Three New Microthoracids (Ciliophora, Nassophorea) from Austria and Venezuela Author Omar, Atef Author Foissner, Wilhelm text Acta Protozoologica 2014 53 4 295 311 https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/ec8734e5-3dd5-3d02-89eb-8ba4f848b5cd/ journal article 10.4467/16890027AP.14.027.2022 1689-0027 10371219 Drepanomonas multidentata Foissner & Omar nov. spec. ( Figs 16–21 , 25–40 ; Table 1 ) Diagnosis: Size in vivo about 45 × 25 µm. Body crescentic with acute ends made by ground cortex. Three conspicuous spines in mid-body: one right and anterior of oral opening, two on a convexity at level and posterior of oral opening. Right side with an elevated obfalcate plate between kineties 2 and 3; ridge associated with kinety 3 ends in a subapical spine. Left side with a ridge each along kineties 5 and 6 both forming a spine anteriorly and a tridentate pattern posteriorly. Somatic kinety 4 commences with a dikinetid followed by six monokinetids; kineties 6 and 7 only partially ciliated. On average a total of 107 basal bodies. Extrusomes absent. Table 1. Morphometric data on Drepanomonas minuta (DM) , D. revoluta (DR) , and D. multidentata (DD) . Data based, if not mentioned otherwise, on protargol-impregnated, randomly selected specimens from a non-flooded Petri dish culture ( D. minuta , D. revoluta ) and a raw culture ( D. multidentata ). Measurements in µm. CV – coefficient of variation in %, M – median, Max – maximum, Min – minimum, n – number of specimens investigated, SD – standard deviation, SE – standard error of mean, ᳥ – arithmetic mean, – – not measured or counted.

Characteristics	Species	᳥	M	SD	SE	CV	Min	Max	n
Body, length in protargol preparations	DM	20.2	20.0	1.3	0.3	6.2	17.0	22.0	21
DR	25.2	25.0	1.3	0.3	5.0	23.0	27.0	15
DD	35.5	35.0	2.5	0.6	7.2	31.0	40.0	21
Body, width in protargol preparations	DM	9.3	10.0	1.0	0.2	10.4	7.0	11.0	21
DR	12.1	12.0	1.0	0.3	8.6	11.0	14.0	15
DD	16.8	17.0	1.5	0.3	9.0	14.0	19.0	21
Body length: width, ratio in protargol preparations	DM	2.2	2.2	0.2	0.1	7.0	1.9	2.5	21
DR	2.1	2.1	0.1	0.1	6.9	1.8	2.4	15
DD	2.1	2.1	0.2	0.1	9.0	1.8	2.7	21
Body, length in silver nitrate preparations	DM	21.5	22.0	1.7	0.4	8.0	18.0	24.0	21
DR	27.7	28.0	1.6	0.5	5.7	25.0	30.0	9
DD	43.4	43.0	2.6	0.6	6.0	38.0	48.0	21
Body, width in silver nitrate preparations	DM	10.5	10.0	1.4	0.3	13.0	8.0	13.0	21
DR	14.8	15.0	0.8	0.3	5.6	14.0	16.0	9
DD	22.9	23.0	2.2	0.5	9.5	19.0	27.0	21
Body length: width, ratio in silver nitrate preparations	DM	2.1	2.1	0.2	0.1	7.4	1.8	2.5	21
DR	1.9	1.9	0.1	0.1	4.4	1.8	2.0	9
DD	1.9	1.9	0.1	0.1	6.1	1.7	2.2	21
Body length: width, ratio in vivo (from micrographs)	DD	1.9	1.9	0.1	0.1	4.5	1.7	2.0	17
Anterior body end to adoral membranelles, distance	DM	9.9	10.0	0.6	0.1	5.8	8.0	11.0	21
DR	11.7	12.0	0.6	0.2	5.1	11.0	13.0	15
DD	18.0	18.0	2.0	0.4	11.1	15.0	22.0	21
Body length: anterior body end to adoral membranelles, ratio	DM	2.1	2.0	0.1	0.1	4.7	1.8	2.2	21
DR	2.2	2.2	0.1	0.1	2.8	2.1	2.3	15
DD	2.0	1.9	0.2	0.1	7.8	1.7	2.3	21
Anterior body end to macronucleus, distance	DM	6.3	6.0	0.7	0.1	10.4	5.0	7.0	21
DR	8.1	8.0	0.5	0.1	6.4	7.0	9.0	15
DD	15.3	15.0	2.1	0.5	14.0	12.0	20.0	21
Macronucleus, length	DM	4.2	4.0	0.4	0.1	10.3	4.0	5.0	21
DR	4.9	5.0	0.5	0.1	9.3	4.0	6.0	15
DD	7.8	8.0	1.0	0.2	12.8	6.0	10.0	21
Macronucleus, width	DM	3.3	3.0	0.6	0.1	17.1	3.0	5.0	21
DR	4.5	4.0	–	–	–	4.0	5.0	15
DD	5.2	5.0	0.9	0.2	16.8	4.0	7.0	21
Micronucleus, diameter	DM	1.3	1.5	–	–	–	1.0	1.5	21
DR	1.9	2.0	–	–	–	1.5	2.0	15
DD	1.9	2.0	–	–	–	1.5	2.0	21
Anterior body end to excretory pore of contractile vacuole,	DM	Not recognizable
distance	DR	14.6	15.0	0.7	0.2	5.1	13.0	16.0	15
DD	21.0	21.0	1.9	0.5	9.1	18.0	25.0	21

Characteristics	Species	᳥	M	SD	SE	CV	Min	Max	n
Somatic kineties, number	DM	9.0	9.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	9.0	9.0	21
