Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Monomicrocaryon trimarginalis sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Hypotricha), a new soil ciliate species from South Korea

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of the new soil ciliate, Monomicrocaryon trimarginalis sp. nov., which was discovered in the soil of from Gwangdeok Mountain, Hwacheon-Gun, South Korea, were investigated. The new species is characterized by the following morphological features: cell ellipsoidal to slightly ovate, with both ends rounded; cortical granules absent; 17–24 adoral membranelles; three frontal cirri; four frontoventral cirri, two postoral ventral cirri; one buccal cirrus; 10–13 left and 9–13 right marginal cirri; five transverse cirri; four dorsal kineties and three dorsomarginal kineties; two macronuclear nodules and one micronucleus in between macronuclear nodules.

Phylogenetic analyses showed that M. trimarginalis sp. nov. is placed within a clade containing M. euglenivorum euglenivorum and species belonging to Quadristicha in the dorsomarginalian hypotrichs.