Phylogenetic positions of four hypotrichous ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora) based on SSU rRNA gene, with notes on their morphological characters Author Yang, Caiting Author Liu, An Author Xu, Yusen Author Xu, Yuan Author Fan, Xinpeng Author Al-Farraj, Saleh A. Author Ni, Bing Author Gu, Fukang text Zootaxa 2015 4000 4 451 463 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.4000.4.4 07af7d2b-15c7-4581-beaa-5c8deb2a760a 1175-5326 245715 7FB26592-09EC-4980-A5CE-3E9C662D1F5B Cyrtohymena ( Cyrtohymenides ) australis Foissner, 2004 ( Figure 4 A–G; Table 1 ) Foissner (1995) reported the two populations from Peru (the type ) and Costa Rica respectively. The living morphology and infraciliature are fairly clear, thus, only brief redescription was documented here. Morphological description of Chinese population: Cells in vivo 240-300 × 90-130 µm, very flexible ( Fig. 4 A, B). Buccal area occupying 37% of body length. Cortical granules yellowish to green in color, about 1 µm across, present on both sides, arranged in groups near ventral cirri and dorsal kineties, also scattering irregularly in other parts of pellicle ( Fig. 4 C). Contractile vacuole located near left margin and in anterior 1/2 of body, about 30 µm when fully extended. Two macronuclei each about 36 × 20 µm in vivo. Cyst about 75 µm in diameter, spherical, with smooth surface ( Fig. 4 D). Typically 8: 5: 5 ventral cirri arrangement, but six transverse cirri present in single specimen examined. Transverse cirri about 45 µm long, extending slightly beyond posterior body end ( Fig. 4 F). Marginal cilia about 20 µm long in vivo. 7–12 dorsal kineties arranged irregularly. A morphogenetic cell of late stage was found and showing four dorsal marginal and three dorsal primordia ( Fig. 4 E, F, G). Always three caudal cirri. Remarks: Chinese population corresponds well with two previous populations ( Foissner 1995 ) in terms of living morphology and infraciliature, thus, the identification was acceptable. Foissner (2004) established the subgenus Cyrtohymenides to include cyrtohymenids with larger body size and more than three dorsomarginal kineties, up to now, including C . ( C .) aspoecki , C . ( C .) australis , and C . ( C .) shii . Singh et al. (2013) improved the diagnosis to include more characteristic features, i. e., slightly large number of frontal-ventral-transverse cirri, marginal rows not confluent posteriorly, and multiple fragmentation of the third dorsal kinety during ontogenesis. Though, Cyrtohymena australis Foissner, 1995 was transferred to the subgenus by Foissner (2004) , the multiple fragmentation of dorsal kinety 3 is still unconfirmed for the reason of unavailability of the complete ontogenesis process of this species.