Morphology and Molecular Phylogeny of Amphisiella n. sp. (Ciliophora, Stichotrichida), with a Brief Discussion on Monophyly of Amphisiella

Abstract

A new marine ciliate Amphisiella n. sp. was discovered from the tidal pool of Baekdo island, South Korea. The new species has extra cirri between leftmost frontal cirrus and buccal cirrus that differentiates the species among the congeners of which were described using modern staining methods. Its morphological features were taxonomically described here. In addition, the 18S rDNA sequence of Amphisiella n. sp. was analyzed and computed to predict putative secondary structureof variable region 2 for understanding its phylogenetic relationship. Based on these results, we assume that the genus Amphisiella could be split into two groups,and more genetic materials and morphogenetic data are needed to improve the true relationships within the family Amphisiellidae.of which were described using modern staining methods. Its morphological features were taxonomically described here. In addition, the 18S rDNA sequence of Amphisiella n. sp. was analyzed and computed to predict putative secondary structureof variable region 2 for understanding its phylogenetic relationship. Based on these results, we assume that the genus Amphisiella could be split into two groups,and more genetic materials and morphogenetic data are needed to improve the true relationships within the family Amphisiellidae.