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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Philasterides

Philasterides Kahl, 1931 (ref. ID; 2014)

Class Oligohymenophora: Subclass Hymenostomata: Order Scuticociliatida (ref. ID; 2014)

Synonym Philaster Fabre-Domergue (ref. ID; 1618)

[ref. ID; 2014]
Medium-sized (about 80 um long), slender elongate, ovoid or pyriform ciliate. Oral aperture in anterior body third but this is often difficult to observe. Undulating membrane about half peristome length has a central kink giving it the appearance of a bow. The 3 membranelles are displaced to the right of the peristome; M1 is triangular, M2 is trapezoidal and simple (unlike the closely related marine genus Philaster) and M3 is oblong and compact. Somatic ciliation somewhat variable in its density but all kineties are bipolar and there are no post-oral meridians. Single contractile vacuole in posterior body half. Trichocysts may be present. Spherical macronucleus centrally situated with an adjacent micronucleus. Single species genus.
Quote; Colin R. Curds, Michael A. Gates and David McL. Roberts "British and other freshwater ciliated protozoa Part II Ciliophora: Oligohymenophora and Polyhymenophora" Cambridge University Press, 1983 (ref. ID; 2014)
  1. Philasterides armata (ref. ID; 191, 7536)
  2. Philasterides armatus Kahl, 1931 (ref. ID; 4488) or (Kahl, 1926) Kahl, 1931 (ref. ID; 4611) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 1629)
    Syn; Lembus armatus Kahl, 1926 (ref. ID; 4611)
  3. Philasterides dicentrarchi (ref. ID; 6919)
  4. Philasterides digitiformis Fabre-Domergue, 1885 (ref. ID; 1622)
    Syn; Uronema digitiformis Cuenot, 1891 (ref. ID; 1622)

Philasterides dicentrarchi (ref. ID; 6919)

Descriptions

P. dicentrarchi is a free-living ciliate in seawater but, under certain conditions, behaves as a parasitic organism that can cause severe mortalities in cultured fish (Iglesias et al. 2001). (ref. ID; 6919)