DR	9.0	9.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	9.0	9.0	15
DD	9.0	9.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	9.0	9.0	21
Somatic kinety 1, number of dikinetids (does not have	DM	6.0	6.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.0	6.0	21
monokinetids)	DR	6.0	6.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.0	6.0	15
DD	5.4	5.0	–	–	–	5.0	6.0	21
Somatic kinety 2, number of dikinetids	DM	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
DR	1.3	1.0	–	–	–	1.0	2.0	15
DD	5.1	5.0	0.8	0.2	15.1	4.0	7.0	21
Somatic kinety 2, number of monokinetids	DM	2.1	2.0	–	–	–	2.0	3.0	21
DR	4.8	5.0	0.6	0.1	11.7	4.0	6.0	15
DD	3.1	3.0	0.7	0.2	24.3	2.0	5.0	21
Somatic kinety 3, number of dikinetids	DM	3.1	3.0	0.5	0.1	16.3	2.0	4.0	21
DR	3.1	3.0	0.8	0.2	26.1	1.0	4.0	15
DD	11.6	12.0	1.2	0.3	8.8	10.1	13.0	21
Somatic kinety 3, number of monokinetids	DM	3.6	4.0	0.9	0.2	24.4	2.0	5.0	21
DR	4.8	5.0	1.1	0.3	22.6	3.0	7.0	15
DD	3.3	3.0	1.0	0.2	30.5	2.0	6.0	21
Somatic kinety 4, number of dikinetids	DM	2.8	3.0	–	–	–	2.0	3.0	21
DR	4.8	5.0	1.3	0.3	26.4	3.0	7.0	15
DD	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Somatic kinety 4, number of monokinetids	DM	4.2	4.0	–	–	–	4.0	5.0	21
DR	3.8	3.0	–	–	–	1.0	7.0	15
DD	6.0	6.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	6.0	6.0	21
Somatic kinety 5, number of dikinetids	DM	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
DR	2.5	3.0	0.5	0.1	20.4	2.0	3.0	15
DD	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Somatic kinety 5, number of monokinetids	DM	5.0	5.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	5.0	5.0	21
DR	3.5	3.0	–	–	–	3.0	4.0	15
DD	5.0	5.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	5.0	5.0	21
Somatic kinety 6, number of monokinetids (does not have	DM	8.0	8.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	8.0	8.0	21
dikinetids)	DR	7.8	8.0	–	–	–	7.0	8.0	15
DD	8.0	8.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	8.0	8.0	21
Somatic kinety 7, number of monokinetids (does not have	DM	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
dikinetids)	DR	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	15
DD	3.1	3.0	–	–	–	3.0	4.0	21
Somatic kinety 8, number of dikinetids in anterior portion	DM	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
DR	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	15
DD	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
Somatic kinety 8, number of monokinetids in anterior portion	DM	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
DR	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	15
DD	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Somatic kinety 9, number of monokinetids in posterior portion	DM	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
DR	2.5	3.0	–	–	–	2.0	3.0	15
DD	2.1	2.0	–	–	–	2.0	3.0	21

Characteristics	Species	᳥	M	SD	SE	CV	Min	Max	n
Preoral kineties, number	DM	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
DR	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	15
DD	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
Preoral kinety 1, number of dikinetids (does not have	DM	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
monokinetids)	DR	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	15
DD	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
Preoral kinety 2, number of dikinetids	DM	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
DR	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	15
DD	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
Preoral kinety 2, number of monokinetids	DM	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
DR	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	15
DD	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Preoral kinety 3, number of dikinetids	DM	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
