AUTHOR=Tang Jin , Zhang Gongaote , Guo Junqi , Luo Lingxuan , Jiang Jiamei , Pan Hongbo 

TITLE=A new contribution to the raptorial ciliate genus Lacrymaria (Protista: Ciliophora): a brief review and comprehensive descriptions of two new species from Changjiang Estuary

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1259653

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1259653

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Ciliates serve as excellent indicators for water quality monitoring. However, their utilization is hindered by various taxonomic confusions. The ciliate genus <italic>Lacrymaria</italic> Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1824 is commonly found in different aquatic habitats, but its taxonomy has been sparsely investigated using state-of-the-art methods. This study investigated two new <italic>Lacrymaria</italic> species from Nanhui Wetland, Shanghai, China, using living observation, protargol staining, and molecular phylogeny methods. <italic>Lacrymaria songi</italic> sp. nov. is 180–340 × 20–25 μm in size and possesses 12–16 somatic kineties, 1 terminal contractile vacuole, 2 macronuclear nodules, and 2 types of rod-shaped extrusomes. <italic>Lacrymaria dragescoi</italic> sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by its cell size of 210–400 × 25–35 μm, 14–17 somatic kineties, 1 terminal contractile vacuole, 1 macronucleus, and 2 types of rod-shaped extrusomes. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequences indicate that Lacrymariidae is monophyletic but <italic>Lacrymaria</italic> is not. Additionally, a brief review of the genus <italic>Lacrymaria</italic> is provided in this study. We suggest that <italic>L. bulbosa</italic> Alekperov, 1984, <italic>L. lanceolata</italic> Kahl, 1930, and <italic>L. ovata</italic> Burkovsky, 1970 be removed from the genus and propose <italic>Phialina lanceolata</italic> nov. comb. and <italic>Phialina ovata</italic> nov. comb. for the latter two.</p><p>ZooBank registration: Present work: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CDFB1EBD-80BD-4533-B391-CEE89F62EDC4 <italic>Lacrymaria songi</italic> sp. nov.: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:417E7C2D-DAEC-4711-90BB-64AB3CD2F7D5 <italic>Lacrymaria dragescoi</italic> sp. nov.: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8778D6B0-1F2E-473C-BE19-3F685391A40D.</p>