Uronychia
Uronychia Stein, 1859 (ref. ID; 3630, 4905, 7354)
Order Euplotida: Family Uronychiidae (ref. ID; 7354)
Family Euplotidae Ehrenberg, 1838 (ref. ID; 4905)
[ref. ID; 3630]
Type species; Uronychia transfuga (O.F. Muller, 1786) Stein, 1859 (ref. ID; 3630)
[ref. ID; 4905]
With respect to the taxonomy and terminology, those cosmopolitan, marine- or saltwater-inhabiting organisms must be belong to one of the most confused ciliates ever, even though "numerous" studies concerning their morphology, morphogenesis and taxonomy have been performed. This confusion was caused, in our opinion, above all by the following facts: 1) many morphological data such as nuclear apparatus and cell size were lacking, or only given insufficiently and imprecisely in most earlier studies, which are very useful for circumscribing species; 2) members of this genus have very similar biological characteristics (behaviour, almost all living morphological features, infraciliature and even the mode of morphogenesis); 3) in no works attention had been paid to the differences of the buccal apparatus, which is virtually (though minor) species-characteristic; 4) all Uronychia-species possess fairly stable body form, range of cell size and other consistent features which had been either overlooked or mixed with one another by many previous authors, and 5) many previous investigations or revisions are based on either superficial observations or on the second-hand materials which for the most part were generated by other researchers. Up to 1983, about 10 different "morphotypes" (mostly as species) have been described by various authors, while in the latest revision by Curds & Wu (1983), only 4 species have been eventually recognized: U. transfuga, U. setigera, U. binucleata and U. magnum. Since then, one more species has been added to the species list. (ref. ID; 4905)
[ref. ID; 7354]
Members of the genus Uronychia Stein 1859 differ from the Diophryopsis, Diophrys, and Paradiophrys in having a specialized ventral buccal cavity entirely surrounded by buccal ciliature. The paroral membrane is hypertrophied into a conspicuous horseshoe-shaped organelle. Right caudal and left marginal cirri are hypertrophied. The dorsal kinetics contain mays short and closely set cilia. During oral morphogenesis in the proter during cell division, there is partial replacement of parental collar AZM membranelles (Hill, 1990). Locomotion is by swimming close to the substratum rather than using cirri to walk on surfaces. (ref. ID; 7354)
Remarks; One of us placed U. heinrothi into synonymy with U. transfuga (Berger & Foissner 1989), and Curds and Wu (1983) placed U. bivalvorum and U. uncinata into synonymy with U. transfuga. (ref. ID; 7354)
Type species; Uronychia transfuga (Muller, 1786) Stein, 1857 (ref. ID; 7354)
- Uronychia antarctica Valbonesi & Luporini, 1990 (ref. ID; 4905, 7354)
See; Uronychia binucleata (ref. ID; 4905)
- Uronychia binucleata Young, 1922 (ref. ID; 4905, 7354)
Syn; Uronychia antarctica Valbonesi & Luporini, 1990 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia bivalvorum Fenchel, 1965 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia heinrothi sensu Bullington, 1940 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Curds & Wu 1983 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Hill, 1990 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Kahl, 1932 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga Petz, Song & Wibert, 1995 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Reiff, 1968 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Song, 1995 (ref. ID; 4905)
- Uronychia bivalvorum Fenchel, 1965 (ref. ID; 4905, 7354)
See; Uronychia binucleata (ref. ID; 4905)
- Uronychia heinrothi Bddenbrock, 1920 (ref. ID; 4905, 7354)
See; Uronychia transfuga (ref. ID; 4905)
- Uronychia magna Pierantoni, 1909 (ref. ID; 7354)
- Uronychia magnum Pierantoni, 1909
See; Uronychia transfuga (ref. ID; 4905)
- Uronychia setigera Calkins, , 1901 (ref. ID; 7354) or 1902 (ref. ID; 4905) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 191)
Syn; Uronychia transfuga sensu Curds & Wu 1983 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga Petz, Song & Wilbert, 1995 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia uncinata sensu Kahl, 1932 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia uncinata Taylor, 1928 (ref. ID; 4905)
- Uronychia transfuga (O.F. Muller, 1786) (ref. ID; 645, 650, 3119, 3498) reported year? (ref. ID; 2117) or (O.F. Muller, 1786) Stein, 1859 (ref. ID; 3630, 4905), Stein, 1859 (ref. ID; 7605) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 191)
Syn; Uronychia heinrothi Bddenbrock, 1920 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia magnum Pierantoni, 1909 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia magnum sensu Wilbert, 1995 (ref. ID; 4905); Trichoda transfuga O.F. Muller, 1786 (ref. ID; 3630)
