Metanophrys similis Song et al., 2002

Pan, Xuming, Fan, Xinpeng, Gao, Shan & Chen, Ying, 2016, Taxonomy and morphology of four “ ophrys-related ” scuticociliates (Protista, Ciliophora, Scuticociliatia), with the description of a new genus, Paramesanophrys gen. nov., European Journal of Taxonomy 191, pp. 1-18 : 11-13

Metanophrys similis Song et al., 2002

Fig. 7 ; Table 2

This species is reported for the first time from the South China Sea. The morphological and behavioural characteristics of the Zhanjiang population closely resemble those of the Qingdao population; therefore, only the morphometric characterisation and important features are supplied.

Description of Zhanjiang population

Body in vivo about 35–40 × 20–25 µm, plump pyriform, tapering anteriorly and rounded posteriorly, and no apical plate formed ( Fig. 7 A–C). Ventral side almost straight, while dorsal side slightly convex ( Fig. 7A ). Length: width ratio approximately 2: 1 ( Fig. 7 A–C). Buccal field occupies about 40% of total body length, with buccal cilia about 5–8 µm in length. Pellicle thick and strongly notched. Somatic cilia about 7–8 µm long and densely arranged ( Fig. 7D , arrowheads). Single caudal cilium about 15 µm in length ( Fig. 7F ). Extrusomes, about 2 µm in length, arranged in rows between somatic kineties. Endoplasm colourless to greyish and contains abundant food vacuoles ( Fig. 7E ). One large, spherical to ovoid macronucleus centrally located ( Fig. 7C, J ). Contractile vacuole about 5 µm in diameter and caudally positioned near ventral side ( Fig. 7A ).

Locomotion by swimming moderately fast, sometimes continuously without pause, or by crawling on substrates.

Twelve somatic kineties with dikinetids arranged in approximately anterior half of each row and monokinetids positioned posteriorly ( Fig. 7H ). M1 positioned near apex and comprised of three longitudinal rows of kinetids with six basal bodies each ( Fig. 7G, I ). M2 three-rowed, as long as M1 and also composed of about six basal bodies in each longitudinal row ( Fig. 7G, I ). M3 located close to M2 and normally comprised of three short, parallel arranged rows of basal bodies ( Fig. 7G, I ). PM extends to about anterior third of body ( Fig. 7G ). Scutica, with about 5–7 basal bodies, arranged in long line.

Ecological features

Salinity 21‰, pH 7.3 and water temperature 26 °C.

Figures

Fig. 7. Metanophrys similis Song et al., 2002, in vivo (A–F) and after protargol staining (G–J). A. Ventral view of a typical individual. B–D. Ventral views of three individuals; arrowheads in D mark somatic cilia. E. Food vacuole (arrow). F. Posterior region; arrow shows caudal cilium. G, I. Ventral views, to show detailed structure of the buccal area. H. Dorsal view; arrow shows monokinetids, arrowhead marks dikinetids. J. Macronucleus. Abbreviations: M1–3 = membranelles 1, 2 and 3; Ma = macronucleus; PM = paroral membrane. Scale bars: A–D = 30 μm.