Morphology and infraciliature of some freshwater ciliates (Protozoa : Ciliophora) from Western and South Australia

Abstract

Thirteen new or little-known freshwater ciliates from Perth, W.A., and Adelaide, S.A., are described: Urotricha furcata Schewiakoff, 1892; Coleps amphacanthus Ehrenberg, 1833; Fuscheria nodosa Foissner, 1983; Lacrymaria australis, sp. nov.; Acineria uncinata Tucolesco, 1962; Litonotus lamella (Mnller, 1773); Loxophyllum australe, sp. nov.; Naxella australis, sp. nov.; Microthorax australis, sp. nov.; Blepharisma americanum (Suzuki, 1954); Stenosemella lacustris, sp. nov.; Oxytricha australis, sp. nov.; and Urosomoida perthensis, sp. nov. Descriptions are based on live observations, protargol and silver nitrate stained specimens and biometry. All species represent new records for the fauna of Australia. A new species, Naxella faurei, sp. nov., is established for Nassula lateritia Faure-Fremiet, 1967 and a new diagnosis is given for Litonotus lamella (Mnller, 1773).