Morphology and Infraciliature of Some Haptorid Ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora, Haptoria) in Alkaline Soil Samples of Van (Turkey), With Notes on the Ontogenesis of Enchelyodon Nodosus Berger, Foissner & Adam, 1984

Abstract

The morphology and infraciliature of 4 haptorid ciliates obtained from alkaline soil habitats in Van, Turkey, were investigated: Pseudoholophrya terricola Berger, Foissner & Adam, 1984, Paraenchelys wenzeli Foissner, 1984, Armatoenchelys geleii (Foissner, 1981), and Enchelyodon nodosus Berger, Foissner & Adam. 1984. The descriptions were based on live observations and silver impregnated specimens and morphometry. The main morphological characteristics of these species are similar to those described in the literature. However, the dorsal brush row 3 is longer than dorsal brush rows 1 and 2 in A. gelen, and E. nodosus has a long monolkinetidal tail not reported previously. This is the first record of E. nodosus after the original description and also the first study on its ontogenesis. Division of E. nodosus is homothetogenic and telolkinetal; it commences with a proliferation of kinetosomes in those kineties bearing the dorsal brush. All species are new for the ciliate fauna of Turkey.