Hartmannula cf. angustipilosa Deroux and Dragesco, 1968

Wilbert, Norbert & Song, Weibo, 2005, New contributions to the marine benthic ciliates from the Antarctic area, including description of seven new species (Protozoa, Ciliophora), Journal of Natural History 39 (13), pp. 935-973 : 943-944

Hartmannula cf. angustipilosa Deroux and Dragesco, 1968

( Figures 3F–I , 12G ; Table IV)

We failed to observe some critical features in vivo such as contractile vacuoles and other living characters for this Antarctic form. Although many well-impregnated specimens have been obtained. Its identification remains uncertain and we can here only tentatively describe it as a population of Hartmannula angustipilosa Deroux and Dragesco, 1968 .

Description

Body size about 60–90630–50 M m in vivo, mostly long oval with inconspicuous snoutshaped projection on anterior left ( Figure 3H ). Dorsoventrally distinctly flattened, ventral side flat, dorsal vaulted. Podite about 15 M m long. Cytostome prominent, sub-apically located in a longitudinal to oblique orientation; pharyngeal basket consisting of about 15 cytopharyngeal rods, extending slightly leftwards and posteriorly ( Figure 3G ). Dimorphic macronucleus large and oval, positioned in mid-body and containing several large nucleoli ( Figure 3G, H ). Micronucleus not detected.

About nine rightmost kineties extending preorally, with anterior portion curved to left margin; one terminal fragment positioned on anterior-left margin of cell. All other kineties (ca 18–26 in number) terminating around cytostome, leaving narrow glabrous buccal area. In addition to these normal kineties, there is one fragment-like equatorial right kinety with about 15 basal bodies in mid-body ( Figure 3H, I ).

Oral ciliature consisting of (constantly) three short rows of dikinetids, which are obliquely (and preorally as well) positioned: one is anteriorly located and two posteriorly ( Figures 3I , 12G , arrows).

Remarks

Deroux and Dragesco (1968) described three populations under the name Hartmannula angustipilosa , these are remarkably different in size and numbers of somatic kineties. The Antarctic form resembles the largest population in both body shape, size and the number of kineties. We speculate that the three populations in the original description might represent different species. Further information is required.

Figures

Figure 3. (A–E) Aegyriana paroliva and (F–I) Hartmannula cf. angustipilosa from life (A–C) and after protargol impregnation (D–I). (A) Ventral view, to show a typical specimen; (B) ventral view, to demonstrate the thickened portion in central area; (C) schematic display, to show a cell with all kinds of food that it contains; (D) ventral view of infraciliature, arrowheads mark the shortened kineties on left side; (E) lateral view, to show the flattened body shape and the macronucleus; (F, G) dorsal view, to show the cytopharyngeal structure and nuclear apparatus, note that the macronucleus in some cases is conspicuously dimorphic (F); (H) ventral view, to show the general arrangement of somatic kineties; (I) detailed portion of ventral view, arrows mark the oral kineties (oral apparatus). Scale bars: 50 Mm (A, B, E); 40 Mm (H).

Figure 12. Photomicrographs of (A) Amphileptus sp., (B, C, E, F) Aegyriana paroliva, (D, I, J) Dysteria parovalis nov. spec., (G) Hartmannula cf. angustipilosa, (H, K) Orthodonella shenae, and (L) Telotrochidium sp. after protargol impregnation. (A) Infraciliature of anterior portion; arrows indicate the extrusomes; (B) ventral view of anterior portion; arrow indicates the cytopharynx; (C) ventral view of oral area, arrow marks the three-rowed perioral kineties; (D) left side, arrow marks the shortened left somatic kineties; (E) ventral view, arrows indicate the shortened kineties; (F) ventral view of caudal portion, white arrow indicates the glabrous area, whereas the black arrow points to the podite; (G) ventral view, arrows mark the perioral kineties; (H) ventral view of anterior part, arrow indicates the cytostome; (I) posterior portion, to show the podite; (J) the same specimen but focusing at different level, to show the argyrophilic patch (gland?); (K) ventral view, to show the highly developed cytopharynx (arrow); (L) lateral view, arrow marks the broad aboral wreath of cilia.