DR	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	15
DD	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
Preoral kinety 3, number of monokinetids	DM	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
DR	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	15
DD	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Left row of postoral complex, number of monokinetidsa	DM	4.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	4.0	21
DR	4.1	4.0	–	–	–	4.0	5.0	15
DD	4.1	4.0	–	–	–	4.0	5.0	21
Right row of postoral complex, number of monokinetidsb	DM	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
DR	1.1	1.0	–	–	–	1.0	2.0	15
DD	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Basal bodies, total numberc	DM	84.5	85.0	0.9	0.2	1.1	82.0	86.0	21
DR	92.7	92.0	2.2	0.6	2.3	90.0	96.0	15
DD	106.9	107.0	2.7	0.6	2.5	103.0	112.0	21

a This is the posterior portion of somatic kinety 8. b This is the middle portion of somatic kinety 9. c Except for basal bodies of adoral membranelles and anterior portion of kinety 9, which is difficult to see. Type locality: Slightly saline surface mud and soil from temporary grassland puddles in the surroundings of the village of Chichiriviche , Maracay National Park , about 13 km inshore from the north coast of Venezuela , 11°33′N , 67°13′W . Type material: One holotype slide with protargol-impregnated specimens and five paratype slides with protargol-impregnated and Klein-Foissner silver nitrate-impregnated specimens have been deposited in the Biology Centre of the Museum of Upper Austria , Linz (LI). The holotype and important paratype specimens have been marked by black ink circles on the coverslip . Etymology: the species name is a composite of the Latin prefix multi (many) and the Latin adjective dentata (toothed), referring to the multitude of body teeth. Description: Depending on method, body size varies considerably ( Table 1 ): in vivo about 47 × 27 µm (n = 4), in Klein-Foissner silver nitrate preparations 43 × 25 µm, while cells shrank to 35.5 × 16.8 µm in protargol slides. Taking into account the in vivo measurements and 5% shrinkage in the silver nitrate preparations, we obtain an in vivo size of 40–50 × 20–30 µm, on average about 45 × 25 µm, corresponding to a length: width ratio of 1.9, which matches values obtained from 17 specimens photographed alive ( Figs 25–27, 29–36 ); protargol-impregnated cells have a ratio of 2.1 and are thus slightly more slender ( Table 1 ; Figs 37, 38 ). Figs 16–24. Drepanomonas multidentata (16 – 21) and D. dentata (22 – 24) from life (16, 17, 22 – 24) and after protargol impregnation (18 – 21). 16, 17 – right and left side view of a representative specimen, length 45 µm, showing the crescentic body and the cortical ridges. The right side ridges form an obfalcate plate with a subapical spine and a shallow concavity in the posterior portion (asterisk); the two left side ridges, each with a spine anteriorly, produce a tridentate pattern posteriorly. Note the three highly characteristic ventro-lateral spines in the surrounding of the oral opening. 18, 19 – right and left side view of holotype specimen, length 35 µm, showing the kinetid pattern and the nuclear apparatus; 20 – ventral view of a paratype specimen, showing the obliquely arranged preoral kineties, the circumoral basal bodies, and the postoral complex. The posterior segment of somatic kinety 1 cannot be seen in this specimen because it is over the deeply impregnated macronucleus (outline dotted); 21 – in dividing specimens, three adoral membranelles are recognizable both in proter and opisthe. The arrowheads mark the ventro-lateral spines; 22–24 – D. dentata (22, 23, from Fresenius 1858 ; 24, from Kreutz 1998 ), showing the crescentic body, the tooth-like projection on the