Odontochlamys alpestris, BICILIATA FOISSNER ET AL., 2002

ODONTOCHLAMYS ALPESTRIS BICILIATA FOISSNER ET AL., 2002 View in CoL ( FIG. 6; TABLE 2)

Odontochlamys alpestris biciliata was first reported by Foissner, Agatha & Berger (2002) based on the populations from Curaçao Island and Saudi Arabia. The original description is comprehensive and includes all essential diagnostic characters in detail. Therefore, we just supply a brief description of the Chinese population here.

Description of the Chinese population: Cell size about 30–45 × 15–25 µm in vivo. Outline ovoid or reniform with both ends blunt rounded ( Fig. 6A, D, E, G, H). Cytostome located in anterior quarter of cell, surrounded by about six nematodesmal rods. Two contractile vacuoles, 3–4 µm in diameter, diagonally positioned at anterior and posterior third of cell, and alternately contracting ( Fig. 6K). Single macronucleus ellipsoid, 14 × 9 µm in size, centrally heteromerous.

Totally ten somatic kineties, comprising of invariably five right and five left kineties ( Fig. 6B, E, F, J). Equatorial fragment usually undetectable, if detected, comprising up to four kinetosomes ( Fig. 6J). Terminal fragment apically located, composed of two to four kinetosomes ( Fig. 6C, L). Oral ciliature composed of two circumoral and one preoral kineties. Preoral kinety continuous ( Fig. 6B, F, J), but seldom segmented (only detected in one out of 25 individuals; Fig. 6M).