687F7FFA9FF97749DF332FEDAFDFF.text	03F687F7FFA9FF97749DF332FEDAFDFF.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae Ghosh & Bharti & Terza & Bhutiani & Pathania & Kumar 2026	<div><p>Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen. et sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AECA73BB-485D-460E-ACDF-162B451E9BB0</p><p>Figs 1–4; Table 1</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Body size in vivo about 75 × 30 µm. Outline elliptical. Nuclear apparatus consists of two macronuclear nodules, micronucleus absent. Cortical granules colorless to slightly yellowish, loosely spaced, about 0.5 µm in diameter. Invariably three frontals, one buccal, four frontoventral, three postoral ventral, one pretransverse, and four transverse cirri. Left marginal row on average composed of 16 cirri, right marginal row of 17 cirri. Adoral zone extends about 34% of body length, on average composed of about 23 membranelles. Four dorsal kineties, including one dorsomarginal row.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>The species is dedicated to Ms Kadamberi in recognition of her support and assistance during the sampling campaign in the agricultural fields of Mathura.</p><p>Type material</p><p>Holotype</p><p>INDIA • slide with morphostatic protargol-impregnated specimens (marked by a black ink circle on back of slide); Uttar Pradesh, near Shergarh Khadar village in Mathura district, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=77.613884&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.797222" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 77.613884/lat 27.797222)">left bank of Yamuna River</a>; 27°47′50″ N, 77°36′50″ E; 2 Apr. 2022; Santosh Kumar leg.; NZSI, slide Pt 5974.</p><p>Paratypes</p><p>INDIA • 2 slides (containing many morphostatic protargol-impregnated specimens) with relevant cells marked by black ink circles on the back of slides; same data as for holotype; NZSI, slides Pt 5972, Pt 5973 .</p><p>Type locality</p><p>Soil from an agricultural field with a pumpkin plantation on the left bank of the Yamuna River, near Shergarh Khadar village in the Mathura district (27°47′50″ N, 77°36′50″ E), Uttar Pradesh, India.</p><p>Description</p><p>Body size 55–75 × 25–35 μm in vivo, usually about 75 × 30 μm, based on in vivo measurements (n = 3) and morphometric data (Table 1), with 25% addition for preparation shrinkage (Foissner et al. 2002; Kumar &amp; Foissner 2016; Kumar et al. 2016). Length:width ratio about 2.8:1 (Table 1). Outline elliptical to narrowly elliptical; dorsoventrally flattened (Figs 1A–B, E–J, 2A, D–F; Table 1). Nuclear apparatus located within central quarters of cell, slightly left of midline, composed of two macronuclear nodules; micronuclei absent (Figs 1E–F, H, 2A, D; Table 1). Macronuclear nodules ellipsoidal to elongate ellipsoidal, on average 13 × 5 μm in protargol preparations; contain many nucleoli 1–5 μm across. Cortex flexible, with cortical granules arranged in loose rows, colorless to slightly yellowish, about 0.5 µm across. Contractile vacuole located slightly above mid-body near left cell margin; collecting canals lacking (Figs 1B, 2A). Cytoplasm contains few crystals of varying shapes measuring approximately 3–7 µm in length, along with lipid droplets about 4 µm in diameter (Figs 1A, D, 2A–B). Food vacuoles in posterior body portion, up to 12 μm across in vivo, containing bacteria and flagellates. Movement rapid, with moderate gliding speed.</p><p>Cirral pattern resembles that of Urosomoida . Three slightly enlarged frontal cirri, cilia about 15 µm long in vivo. Frontoventral cirri arranged in V-shape; cirrus III/2 slightly above level of frontoventral cirrus IV/3 (although, due to alcohol fixation and slightly tilted orientation in permanent preparations, it appears aligned in straight line). Buccal cirrus at level of anterior end of endoral, about 7 μm from anterior body end. Three postoral ventral cirri in typical pattern (Figs 1A–B, E–F, H, 2A, D; Table 1). One pretransverse ventral cirrus; four transverse cirri in oblique pseudorow, cilia about 18 µm long in vivo, all cirri protruding beyond posterior cell end (Figs 1A–B, E–F, H, 2A, D; Table 1). Marginal cirral rows separate posteriorly, cirri about 10 µm long in vivo. Right row ends almost at, or slightly below (in most specimens), level of pretransverse cirrus; left row extends to body midline posteriorly. Left marginal row composed of an average of 16 cirri, right row of 17 cirri (Figs 1E–F, H, 2A, D; Table 1).