ventral side (triangle), the serrate dorsal (arrows) and ventral (arrowhead) margin, and the cortical ridges. A – anterior body end, K(1–9) – somatic kineties, LAS – left anterior spines, LVS – left ventro-lateral spines, M(1 – 3) – adoral membranelles, MA – macronucleus, MI – micronucleus, NK – nasse kinetosomes, P – posterior body end, PC – postoral complex, PO(1 – 3) – preoral kineties, R – ridges, RVS – right ventro-lateral spine, SAS – subapical spine, T – excretory tube of contractile vacuole, TP – spines of the tridentate pattern. Scale bars: 10 µm. Figs 25–32. Drepanomonas multidentata from life under bright field (25 – 27) and interference contrast illumination (29 – 32), and after silver nitrate impregnation (28). 25, 26 – right and left side view of the same specimen, showing the crescentic body shape and the three ventrolateral spines. The cytoplasm is studded with lipid (?) droplets and minute food vacuoles each containing only one or two bacteria (26). The arrows mark the line where the cortical plates of the right side attach to the ground cortex. The arrowhead denotes the left margin of the preoral region; 27 – right side view of a dividing specimen with division furrow marked by arrowheads; 28 – right side view, showing the dense cortical granulation and the ventro-lateral spines; 29–32 – right side views of the same specimen at four focal planes, showing the right side ridges (29), the subapical and the right ventro-lateral spine (30), the buccal cavity in mid-body (31), and the spines of the left ventro-lateral side (32). The arrowhead marks the concave right ventro-lateral margin. The asterisk denotes the shallow concavity in the obfalcate plate. A – anterior body end, BC – buccal cavity, CV – contractile vacuole, CY – cytopyge, FV – food vacuoles, K3 – somatic kinety 3, LAS – left anterior spine, LD – lipid droplets, LVS – left ventro-lateral spines, MA – macronucleus, P – posterior body end, PO – preoral kineties, R – ridges, RVS – right ventro-lateral spine, SAS – subapical spine, T – excretory tube of contractile vacuole, VS – ventro-lateral spines. Scale bars: 15 µm. Body crescentic with acute ends and several ventral and lateral spines; laterally only slightly flattened, except for thin dorsal margin; when observed ventrally or dorsally, slenderly elliptical with left side slightly more convex than right side ( Table 1 ; Figs 16–20 , 25, 30 , 36, 39 ). Nuclear apparatus in or near mid-body. Macronucleus globular to broadly ellipsoidal, contains some globular masses, probably nucleoli up to 2 µm across. Micronucleus globular, near or attached to ventral side of macronucleus ( Table 1 ; Figs 16, 19 , 30 , 37 ). Contractile vacuole in third quarter of body, slightly posterior and dorsal of buccal cavity, with distinct tube extending into buccal cavity posterior to adoral membranelles ( Table 1 ; and 7–9 shortened anteriorly and/or posteriorly. Kineties 1–4 on right side; kineties 5–7 on left side; and kineties 1, 2 and 6–9 on ventral side ( Table 1 ; Figs 16–20 , 37–40 ). Figs 33–40. Drepanomonas multidentata from life (33 – 36) and after protargol impregnation (37 – 40). 33–36 – left side views of different specimens at four focal planes, showing the two conspicuous spines left and posterior of the oral opening, the left side ridges each forming an anterior spine, and the two anterior spines of the tridentate pattern; 37, 38 – right and left side view of holotype and of a paratype specimen, showing the ciliary and nuclear pattern. The posterior portion of kinety 9 is either absent or in line with kinety 2. The posterior cilium of kinety 6 appears slightly thickened in the basal portion (arrowhead); 39 – ventral view of a paratype specimen, showing the oblique preoral kineties and the postoral complex; 40 – ventral view