Abstract
The morphology and infraciliature of four marine cyrtophorid ciliates isolated from Qingdao, China, were investigated. Based on the present work and on previous data, improved diagnoses for three rarely known species are provided: (1) Mirodysteria decora; small-sized marine Mirodysteria about 35-60 x 25-35 mu m in vivo, oval in outline; body surface with two or three conspicuous dorsal spines and one caudal spine; three right kinetics, the rightmost one extending dorso-apically; left frontal kinetics reduced, each consisting of three basal bodies only; podite subcaudally positioned; two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. (2) Dysteria legumen; body oval with two longitudinal grooves on different plates; six right kinetics, the rightmost two of which extend dorso-apically; two left frontal kinetics and two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. (3) Dysteria proraefrons; body about 60 x 35 mu m in vivo; six right kinetics, the two rightmost of which extend dorso-apically and the leftmost one is considerably shortened; three left frontal kinetics; two ventrally located contractile vacuoles. A population of D. derouxi with eight or nine right kinetics is also briefly described. The current investigation further demonstrates high diversity and cosmopolitan distribution of this highly specialized group of benthic ciliates. (C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.