</p><p>Constantly four (n = 21) dorsal kineties with bristles about 3 µm long in vivo and in protargol preparations. Kinety 1 slightly shortened anteriorly, composed of 9 bristles on average. Kineties 2 and 3 roughly bipolar, each composed of 12 bristles on average. Kinety 4 (= dorsomarginal row) slightly shortened posteriorly, composed of 13 bristles on average (Figs 1G, I–J, 2E–F; Table 1). Caudal cirri absent.</p><p>Adoral zone extends to about 34% of body length with approximate DE-value of 0.2 (for explanation, see Berger 2006), composed of an average of 23 membranelles with largest bases about 4 μm long in protargol preparations (Figs 1A–B, E–F, H, 2A, D; Table 1). Buccal cavity narrow and deep. Undulating membranes distinctly curved, optically intersecting at middle (Figs 1A–B, E–F, H, 2A, D). Paroral about 10 µm long, commencing about 5 µm posterior to anterior body end. Endoral about 10 µm long, commencing about 1 µm posterior to anterior end of paroral, at buccal cirrus level (Figs 1A–B, E–F, H, 2A, D; Table 1). Pharyngeal fibres extend slightly obliquely to right body margin (Figs 1F, H, 2A, D).</p><p>Divisional ontogenesis</p><p>Ontogenesis begins with the de novo formation of basal bodies near the transverse cirrus III/1, gradually developing into an anarchic patch or oral primordium (OP) (Figs 3A–B, 4A). The anlage of the opisthe undulating membranes is generated by the proliferating kinetosomes extending towards the anterior right of the OP (Figs 3C–D, 4B). The undulating membranes anlage for the proter is formed by partial reorganisation of the parental undulating membranes. The parental adoral zone is retained for the proter, whereas the adoral zone of the opisthe is formed anew from the OP (Figs 3C–E, 4B–C).</p><p>The OP is extended by integrating postoral ventral cirri. The frontal-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen develop as follows. In the proter, parental undulating membranes partially disintegrate to form anlage I, which subsequently gives rise to the left frontal cirrus and the undulating membranes. Anlagen II–IV originate from the frontoventral cirri II/2, III/2, and IV/3, respectively. Anlagen V and VI are possibly formed de novo; further investigation is needed to determine their exact origin (Figs 3B–D, 4A–B). In the opisthe, six anlagen originate from the OP (Figs 3C–D, 4B). In total, six parental cirri (II/2, III/2, IV/2, IV/3, V/3, and V/4) and the parental undulating membranes contribute to the formation of six anlagen in both the proter and the opisthe (Figs 3A–D, 4A–B). The six anlagen divide in a 1:2:3:3:3:4 pattern, resulting in the formation of 16 frontal-ventral-transverse cirri (Figs 3E, G–H, 4C–E). The cirri V/2 (pretransverse cirrus) and II/1 (leftmost transverse cirrus) are absent.</p><p>The marginal anlagen arise at two levels by ‘within-row’ anlagen formation, utilizing one or two of the parental cirri at each level. The formation of the right marginal row begins earlier than that of the left row. The marginal primordia elongate, utilizing six to eight parental cirri, and differentiate into new marginal rows. The remaining parental marginal cirri are resorbed (Figs 3G, 4D).</p><p>On the dorsal surface, three anlagen are formed within dorsal kineties 1–3 at two levels (one set each for the proter and the opisthe). The kinety 3 anlage does not fragment. A dorsomarginal row arises close to the anterior end of the newly formed right marginal row and moves from the lateral to the dorsal surface in late dividers (Figs 3F–I, 4D–F). No caudal cirri are formed during cell division.</p><p>During nuclear division, the macronuclear nodules first fuse to form a single mass in middle dividers, and then divide twice to produce the typical four nodules in late dividers (Figs 3D, G, 4C–D).