of a late divider, showing that kineties 8 and 9 consist of two and three segments, respectively, of which the posterior segment of kinety 9 will possibly align with kinety 2 (see Fig. 37). The left segment of the postoral complex consists of four ciliated monokinetids. A – anterior body end, K1 – 9 – somatic kineties, LAS – left anterior spines, LVS – left ventro-lateral spines, M – adoral membranelles, MA – macronucleus, MI – micronucleus, NK – nasse kinetosomes, PC – postoral complex, PO(1 – 3) – preoral kineties, R – ridges, T – excretory tube, TP – spines of the tridentate pattern. Scale bars: 15 µm (Figs 33 – 36) and 10 µm (Figs 37 – 40). Figs 16, 18, 31, 37). Cytopyge posterior and slightly left of contractile vacuole, usually forming a bright, oblique, ellipsoidal blister rarely containing food remnants (Figs 16, 30, 31). Extrusomes absent, i.e., we could not find the typical trichocysts present in most microthoracids in vivo (Figs 25–27, 29–36) and in protargol preparations (Figs 37–40). Cytoplasm colourless, contains: (i) many vacuoles about 3 µm across, some appearing empty while others contain one or two bacteria and (ii) rather many globular and dumbbell-shaped inclusions 1 to 3 µm across, possibly lipid droplets (Figs 16, 17, 25–27, 29–36). Glides on bottom of Petri dish and surface of organic masses, rarely swims slowly and clumsily rotating about main body axis. Kinety 1 at right margin of oral cavity, consists of 5 or 6 narrowly spaced, usually ciliated dikinetids ( Figs 18 , 37 ). Kinety 2 begins in second quarter of body, composed of two widely spaced, ciliated dikinetids followed by some widely spaced, ciliated monokinetids, ends posteriorly with some narrowly spaced, ciliated dikinetids ( Figs 18, 20 , 37 ). Kinety 3 composed of widely and narrowly spaced, ciliated dikinetids in anterior and posterior portion, respectively, and of some widely spaced, ciliated monokinetids in middle portion ( Figs 18 , 37 ). Kineties 4 and 5 limit dorsal margin of right and left body side, both commence with a single, ciliated dikinetid followed by six and five widely spaced, ciliated monokinetids, respectively ( Figs 19 , 38 ). Kinety 6 composed of widely spaced monokinetids, third monokinetid usually non-ciliated, occasionally only two and one kinetid ciliated in anterior and posterior end of row, respectively ( Figs 17, 19 , 38 ). Kinety 7 begins in or near mid-body, consists of three widely spaced monokinetids of which only the anterior kinetid is ciliated ( Figs 17, 19, 20 , 38 ). Kinety 8 composed of two segments ( Figs 18, 20 , 37, 39, 40 ): anterior segment posterior and very similar to preoral kinety 3, consists of two ciliated dikinetids and one ciliated monokinetid at left (posterior) end; posterior segment composed of three narrowly spaced monokinetids and a single monokinetid near posterior body end (see postoral complex below). Kinety 9 consists of three segments ( Figs 18, 20 , 39, 40 ): anterior segment left of adoral membranelles and composed of few, likely barren dikinetids recognizable only in dividers and appropriately oriented specimens; middle segment a single, ciliated monokinetid far posterior to buccal cavity (see postoral complex); posterior segment possibly absent or composed of two (rarely three) ciliated monokinetids in line with kinety 2 ( Figs 18, 20 , 37, 40 ). Cortex glossy, very rigid in vivo but shrinking strongly in protargol preparations (see above); underlain by countless, minute structures, possibly mitochondria (Fig. 33). Right side with two distinct ridges right of kineties 2 and 3, both circumscribing an elevated, obfalcate plate wide and obliquely truncate anteriorly and gradually narrowed posteriorly where there is a shallow depression and ridges merge into acute rear body end; ridge right of