Erection of Unicapsulocaudum mugilum gen. et sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) based on its morphological and molecular data Author Yang, Chengzhong Author Zhou, Yang Author Zhao, Yuanjun Author Huang, Wei Author Huang, Cheng text Journal of Natural History 2017 2017-03-28 51 9 - 10 457 467 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2017.1303096 journal article 10.1080/00222933.2017.1303096 1464-5262 4746898 D6E74FC4-1C50-450B-985C-9802930CA2D5 Unicapsulocaudum gen. nov. Diagnosis: The mature spore was ophidian-shaped with a bulky anterior end which tapered gradually and terminated as a tapering tail. It had two shell valves; one was very elongated and much bigger and longer than the other one, which looked like a horn-shaped protuberance in front of the bulky anterior end of spore. The horn-shaped valve was superficially smooth in lateral view. The sutural line was fine and could be observed on some spores in the frontal view (see Figures 1f and 2b ). A single pyriformshaped polar capsule was positioned inside of the bulky anterior end of the spore. Homogeneous sporoplasm completely filled the entire spore cavity. The tail of the spore was transformable by changing its shape to ‘l’, ‘C’, ‘S’ or other shapes (see Figures 1 and 2 ). Figure 1. Light micrographs of the myxospore of Unicapsulocaudum mugilum sp. nov. (a) and (b) are developing stages (a is junior stage); (c–h) are mature spores of Unicapsulocaudum mugilum sp. nov. Scale bar = 10 μm. Figure 2. Line drawing of the myxospore of Unicapsulocaudum mugilum sp. nov. in frontal view (a–c) and lateral view (d). Scale bar = 10 μm. Type and only species: Unicapsulocaudum mugilum sp. nov. Etymology: The word Unicapsulocaudum refers to the conspicuous morphological feature of the myxosporean and is a composite of Unicapsulo (= one polar capsule) and the Latin - caudum (= tail). Taxonomic affinities: The genus is tentatively placed in the Ceratomyxidae Doflein, 1899 .