Phylogenetic Analyses Suggest That Psammomitra (Ciliophora, Urostylida) Should Represent an Urostylid Family, Based On Small Subunit rRNA and Alpha-Tubulin Gene Sequence Information
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-1-2009
Department
Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Abstract
The morphologically unique ciliate Psammomitra has long been considered as a systematically uncertain stichotrich. This is mainly because of its highly specialized morphology and a lack of either detailed information concerning its ontogenesis, or molecular data. Based on the small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene and alpha-tubulin gene sequences, we re-evaluated the phylogenetic position of Psammomitra retractilis using multiple algorithms. Phylogenetic trees inferred from the SSrRNA gene sequences representing a total of 53 spirotrichs demonstrated the closest relationship of Psammomitra was with Holosticha-like taxa, with strong support, which clearly suggested that Psammomitra should be placed into the order Urostylida although it branched at a rather deep level, and is likely to be closely related to Holostichidae. With consideration to molecular evidence and morphological characters, Psammomitra should be a clearly outlined taxon at about the rank of family, i.e. Psammomitridae stat. nov., within the order Urostylida. The improved diagnosis for this family is as follows: Urostylida possessing extremely contractile, elongated body which consists of three parts: head, trunk, and slender tail; midventral complex composed of midventral pairs only and restricted to about anterior 1/3 of ventral surface; frontal, frontoterminal, and transverse cirri present; one left and one right marginal rows which commence near proximal end of adoral zone and extend to near rear body end. (C) 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 157, 227-236.
Publication Title
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Volume
157
Issue
2
First Page
227
Last Page
236
Recommended Citation
Yi, Z.,
Song, W.,
Stoeck, T.,
Al-Rasheid, K. A.,
Al-Khedhairy, A. A.,
Gong, J.,
Ma, H.,
Chen, Z.
(2009). Phylogenetic Analyses Suggest That Psammomitra (Ciliophora, Urostylida) Should Represent an Urostylid Family, Based On Small Subunit rRNA and Alpha-Tubulin Gene Sequence Information. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 157(2), 227-236.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/1289