Metanophrys similis Song et al., 2002a

Omar, Atef & Jung, Ji Hye Choi and Jae-Ho, 2023, New record of ten ciliate species (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from South Korea, Journal of Species Research 12 (1), pp. 95-108 : 103

8. Metanophrys similis Song et al., 2002a ( Fig. 8 )

Material examined. Marine water (salinity 33‰) collect- ed from Uihang Beach , Sowon-myeon, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea (36°50 ʹ 26.3 ʺ N, 126°10 ʹ 16.9 ʺ E) on August 11, 2021 .

Diagnosis. Size 25 - 35 × 10 - 15 μm after protargol impregnation (n = 8); body elongated ovate with rounded ends, anterior end distinctly narrower than posterior; macronucleus globular, in mid-body, about 5 μm in diameter; 12 - 13 ciliary rows; scutica consists of few basal bodies arranged in a short row; membranelle 1 consists of 3 longitudinal rows and as long as membranelle 2, paroral membrane extends anteriorly to mid-level of membranelle 2; length of buccal field about 40% of body length.

Distribution. China, South Korea.

Remarks. The Korean population of Metanophrys similis is similar to the type population described by Song et al. (2002a) and to another Chinese population described by Pan et al. (2016) in most features. However, the somatic kineties number of the Korean population slightly differs from the Chinese populations (12 - 13 vs. invariably 12 or 11 - 12). Metanophrys similis differs from other congeners in the number of rows in M1 (3 vs. 2). Also, it differs from M. sinensis in the number of somatic kineties (11 - 13 vs. 10 or 11) and also differs from M. carcini in the length of the buccal field (40% vs. 25 - 33%) ( Song and Wilbert, 2000; Song et al., 2002a; Pan et al., 2016). Further, it can be distinguished from M. orientalis in the number of rows in M1 (3 vs. 2) ( Pan et al., 2013a). The genera Metanophrys , Mesanophrys , and Paramesanophrys look very similar to each other, however they can be distinguished only by the structure of membranelle 2 (two-rowed in Metanophrys vs. more than two rows in Mesanophrys vs. granulated in Parametanophrys) ( Pan et al., 2016).

Voucher slides. One slide with protargol-impregnated specimens was deposited at the National Institute of Biological Resources, Korea (NIBRPR0000111068).

Figures

Fig. 8. Metanophrys similis after protargol impregnation.A, B, Ventral views showing the arrangement and structure of oral membranelles, membranelle 1 with three rows of basal bodies, paroral commences at level of half of membranelle 2, and the scutica. C, A dividing cell showing the three membranelles in both daughter cells. M1-3, oral membranelles; MA, macronucleus; PM, paroral membrane; S, scutica. Scale bars 10μm.