</p><p>Occurrence and ecology</p><p>Thus far, the species has been found only at the type locality. It feeds on bacteria and small flagellates. Other ciliates identified from the same soil sample include Monomacrocaryon sp., Sterkiella tricirrata (Buitkamp, 1977) Berger 1999, and Sterkiella tetracirrata Kumar et al., 2014 . The soil from which the species was isolated contained 0.72% moisture, and has a pH of 6.69, an electrical conductivity of 445 μS, a Na + concentration of 30.5 mg /l, a K + concentration of 49.1 mg /l, 1.56% organic carbon, and 2.68% organic matter.</p><p>Comparison of Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen. et. sp. nov. with related species</p><p>On the basis of the number of micronuclei and the presence of pretransverse cirri, the new species can be compared with 14 species belonging to the family Urosomoididae, namely: Erimophrya arenicola Foissner et al., 2002; Hemiurosomoida koreana Omar et al., 2024; Hemiurosomoida warreni Chen et al., 2021; Lepidothrix dorsiincisura (Foissner, 1982) Foissner 2016 (Galápagos population); Lepidothrix reticulata (Foissner et al., 2002) Foissner 2016 (Costa Rica population); Oxytrichella buitkampi (Dragesco &amp; Dragesco-Kernéis, 1986) Foissner 2016; Oxytrichella mahadjacola Foissner, 2016; Oxytrichella monostyla (Foissner et al., 2002) Foissner 2016; Oxytrichella perthensis (Foissner &amp; O’Donoghue, 1990) Foissner 2016; Oxytrichella sejongensis (Jung et al., 2016) Li et al. 2017; Urosomoida antarctica Foissner, 1996; Urosomoida galapagensis Foissner &amp; Libetreu in Foissner, 2016; Urosomoida halophila Foissner, 2016; and Urosomoida namibiensis Foissner et al., 2002 .</p><p>Erimophrya arenicola can be distinguished from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen.et sp. nov. by the absence (vs presence) of cortical granules, the presence of one to three (vs absence) micronuclei, fewer adoral membranelles (13–17 vs 17–30), a single (vs invariably three) postoral ventral cirrus, the absence (vs invariably one) of pretransverse cirri, a single (vs invariably four) transverse cirrus, and three (vs invariably four) dorsal kineties.</p><p>Hemiurosomoida koreana differs from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen. et sp. nov. in having one or two (vs absent) micronuclei, four or five (vs invariably four) frontoventral cirri, two (vs invariably one) pretransverse ventral cirri, four or five (vs invariably four) transverse cirri, and two (vs absent) caudal cirri. Additionally, in H. koreana, the dorsomarginal kinety ends in the anterior third of the body (vs extending almost to the posterior end, only slightly shortened posteriorly). Hemiurosomoida warreni can be separated from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae by its larger body size (85–138 μm × 22–42 μm vs 45–67 μm × 15–25 μm in protargol preparations), the presence of four to eight globular to ellipsoidal moniliform macronuclear nodules (vs invariably two ellipsoidal nodules), and higher numbers of cirri in the right and left marginal rows (29–39 and 26–35 vs 12–21 and 14–20, respectively).</p><p>The Costa Rican population of Lepidothrix reticulata can be distinguished from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen. et sp. nov. by its larger body size (106–142 μm × 22–46 μm vs 45–67 μm × 15– 25 μm); the presence of a cortex with a web-like pattern formed by numerous bright globules arranged in single, paired, or occasionally triplet short rows (vs colorless to yellowish cortical granules); one to four (vs absent) micronuclei; a slightly higher number of adoral membranelles (25–42 vs 17–30); right and left marginal cirri (31–46 and 23–42 vs 12–21 and 14–20, respectively); pretransverse ventral cirri (three or four vs invariably one); and two or three (vs invariably four) transverse cirri. Similarly, the Galápagos population of Lepidothrix dorsiincisura differs from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae by its larger body size (86–123 μm × 28–50 μm vs 45–67 μm × 15–25 μm); the presence of four (vs invariably two) macronuclear nodules; a slightly higher number of adoral membranelles (27–42 vs 17–30); right and left marginal cirri (22–31 and 20–29 vs 12–21 and 14–20, respectively); a total of three or four (vs invariably five) pretransverse and transverse cirri; and the presence (vs absence) of caudal cirri.