Taxonomy, Morphology and Phylogeny of a New Oligotrich Ciliate-Omegastrombidium hongkongense n. sp.(Protozoa: Ciliophora) from Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong Taxonomy, Morphology and Phylogeny of a New Oligotrich Ciliate-Omegastrombidium hongkongense n. sp.(Protozoa: Ciliophora) from Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong

One new marine oligotrich ciliate, Omegastrombidium hongkongense n. sp., was isolated from a bloom of Noctiluca scuntillans near Port Shelter, Hong Kong. The morphology and infraciliature of this new species were studied on both living and protargol-stained specimens. Its phylogenetic position was discussed based on the sequence of the small subunit r RNA gene. O. hongkongense is different from its congeners with special characters. The cells are usually heart-shaped, and the cell size usually is(20–35) ×(20–30) μm in vivo. Its deep buccal cavity extends obliquely to about 1/2 of cell length. It shows prominent apical protrusion. The adoral zone of membranelles is divided into 17–19 collar membranelles and four buccal membranelles. It has one ball-like macronucleus. The girdle kinety forms a closed loop which obliquely surrounds the body. The ventral kinety and thigmotactic membranelles are not observed. The SSU r RNA sequence of O. hongkongense was close to those of Strombidium paracalkinsi and Varistrombidium kelum with approximately 99% similarity. In the phylogenetic trees, O. hongkongense can be grouped with O. elegans and V. kielum species with very low support(16% ML)