Redescription of five tintinnine ciliates (Alveolata: Ciliophora: Oligotrichea) from coastal waters of Qingdao, China

Abstract

Tintinnine ciliates are widely distributed around the world and are characterized by the possession of a lorica that is highly diverse in structure and morphology. In the present study, five tintinnines, namely Tintinnopsis cf. radix, T. everta Kofoid and Campbell, 1929, T. mulctrella Kofoid and Campbell, 1929, Eutintinnus inflatus Marshall, 1969, and Favella ehrenbergii (Claparède and Lachmann, 1858) Jörgensen, 1924, were collected from coastal waters of Qingdao, China. Three are newly recorded from China, i.e., T. everta, T. mulctrella, and E. inflatus. The morphology of the lorica and cell proper of all five species are described and compared with original and subsequent descriptions. The morphology in vivo of the lorica and cell proper of all five species are described and compared with original and subsequent descriptions. In addition, the ciliary patterns of F. ehrenbergii and T. cf. radix are revealed based on protargol-stained specimens.