Anigsteinia clarissima, (ANIGSTEIN, 1912) ISQUITH, 1968

Yan, Ying, Fan, Yangbo, Chen, Xiangrui, Li, Lifang, Warren, Alan, Al-Farraj, Saleh A. & Song, Weibo, 2016, Taxonomy and phylogeny of three heterotrich ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora), with description of a new Blepharisma species, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 177 (2), pp. 320-334 : 321-323

ANIGSTEINIA CLARISSIMA ( ANIGSTEIN, 1912) ISQUITH, 1968 ( FIGS 1A–D , 2–3 , 5A–F, H–N, Q; TABLES 1, 2)

Anigsteinia clarissima was originally described by Anigstein (1912) as Blepharisma clarissimum . Numerous subsequent papers dealt with this species but none provided a clear definition ( Kahl, 1928, 1932; Yagiu, 1943; Fenchel, 1969; Isquith & Repak, 1974; Dragesco & Dragesco-Kernéis, 1986). Thus, an improved diagnosis based on previous reports and on new data is supplied here.

Improved diagnosis Body length about 160–560 μm in vivo, length to width ratio 7–10:1; buccal cavity about half body length; 63–101 adoral membranelles; 18– 32 somatic kineties; macronucleus moniliform with 14– 50 nodules; conspicuous lacunar contractile vacuole system; marine habitat.

Description based on Qingdao population Body 230– 300 × 35–50 μm in vivo: slender and slightly contractile with tapered posterior end ( Figs 1A , 2A–D ); bilaterally flattened, width to thickness ratio about 3:1. Pellicle flexible, with numerous colourless, spherical cortical granules (0.8–1 μm in diameter) arranged in three or four longitudinal rows between the kineties ( Fig. 2H ). Peristome long and narrow, commencing slightly below anterior end of body and extending to mid-body region ( Fig. 2A–E ). About 60–100 adoral membranelles. Paroral membrane conspicuous ( Figs 1B , 2F , 3B, C, H ). Cytoplasm greyish and opaque, packed with globular granules and food vacuoles that are frequently abundant ( Fig. 2D, G ). Macronucleus moniliform with 14 to 26 interconnected nodules, each nodule ellipsoidal and about 7–10 μm in diameter; micronuclei not detected ( Figs 1C , 2G , 3A, H ). Conspicuous lacunar contractile vacuole (CV) system, CV terminally located ( Figs 1A , 2B ). Locomotion by gliding over substratum, i.e. sand grains, organic debris, bottom of Petri dish.

Eighteen to 26 somatic kineties, including six to 11 (right) shortened postoral rows ( Figs 1C, D , 3A, E–G ). Cilia about 12 μm long in vivo. Each adoral membranelle consists of one short and two long rows of basal bodies. Paroral membrane divided into three parts ( Fig. 1B ): anterior and posterior parts consist of dikinetids with only left basal body of each pair ciliated; middle part consists of several trikinetid fragments with all three basal bodies in each trikinetid ciliated.

Figures

Figure 1. Morphology and infraciliature of Anigsteinia clarissima (A–D), Blepharisma penardi sp. nov. (E, F, K, L), and Blepharisma undulans (G–J). A, left view of a typical individual of A. clarissima. B, paroral membrane of A. clarissima, anterior (double arrowheads) and posterior (arrow) parts are formed of dikinetids with only left basal body ciliated, middle part (arrowhead) formed by trikinetid fragments with all basal bodies ciliated. C, D, general infraciliature of A. clarissima, arrows show paroral membrane. E, left view of a typical individual of B. penardi sp. nov. F, L, dorsal (F) and ventral (L) views of infraciliature of B. penardi sp. nov. from the same specimen, arrow marks paroral membrane. G, left view of a typical individual of B. undulans. H, paroral membrane of B. undulans, anterior part with only right basal bodies ciliated and posterior part with both basal bodies ciliated. I, J, right (I) and left (J) views of B. undulans showing the infraciliature, arrow points to paroral membrane. K, paroral membrane of B. penardi sp. nov., anterior part consists of ciliated monokinetids, posterior part consists of dikinetids with only left basal body ciliated. Abbreviations: AZM, adoral zone of membranelles; CV, contractile vacuole; LCV, lacunar contractile vacuole system; SK, somatic kineties. Scale bars = 100 μm (A, C, D), 70 μm (E, G, I, J, L), 50 μm (B, H, K).

Figure 2. Photomicrographs of Anigsteinia clarissima from life. A–D, general views of typical individuals, arrows in B show lacunar contractile vacuole system, arrow in C indicates the paroral membrane. E, anterior region of cell, arrows mark the colourless cortical granules. F, posterior portion of buccal field, arrows show paroral membrane. G, macronuclear nodules. H, portion of cortex (right view), showing cortical granules between somatic kineties. Abbreviation: Ma, macronucleus. Scale bars = 120 μm (A–D), 25 μm (E–H).

Figure 3. Photomicrographs of Anigsteinia clarissima after protargol staining. A, right view of a typical individual. B–D, anterior of cell (right view), arrows show paroral membrane. E, F, left (E) and right (F) views of anterior portion. G, portion of infraciliature, arrows mark postoral kineties. H, posterior end of oral field and the moniliform macronucleus. Scale bars = 140 μm (A), 30 μm (B–H).

Figure 5. Different isolates under the names of Anigsteinia clarissima (A–N, Q), Anigsteinia candida (O), and Anigsteinia oligonucleata (P). A, from Yagiu (1943). B, from Anigstein (1912). C, from Dragesco (1960). D, reported as Blepharisma clarissimum forma arenicola by Kahl (1932). E, from Kahl (1932). F, from Kahl (1932), after Anigstein (1912). G, from Ricci et al. (1982). H, from Kahl (1928). I, from Bock (1952). J, from Raikov (1960). K, L, from Agamaliev (1968). M, N, from Czapik & Jordan (1976). O, A. candida, reported as A. clarissima (misidentification) by Dragesco (2002). P, A. oligonucleata, reported as A. clarissima (misidentification) by Dragesco (1966). Q, from Dragesco & Dragesco-Kernéis (1986). Abbreviation: Ma, macronuclear nodules. Scale bars = 375 μm (O), 200 μm (E, I, M, N), 180 μm (H), 150 μm (D, G, J), 110 μm (F, Q), 80 μm (B), 60 μm (C, K, L, P), 40 μm (A).