Abstract

In the present study, we investigate one new and four already known stylonychine ciliates, collected from South Korea, using multiple approaches. The new data on morphogenesis and molecular phylogeny revealed that they belong to three genera: Antetetmemena gen. nov., Apostylonychia gen. nov., and Tetmemena Eigner, 1999. They differ from other genera with the same Stylonychia pattern of undulating membranes mainly by the origin of anlagen V and VI of the proter (i.e. from cirrus IV/3 vs. V/4) and their position in the phylogenetic trees. The two newly established genera mainly differ from Tetmemena in having transverse cirri arranged in two groups (vs. one group). Apostylonychia gen. nov., which contains Apostylonychia baugilensis sp. nov. (type species) and Apostylonychia notophorides (Foissner, 2016) comb. nov., is unique in having obovate body, wide frontal area, and frontal cirri shifted to right. Antetetmemena gen. nov., which contains Antetetmemena minima (Kumar, 2016) comb. nov. and Antetetmemena bifaria (Stokes, 1887) comb. nov., is characterized by the elliptical body, the narrow frontal area, and frontal cirri around the midline of the body. In the multigene analyses, each genus nests in a distinct clade, supporting the establishment of the new genera. Furthermore, new generic features are revealed for the stylonychine ciliates.

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