First Record of Three Aspidisca Ciliates (Ciliophora: Euplotida: Aspidiscidae) from Korea

Abstract

Three Aspidisca ciliates collected from the tidal pools in Gangneung, Jukbyeon and Seogwipo. Based on the cell morphometry and infraciliature, these ciliate species were identified as Aspidisca polypoda, A. pulcherrima, and A. steini. Diagnostics of these species are as follows. Aspidisca polypoda: Body size in vivo about 30 × 25㎛; bean shaped with snout-like anterior end of the cell; eight prominent ridges on dorsal surface; anterior and posterior portions of each adoral membranelles comprise 4-5 and 9-13; constantly 6 transverse cirri. A. pulcherrima: Body size in vivo about 75 × 55㎛; elliptical with snout-like anterior end and teeth-like posterior end; conspicuously peristomial spur of left cell margin; four crenated ridges; one satellite-like cirrus near rightmost frontoventral cirrus; two parts of adoral membranelles comprise 7-9 and 16-22, respectively; 6-7 transverse cirri. A. steini : Body size in vivo about 35 × 25㎛; bean shaped with anteriorly broadly rounded; inconspicuous peristomial spur; four prominent ridges; two parts of adoral membranelles comprise 4-5 and 11-16, respectively; constantly 6 transverse cirri. In addition, morphological variations of these species populations are discussed.iagnostics of these species are as follows. Aspidisca polypoda: Body size in vivo about 30 × 25㎛; bean shaped with snout-like anterior end of the cell; eight prominent ridges on dorsal surface; anterior and posterior portions of each adoral membranelles comprise 4-5 and 9-13; constantly 6 transverse cirri. A. pulcherrima: Body size in vivo about 75 × 55㎛; elliptical with snout-like anterior end and teeth-like posterior end; conspicuously peristomial spur of left cell margin; four crenated ridges; one satellite-like cirrus near rightmost frontoventral cirrus; two parts of adoral membranelles comprise 7-9 and 16-22, respectively; 6-7 transverse cirri. A. steini : Body size in vivo about 35 × 25㎛; bean shaped with an