</p><p>Oxytrichella buitkampi can be separated from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen. et sp. nov. by the absence (vs presence) of cortical granules, the presence of a single micronucleus (vs absence of micronuclei), five (vs invariably four) transverse cirri, and three or four (vs absent) caudal cirri. Oxytrichella mahadjacola differs from the new species by the absence (vs presence) of cortical granules, the presence of one micronucleus (vs absence of micronuclei), and fewer right and left marginal cirri (3–5 and 5–7 vs 12–21 and 14–20, respectively). Oxytrichella monostyla is distinguishable from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae by the absence (vs presence) of cortical granules, the presence of a single micronucleus (vs absence of micronuclei), fewer adoral membranelles (13–15 vs 17–30), a single (vs invariably three) postoral ventral cirrus, and its occurrence in a highly saline (vs terrestrial) habitat. Oxytrichella perthensis differs from the new species by the absence (vs presence) of cortical granules, one micronucleus (vs absence of micronuclei), three or four (vs invariably three) postoral ventral cirri, two (vs invariably one) pretransverse ventral cirri, and three (vs four) transverse cirri. Oxytrichella sejongensis can be differentiated from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae by its larger body size (71.5– 110.5 μm × 22.6–38.1 μm vs 45–67 μm × 15–25 μm), the presence of a single micronucleus (vs absence of micronuclei), higher numbers of right and left marginal cirri (28–33 and 26–32 vs 12–21 and 14–20, respectively), and occurrence in freshwater (vs terrestrial) habitat.</p><p>Urosomoida antarctica differs from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae gen. et sp. nov. by the absence (vs presence) of cortical granules, the presence of one to three micronuclei (vs absence of micronuclei), fewer postoral ventral cirri (one vs three), pretransverse ventral cirri (two vs one), transverse cirri (five or six vs four), and the presence (vs absence) of caudal cirri. Urosomoida galapagensis can be distinguished from the new species by its slightly larger body size (70–89 × 22–40 μm vs 45–67 × 15–25 μm), presence (vs absence) of micronuclei, slightly higher numbers of cirri in the right and left marginal rows (20–28 and 19–27 vs 12–21 and 14–20, respectively), one to three (vs invariably one) pretransverse cirri, presence (vs absence) of caudal cirri, and its occurrence in a highly saline habitat (vs terrestrial). Urosomoida halophila differs from Pseudourosomoida kadamberiae by the absence (vs presence) of cortical granules, presence (vs absence) of micronuclei, a shorter adoral zone (occupying 16–27% vs 27.6–43.3% of the body length), more pretransverse ventral cirri (two or three vs always one), presence (vs absence) of caudal cirri, and saline (vs terrestrial) habitat. Urosomoida namibiensis can be separated from the new species by its larger body size (91–133 × 25–44 μm vs 45–67 × 15–25 μm), four (vs invariably two) macronuclear nodules, a slightly shorter adoral zone (occupying 19–30% vs 27.6–43.3% of the body length), two to five (vs invariably five) pretransverse ventral and transverse cirri, and the presence (vs absence) of caudal cirri. For further details, see Berger (1999), Foissner et al. (2002), Foissner (2016), Jung et al. (2016), Li et al. (2017), Omar et al. (2024), and Singh &amp; Kamra (2013).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F687F7FFA9FF97749DF332FEDAFDFF	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Ghosh, Arnab;Bharti, Daizy;Terza, Antonietta La;Bhutiani, Rakesh;Pathania, Prakash Chand;Kumar, Santosh	Ghosh, Arnab, Bharti, Daizy, Terza, Antonietta La, Bhutiani, Rakesh, Pathania, Prakash Chand, Kumar, Santosh (2026): Unveiling soil ciliate diversity: Taxonomy of two novel hypotrich ciliates (Alveolata: Ciliophora) from agricultural soil in Mathura, India. European Journal of Taxonomy 1048: 142-163, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2026.1048.3239, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3239/14347