kinety 3 forms a subapical spine. Left of kinety 2 a similar but deeper plate, forming a conspicuous spine anteriorly, covers somatic kinety 1 and right side of oral apparatus (Figs 16, 18, 25, 29–32). Left side with two ridges along kineties 5 and 6; each ridge with a spine anteriorly (left anterior spines) while forming a tridentate pattern in posterior third (Figs 17, 26, 33–36). Dorsal margin strongly flattened and thus hyaline. Ventral side highly structured: preoral kineties and anterior portion of kinety 8 in distinct furrows covered by right side cortical plates and anterior spines of left side. Oral opening in mid-body: right mouth margin produced by a right side cortical plate having a conspicuous, posteriorly directed spine (right ventral spine) anterior to oral opening; postorally, this plate forms a slightly concave, sharp line; left mouth margin made by ground cortex, with two conspicuous spines (left ventral spines) on a convexity at level and posterior to oral opening, posterior spine usually slightly longer than anterior (Figs 16–19, 21, 25–28, 30, 32– 36). Silverline pattern as described in D. hymenofera by Omar and Foissner (2013) , i.e., the cortex is studded with minute, argyrophilic granules (Fig. 28). Three preoral kineties each composed of ciliated dikinetids and a ciliated monokinetid at left end of kineties 2 and 3; occupy preoral ventral side and extend obliquely to left side. Postoral complex composed of the monokinetidal posterior segment of kinety 8 and the single, ciliated monokinetid in mid of kinety 9 ( Table 1 ; Figs 16, 18, 20 , 25, 28, 31 , 36–40 ). Somatic cilia 8–9 µm long in vivo , rapidly lost under slight coverslip pressure. Invariably nine somatic and three preoral kineties with a total of 107 basal bodies on average. Kineties 3, 4 and 6 bipolar; kineties 1, 2, 5 Oral apparatus in mid-body ( Table 1 ; Figs 16, 18, 20 , 31 , 37, 39 ). Buccal cavity deep contains two or three adoral membranelles. Membranelle 1 distinctly smaller than membranelles 2 and 3, recognizable only in dividers ( Fig. 21 ); membranelles 2 and 3 obliquely arranged to main body axis and so close together that details cannot be recognized. Nasse kinetosomes anterior to adoral membranelles ( Figs 20 , 39 ); oral basket not recognizable. Table 2. Morphometric data on Leptopharynx lajacola . Based on mounted, protargol-impregnated, and randomly selected specimens from a non-flooded Petri dish culture. Measurements in µm. CV – coefficient of variation in %, M – median, Max – maximum, Min – minimum, n – number of specimens investigated, PC – postoral complex, SD – standard deviation, SE – standard error of mean, ᳥ – arithmetic mean, – – not measured or counted.

Characteristics	᳥	M	SD	SE	CV	Min	Max	n
Body, length	31.7	32.0	1.9	0.4	5.9	28.0	34.0	21
Body, width	16.7	17.0	1.4	0.3	8.5	14.0	19.0	21
Body length: width, ratio	1.9	1.9	0.1	0.1	4.7	1.7	2.1	21
Anterior body end to first adoral membranelles, distance	11.5	12.0	0.9	0.2	7.6	10.0	13.0	21
Body length: anterior body end to first adoral membranelles, ratio	2.8	2.8	0.1	0.1	5.1	2.6	3.1	21
Anterior body end to macronucleus, distance	11.6	12.0	0.8	0.2	7.0	10.0	13.0	21
Macronucleus, length	6.5	7.0	0.8	0.2	11.6	5.0	8.0	21
Macronucleus, width	6.3	6.0	0.6	0.1	10.2	5.0	7.0	21
Micronucleus, diameter	1.9	2.0	–	–	–	1.5	2.0	21
Anterior body end to excretory pore of contractile vacuole, distance	19.1	19.0	1.0	0.2	5.5	17.0	21.0	21
Oral basket, width	2.7	3.0	–	–	–	2.0	3.0	21
Somatic kineties, number	10.0	10.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	10.0	10.0	21
Somatic kinety 1, number of dikinetids	7.0	7.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	7.0	7.0	21
Somatic kinety 1, number of monokinetids	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Somatic kinety 2, number of dikinetids	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
