Thurstonia emini, Nana & Tchakonte & Mama & Onana & Fokam & Ngassam & Masseret & Nola & Sime-Ngando, 2022

Nana, Paul Alain, Tchakonte, Simeon, Mama, Anselme Crepin, Onana, Fils Mamert, Fokam, Zephyrin, Ngassam, Pierre, Masseret, Estelle, Nola, Moïse & Sime-Ngando, Telesphore, 2022, Four new species of Hysterocinetida (Protozoa: Ciliophora) from the digestive tract of earthworms collected to the lower Nyong estuary (South Coast, Cameroon), Zootaxa 5194 (2), pp. 233-244 : 238-239

Thurstonia emini n. sp.

This species lives in the hindgut of A. emini collected at Donenda and Dikobe. Its frequency is 45 % and its average abundance 22 ciliates per worm.

General morphology and morphometry: The cell is elongated, with the anterior pole narrower than the posterior pole ( Figures 4A–B ). It measures an average of 105 μm (90–115 μm) long over 48 μm (40–55 μm) wide. The macronucleus is housed in the anteroposterior axis of the cell and measures an average of 11 μm in diameter. It is flanked by a small rounded micronucleus averaging 2 μm in diameter. The buccal apparatus is very small, with a peristomal part 15–17 μm long and 2–3 μm wide. The infundibular part of the buccal apparatus measures only 5 μm on average. The sucker has the shape of an inverted U, deep of 15 microns on average with its two slightly symmetrical arms devoid of skeletal fibers.

infraciliature: The somatic ciliature is formed of 70 to 74 kineties equitably distributed on both sides of the cell. On the underside, 20–25 kineties extend into the sucker ( Figures 4C–D ).

Diagnosis: Commensal of the digestive tract of A. emini . Elongate cell, with the anterior pole narrower than the truncated posterior pole, 90–115 µm 40–55 µm. 70 to 74 kineties, equally distributed on both sides of ciliate. Sucker in the shape of an inverted U. Frequency of the ciliate: 45 %. Mean abundance: 22 cells per infested worm.

Type host: Foregut and midgut, in earthworms A. emini .

Type locality: Donenda (0320′00.7″N–01002′09.1″E) and Dikobe (0319′15.5″N–01000′47.6″E), South region, Cameroon .

Etymology: The species is named “ emini ” in reference to the specificity of the host.

Type material: Slides of the holotype (MNHN-IR-2017-0010) are deposited to the protist collection of the National Museum of Natural History , Paris, France .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Thurstonia emini n. sp. A. General morphology after double staining by DAPI (blue) and immunofluorescence microscopy (IF) using FITC-conjugated anti-tubulin antibody (green); B. General morphology (Drawings after silver staining); C. Ciliature of the upper face; D. Ciliature of the lower face; BA. Buccal Apparatus; Ma. Macronucleus; Mi. micronucleus; Su. Sucker. Scale bar: 20 μm.