03F687F7FFA6FF977704F0CDFEA2FAEC.text	03F687F7FFA6FF977704F0CDFEA2FAEC.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neoholosticha Ghosh & Bharti & Terza & Bhutiani & Pathania & Kumar, 2026 2026	<div><p>Genus Neoholosticha gen. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CBED5600-CDC6-4757-92E6-9453F0EFF1BA</p><p>Type species</p><p>Neoholosticha vikali gen. et sp. nov.</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Holostichidae with a continuous adoral zone of membranelles, frontoterminal cirri present, transverse cirri fewer than the midventral cirral pairs, more than four dorsal kineties, and multiple caudal cirri present.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>The genus-group name is a composite of the Greek prefix ‘neo - ’ (meaning ‘new’) and the generic name Holosticha, referring to the similar frontoventral ciliature of Holosticha and Neoholosticha . Feminine gender.</p><p>Comparison of Neoholosticha gen. nov. with similar genera</p><p>Among the 13 genera of the family Holostichidae, Neoholosticha gen. nov. is mainly distinguished by the presence of 6–8 dorsal kineties and 7–12 caudal cirri (Berger 2006; Li et al. 2017).</p><p>The genus Acuholosticha differs from Neoholosticha gen. nov. by having a narrowly rounded (vs flattened) posterior end, pretransverse ventral cirri present or absent (vs absent), and two to four (vs six to eight) dorsal kineties. Adumbratosticha is distinguished by an elongate rectangular body with a rounded posterior end (vs ellipsoidal with a flattened posterior end), fewer caudal cirri (often two) than dorsal kineties, and in some species vestigial caudal cirri (vs always more caudal cirri than dorsal kineties). It also has relatively short, almost straight, non-intersecting (vs long and optically intersecting) undulating membranes, and pretransverse ventral cirri present or absent (vs absent). Afrothrix differs by possessing a bipartite (vs continuous) adoral zone of membranelles and the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Anteholosticha can be separated by having transverse cirri usually fewer than midventral pairs (vs invariably two) and by the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Caudikeronopsis differs by the presence (vs absence) of pretransverse ventral cirri and occurrence in marine (vs terrestrial) habitats. Diaxonella is distinguished by having two or more (vs a single) left marginal rows. Extraholosticha differs by the presence (vs absence) of a short cirral row between the left frontal cirrus and the undulating membranes. Holosticha differs, inter alia, by having a gap between the proximal and distal parts of the adoral zone of membranelles (vs continuous adoral zone), short and parallel (vs long and optically intersecting) undulating membranes, transverse cirri equal to or slightly fewer than midventral pairs (vs invariably two), and the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Limnoholosticha is distinguished by an elliptical to wide elliptical body (vs slender elliptical), five to eight (vs invariably two) transverse cirri, and occurrence in stagnant inland waters (vs terrestrial habitats). Multiholosticha differs by the presence (vs absence) of pretransverse ventral cirri, seven to twelve (vs invariably two) transverse cirri, and a freshwater (vs terrestrial) habitat. Periholosticha can be separated by having a bipartite (vs continuous) adoral zone, the buccal cirrus absent (vs present), and midventral pairs that extend only shortly (vs extending almost to the transverse cirri). Psammomitra differs by its tripartite (vs ellipsoidal) body form, short and parallel (vs long and intersecting) undulating membranes, and the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Pseudoamphisiella is distinguished by the absence (vs presence) of frontoterminal cirri and by having multiple (vs invariably two) transverse cirri.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F687F7FFA6FF977704F0CDFEA2FAEC	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Ghosh, Arnab;Bharti, Daizy;Terza, Antonietta La;Bhutiani, Rakesh;Pathania, Prakash Chand;Kumar, Santosh	Ghosh, Arnab, Bharti, Daizy, Terza, Antonietta La, Bhutiani, Rakesh, Pathania, Prakash Chand, Kumar, Santosh (2026): Unveiling soil ciliate diversity: Taxonomy of two novel hypotrich ciliates (Alveolata: Ciliophora) from agricultural soil in Mathura, India. European Journal of Taxonomy 1048: 142-163, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2026.1048.3239, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3239/14347