Somatic kinety 2, number of monokinetids	8.0	8.0	0.4	0.1	4.8	7.0	9.0	21
Somatic kinety 3, number of dikinetidsa	0.0	0.0	–	–	–	0.0	2.0	22
Somatic kinety 3, number of monokinetids	12.7	12.0	1.2	0.3	9.5	10.0	16.0	21
Somatic kinety 4, number of monokinetids (does not have dikinetids)	22.2	22.0	1.3	0.3	6.0	20.0	25.0	21
Somatic kinety 5, number of monokinetids (does not have dikinetids)	9.5	9.0	0.9	0.2	9.8	8.0	11.0	21
Somatic kinety 6, number of monokinetids (does not have dikinetids)	4.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	4.0	21
Somatic kinety 7, number of monokinetids (does not have dikinetids)	7.8	8.0	–	–	–	7.0	8.0	21
Somatic kinety 8, number of monokinetids (does not have dikinetids)	3.1	3.0	–	–	–	3.0	4.0	21
Somatic kinety 9, number of dikinetids in anterior portion	4.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	4.0	21
Somatic kinety 10, number of monokinetids (for dikinetids, see PC)	4.1	4.0	0.4	0.1	8.7	4.0	5.0	21
Preoral ciliary rows, number	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
Preoral kinety 1, number of dikinetids (does not have monokinetids)	2.0	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	2.0	2.0	21
Preoral kinety 2, number of dikinetids	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
Preoral kinety 2, number of monokinetids	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Preoral kinety 3, number of dikinetids	4.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	4.0	21
Preoral kinety 3, number of monokinetids	1.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	1.0	21
Oral primordium, number of dikinetids in posterior part	4.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	4.0	21
Oral primordium, number of granules (basal bodies?) in anterior portion	4.5	4.0	0.7	0.2	15.2	4.0	6.0	21
Adoral membranelle 2, number of basal body rows	4.0	4.0	–	–	–	3.0	4.0	21
Adoral membranelle 2, number of basal bodies	11.9	12.0	0.7	0.1	5.5	9.0	12.0	21
Adoral membranelle 3, number of basal body rows	4.0	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	4.0	21
Adoral membranelle 3, number of basal bodies	12.0	12.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	12.0	12.0	21
Left row of postoral complex, number of monokinetidsb	6.0	6.0	–	–	–	5.0	6.0	21
Right row of postoral complex, number of dikinetids	3.0	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	3.0	3.0	21
Basal bodies, total number (except for adoral membranelles)	143.0	143.0	2.6	0.6	1.8	139.0	148.0	21

a Two dikinetids in the anterior portion of kinety 3 in one out of 21 specimens. b Including a single monokinetid, which possibly belongs to preoral kinety 3, posterior of the row. Occurrence and ecology: As yet found only at type locality (see above). It grew well in a raw culture with tap water to which were added three squashed wheat grains and a few ml of the soil eluate from the non-flooded Petri dish culture. Comparison of Drepanomonas multidentata with similar species: Using the species characteristics for Drepanomonas suggested by Omar and Foissner (2013) , D. multidentata is unique by the three ventrolateral spines, the tridentate spine pattern in the posterior half of the left side, and the absence of extrusomes. Similar species are D. dentata Fresenius, 1858 , D. lunaris Foissner, 1979 , and D. obtusa Penard, 1922 , all having extrusomes. Further, D. dentata differs from D. multidentata not only by the spine pattern but also by body size (~ 80 µm vs. 45 × 25) and the serrate ( vs. smooth) ventral and dorsal margin ( Kreutz 1998 ; cp. Figs 22–24 with Figs 16, 17 ). Drepanomonas lunaris and D. obtusa differ from D. multidentata not only by the spine pattern but also by the rounded and truncated ( vs. acute) posterior body end, respectively.