Clevelandella hromadkai Kotyk, Bourland, Soviš, Méndez-Sánchez, Škaloud, Varadínová & Čepička, 2024, sp.nov.
Creators: name: Kotyk, Michael
name: Bourland, William A.
name: Soviš, Matyáš
name: Méndez-Sánchez, Daniel
name: Škaloud, Pavel
name: Varadínová, Zuzana Kotyková
name: Čepička, Ivan
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Chromista
Ciliophora
Heterotrichea
Heterotrichida
Clevelandellidae
Clevelandella
Clevelandella hromadkai

description: Clevelandella hromadkai sp.nov.
(Figs 8–11; Supporting Information, Tables S7–S10)
Description based on populations from hosts ASS from Papua Neo Guinea and PAC from Vietnam: Medium to very large Clevelandella, widely variable in both size and shape. In ASS population, size in vivo 103–262 × 39–81 µm, usually about 164 × 57 µm; size in protargol preparations 77–164 × 25–66 µm, usually about 117 × 40 µm; in PAC population, size in vivo 127– 339 × 44–85 µm, usually about 190 × 58 µm; size in protargol preparations 110–276 × 31–83 µm, usually about 155 × 45 µm. Body shape usually broadly cultriform, ventral surface of the body proper convex, dorsal surface concave, anterior end of cell bluntly pointed and curved more (Figs 9E, 10C, E) or less (Figs 9C, H, 10B, 11A, D, E) in dorsal direction. Peristomial projection flares to merge gradually with body proper, prominence of left lobe varies from less conspicuous (Figs 9A, B, 10A) to more prominent (Figs 8A, D, F, 9D, F–H, 10F, 11B, C, E) with a notch formed between the lobe and peristomial projection (Figs 8F, 9F), in contrast to spade-shaped species, the notch degree between peristomial projection and left lobe seems never to be under 90°; posterior margin of peristomial projection truncate. L/W ratio highly variable in individuals from both hosts, from shorter stouter forms (Figs 8D–G, 9A–I, 11A–E) to longer more slender cells (Figs 8A, B, 10A–F). Macronucleus broadly ellipsoidal in short forms (Figs 8D, E, 9A–F), to narrowly ellipsoidal in long forms (Fig. 10A–C, E, F). Karyophore inconspicuous; when detectable, attached to posterior end of macronucleus and right body margin (Figs 8A, B, D, 10A, D). Micronucleus ellipsoidal, usually adjacent to right anterior margin of macronucleus, enclosed in separate membrane (Figs 8A, B, D, 9A, C, E, F, 10A, C–E). Swims moderately fast while rotating around long axis.
Somatic ciliature composed of about 60–85 somatic ciliary rows in Clevelandellidae pattern; cilia present only on approximately anterior half of cell; about 20–25 ciliary rows on the peristomial projection in ASS population. Ciliary rows in PAC population not counted. Right suture has only two or three small free kinetofragments (not shown).
Peristomial projection occupies an average of 35% of total body length. Lateral part of peristomial opening extends about one-half (Figs 9B, 11B, D, E) length of peristomial projection in short cells, about one-third (Fig. 10A, B) length of peristomial projection in long cells. Adoral zone usually extends about 50% of body length, composed of an average of 54 (ASS) to 62 (PAC) membranelles, base of membranelles longest in midportion of peristomial projection. POM as described for the family (Fig. 9I).
Remarks on short and long morphotypes: Clevelandella hromadkai shows considerable intraspecific phenotypic variability. The ASS population, while genetically uniform, can be divided in two distinct phenotypes: short (Figs 8D–G, 9A–I, 11A–F) and long (Figs 8A, B, 10A–F). In a single host, only one phenotype seems to occur at a given time; from nine thoroughly inspected hosts the short morph occurred in two females and two larvae, the long morph occurred in four males and one larva. Apart from the obvious length difference (mean in vivo 127 µm vs. 215 µm) and other morphological characteristics (e.g. number of adoral membranelles—see Supporting Information, Tables S8, S9), both morphs can be distinguished by their shapes: the short one is stouter (body L/W ratio 2.5) with a more rounded anterior end and the long one is more slender (body L/W ratio 3.7).
Occurrence: Three distinct populations of C. hromadkai were found in the hindguts of three Panesthiinae populations:ASS from Papua New Guinea, PAA from Philippines, and PAC from Vietnam. The ASS population occurred in 63% of host individuals regardless of age and sex. When present, C. hromadkai was less abundant (a few tens of individuals) compared to other ciliate species present in a host. The PAC population occurred in 28% of host individuals. Out of nine infected hosts, one was a large larva and eight were visibly old adult males. Most of the PAC hosts exhibited low occurrence of C. hromadkai (around 10 cells) with other ciliate species being more abundant. The exception was one male that harboured around 50 cells of C. hromadkai. When C. hromadkai was present in PAC hosts, the populations of other ciliates were visibly low compared to PAC host, in which C. hromadkai was absent. The PAA population occurred in only 17% of host individuals. Out of two infected hosts (both adult males), one exhibited a low occurrence of the C. hromadkai with the other ciliate species being more abundant. The other host exhibited high occurrence of C. hromadkai with other ciliates being scarce.
description: Published as part of Kotyk, Michael, Bourland, William A., Soviš, Matyáš, Méndez-Sánchez, Daniel, Škaloud, Pavel, Varadínová, Zuzana Kotyková & Čepička, Ivan, 2024, Morphology maưers: congruence of morphology and phylogeny in the integrative taxonomy of Clevelandellidae (Ciliophora: Armophorea) with description of six new species, pp. 1-51 in Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (1) on pages 8-10, DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad154, http://zenodo.org/record/14541981