03F687F7FFA6FF927726F702FEDAF95B.text	03F687F7FFA6FF927726F702FEDAF95B.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Neoholosticha vikali Ghosh & Bharti & Terza & Bhutiani & Pathania & Kumar, 2026 2026	<div><p>Neoholosticha vikali gen. et sp. nov.</p><p>urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 47ABAB9F-0A6B-4687-B605-428E74E7CB88</p><p>Figs 5–6; Table 2</p><p>Diagnosis</p><p>Size about 114 × 31 µm in protargol preparations. Body slender, narrowly elliptical. Cortical granules yellowish-green. Nuclear apparatus consists of 70–108 ellipsoidal macronuclear nodules scattered across the body and one or two micronuclei. Usually three slightly enlarged frontal cirri, one buccal cirrus, 2–4 frontoterminal cirri, 15–18 midventral pairs, and two ordinary-sized, vertically arranged transverse cirri. Left marginal row on average composed of 45 cirri, right row of 48 cirri. Adoral zone of membranelles extends about 27% of body length, on average composed of 32 membranelles. Undulating membranes arranged in the Oxytricha pattern. Dorsal ciliature consists of 6–8 dorsal kineties and 7–12 caudal cirri.</p><p>Etymology</p><p>The species is named after Mr Surender Vikal, a farmer in the sampling area, in recognition of his support and assistance during the sampling campaign in the agricultural fields of Mathura.</p><p>Type material</p><p>Holotype</p><p>INDIA • slide with morphostatic protargol-impregnated specimens (marked by a black ink circle on back of slide); Uttar Pradesh, near Shergarh Khadar village in Mathura district, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=77.613884&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=27.797222" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long 77.613884/lat 27.797222)">left bank of Yamuna River</a>; 27°47′50″ N, 77°36′50″ E; 2 Apr. 2022; Santosh Kumar leg.; NZSI, slide Pt 5974.</p><p>Paratypes</p><p>INDIA • 2 slides (containing many morphostatic protargol-impregnated specimens) with relevant cells marked by black ink circles on the back of slides; same data as for holotype; NZSI, slides Pt 5972, Pt 5973 .</p><p>Type locality</p><p>Soil from an agricultural field in a pumpkin plantation on the left bank of the Yamuna River near Shergarh Khadar village in the Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh, India (27°47′50″ N, 77°36′50″ E).</p><p>Description</p><p>Body size 105–155 × 30–50 μm in vivo, usually about 135 × 40 μm, based on in vivo measurements (n = 3) and morphometric data (Table 2), with about 20% addition for preparation shrinkage (Foissner et al. 2002; Kumar &amp; Foissner 2016; Kumar et al. 2016). Length:width ratio 3.7:1 (Table 2). Outline narrowly elliptical to very narrowly elliptical; dorsoventrally flattened (Figs 5A–B, D–F, 6A, C–D). Nuclear apparatus consists of 70–108 ellipsoidal to elongate ellipsoidal macronuclear nodules scattered across body, each studded with nucleoli. Micronuclei globular, difficult to recognize both in vivo and in protargol preparations, with each cell containing about one or two micronuclei (Figs 5A–B, D–G, 6A, E). Cortex flexible, with cortical granules arranged in small groups, yellowish-green, about 0.5 μm across. Contractile vacuole located slightly below mid-body near left cell margin (Figs 5B–C, 6A–B). Cytoplasm densely packed with lipid droplets (Figs 5A–C, 6A). Movement moderately rapid, without peculiarities.</p><p>Cirral pattern of usual variability (Table 2). Frontal cirri slightly enlarged, about 12 μm long in vivo. Buccal cirrus positioned about 6.8 μm posterior to anterior end of paroral (Figs 5D, F–G, 6A, C, E); one parabuccal cirrus (observed in three out of 17 specimens analyzed). Two to four frontoterminal cirri, located posterior to distal end of adoral zone. Midventral complex composed of 15–18 cirral pairs only, extending to near transverse cirri. Pairs spaced slightly wider at posterior body end. Left and right marginal rows composed of equal numbers of cirri, except in one or two specimens with one to three additional cirri in right row (Figs 5D, F, 6A, C). Transverse cirri invariably (n = 9) two in number, ordinary-sized (about 10 μm long in vivo), and projecting beyond posterior body end (Figs 5A–B, D, F, 6A, C). Right marginal row with ~48 cirri, commencing at level of frontoterminal cirri and terminating near posterior body margin at level of transverse cirri (Figs 5D, F–G, 6A, C, E); left marginal row with ~45 cirri.