Notes on a New Marine Peritrichous Ciliate (Ciliophora: Peritrichida), Zoothamnopsis sinica sp. n. from North China, with Reconsideration of Zoothamnium maximum Song, 1986

The morphology, infraciliature and silverline system of a new marine peritrichous ciliate, Zoothamnopsis sinica sp. n., isolated from an abalone-farming pond off the coast of Qingdao, China, are investigated. Z. sinica ischaracterized by: colony dichotomously branched, zooids elongated and vase-shaped measuring 70-105 x 40-55 μm in vivo, double-layered peristomial lip; contractile vacuole located apically; number of transverse silverlines from peristomial area to aboral ciliary wreath ca 82-98, from aboral ciliary wreath to scopula, 48-55. Based on a reexamination on the slides deposited in the Laboratory of Protozoology, Ocean University of China, and on the original records, an updated and supplementary description on the infraciliature and morphology of Zoothamnium maximum Song, 1986 is supplied.