</p><p>Dorsal ciliature consists of 6–8 dorsal kineties (Figs 5E, H, 6D, F), each bearing one or two caudal cirri. A total of 7–12 caudal cirri (Figs 5E, H, 6D, F).</p><p>Adoral zone of membranelles question mark-shaped, occupying on average 27% of body length in protargol preparations (Figs 5A–D, F–G, 6A, C, E; Table 2), with approximate DE-value of 0.2 (for explanation, see Berger 2006); composed of 26–38 membranelles, with largest bases about 5.1 μm wide in protargol preparations. Buccal field wide and deep. Paroral and endoral moderately curved and optically intersecting in middle (Figs 5D, F–G, 6A, C, E). Pharyngeal fibres extend slightly obliquely posteriorly (Figs 5C–D, F–G, 6A, C, E).</p><p>Occurrence and ecology</p><p>Thus far, the species has been found only at the type locality. It feeds on bacteria and small flagellates. Other ciliates identified from the same soil sample include Monomacrocaryon sp., Sterkiella tricirrata (Buitkamp, 1977) Berger 1999, and Sterkiella tetracirrata Kumar et al., 2014 . The soil from which the species was isolated contained 0.72% moisture, and has a pH of 6.69, an electrical conductivity of 445 μS, a Na + concentration of 30.5 mg /l, a K + concentration of 49.1 mg /l, 1.56% organic carbon, and 2.68% organic matter.</p><p>Comparison of Neoholosticha vikali gen. et. sp. nov. with related species</p><p>Based on the body shape, multiple macronuclear nodules, the presence of a continuous adoral zone of membranelles, single left and right marginal cirral rows, more than three dorsal kineties, more than three caudal cirri, and the absence of a cirral row between the left frontal cirrus and the undulating membranes, Neoholosticha vikali gen. et sp. nov. can be compared with two species of the family Holostichidae, viz., Multiholosticha multicaudicirrus (Song &amp; Wilbert, 1989) Li et al. 2017 and Multiholosticha interrupta (Dragesco, 1966) Li et al. 2017 .</p><p>Multiholosticha multicaudicirrus can be separated from the new species by having slightly smaller body size (61–95 μm × 27–45 μm vs 87–130 μm × 23–40 μm), fewer macronuclear nodules (29–32 vs 70–108), a slightly longer adoral zone (occupying ~39% vs ~27% of the body length), a higher number of frontal cirri (four or five vs invariably three), fewer midventral pairs (five to eight vs 15–18), seven to ten (vs only two) transverse cirri, fewer cirri in the right and left marginal rows (22–27 and 20–26 vs 40–61 and 37–57, respectively), slightly fewer dorsal kineties (six or seven vs six to eight), and five to seven (vs seven to twelve) caudal cirri.</p><p>Multiholosticha interrupta differs from Neoholosticha vikali gen. et sp. nov. by a longer body (~200 μm vs ~114 μm), ~30 (vs ~85) macronuclear nodules, a slightly longer adoral zone (occupying ~36% vs ~27% of the body length), a slightly smaller number of midventral pairs (~9–11 vs ~15–18), the presence (vs absence) of pretransverse ventral cirri, 11 or 12 (vs only two) transverse cirri, a slightly lower number of right marginal cirri (30–40 vs 40–61), and six (vs six to eight) dorsal kineties. For further details, see Berger (2006) and Li et al. (2017).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F687F7FFA6FF927726F702FEDAF95B	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		Plazi	Ghosh, Arnab;Bharti, Daizy;Terza, Antonietta La;Bhutiani, Rakesh;Pathania, Prakash Chand;Kumar, Santosh	Ghosh, Arnab, Bharti, Daizy, Terza, Antonietta La, Bhutiani, Rakesh, Pathania, Prakash Chand, Kumar, Santosh (2026): Unveiling soil ciliate diversity: Taxonomy of two novel hypotrich ciliates (Alveolata: Ciliophora) from agricultural soil in Mathura, India. European Journal of Taxonomy 1048: 142-163, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2026.1048.3239, URL: https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/download/3239/14347