- Uronychia uncinata Taylor, 1927 (ref. ID; 7354) or 1928 (ref. ID; 4905) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 191)
See; Uronychia setigera (ref. ID; 4905)
Synonym
Uronychia antarctica Valbonesi & Luporini, 1990 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia bivalvorum Fenchel, 1965 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia heinrothi sensu Bullington, 1940 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Curds & Wu 1983 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Hill, 1990 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Kahl, 1932 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga Petz, Song & Wibert, 1995 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Reiff, 1968 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga sensu Song, 1995 (ref. ID; 4905)
Improved diagnosis
Medium-sized Uronychia in vivo about 70-120x55-100 um, with oval to slightly rectangular body shape; constant 2 macronuclear segments; 4 frontal, 2 ventral, 5 transverse, 3 left marginal and 3 caudal cirri; 6 dorsal kineties; base of buccal cirrus ca. 3 um long, inconspicuous; 11 anterior, 4 posterior adoral membranelles. (ref. ID; 4905)
Redescription
Cells size in vivo mostly 90-110 um long, shape more oval rather than rectangular in most conditions with both right and left margins convex; dorsoventrally about 2:3 flattened; general appearances similar to that of U. setigera. Both anterior and lateral spurs inconspicuous, yet often 2 posterior ones visible when stained with protargol, which are scarcely to be recognized in vivo because of the presence of transverse cirri. Cytoplasm often greyish to dark grey, depending on food conditions, usually comprising numerous tiny granules (ca. 1-1.5 um across). Food vacuoles containing often flagellates or other small ciliates. Contractile vacuole right to transverse cirri. Constant 2 macronuclear segments connected by funiculus; each segment usually sausage-like, often containing irregularly shaped, large nucleoli. Always one small micronucleus between macronuclei. Movement genus-characteristic, like that of Uronychia setigera (v.s.). Buccal field in proportion smaller (shorter) than that in U. setigera, about half of body length. Pattern of infraciliature genus-typical, constant 11 anterior adoral membranelles in AZM1. Base of membranelles in AZM2 hypertrophied, basal bodies irregularly arranged; buccal cirrus very small, easily overlooked, base about 3 um long. Paroral membrane (PM) clearly as one unit, right end not hook-like, cilia about 30 um long. Somatic infraciliature very similar to that of U. setigera. Consistent 4 frontal and 2 ventral cirri (in "young" cells often 3 extra ventral cirri anterior to transverse ones observed, which will be soon resorbed - q.v. Hill 1990; Song 1995; called U. transfuga). 4 large and one small transverse cirri, cilia about 30-40 um long. 3 strong left marginal cirri. Caudal cirri about 40-60 um long. Constant 6 dorsal kineties similar to that of U. setigera yet with higher number of basal bodies in each kinety. (ref. ID; 4905)
Remarks
In Hill's work (1990), he described the paroral membrane (under the name of U. transfuga) as "divided into right and left sections". This statement is not supported by our observation: both left and right sections are completely continuous in the apical portion, without exception. The statement in the original description (Young 1922), that this species is characterized from Uronychia setigera by having only 4 transverse cirri and 2 micronuclei, is clearly disproved by all subsequent studies and by our data (it has, in fact, never been redescribed since then). We consider that these accounts were derived from optical illustrations because the 5th (rightmost) transverse cirrus is so weak and fine that is easily to be overlooked when observed superficially. Also, the number of micronuclei could be confounded with other granules (even stained with Feulgen method). Uronychia binucleata is characterized by medium-sized cell (compared with its congeners), oval to slightly rectangular body shape; constant 2 nuclear nodules, moderately high number of basal bodies in dorsal kineties and species-characteristic buccal apparatus. According to the comparison and the defined diagnosis given above, we identify the following forms with Uronychia binucleata: U. transfuga sensu Kahl, 1932, U. heinrothi Bullington, 1940, U. transfuga sensu Reiff, 1968, U. transfuga sensu Hill, 1990, U. transufuga sensu Song, 1995, U. transfuga sensu Petz et al. 1995 (in part, here concerning the large form), and all those in Curds & Wu's revision (1983) under the name of U. transfuga, but having 2 macronuclear segments (with exception of U. uncinata sensu Kahl, 1932, which is synonymized with U. setigera in the present paper). In some protargol impregnated specimens, each of the two macronuclear segments appears sometimes to be bipartite because the presence of the replicating band as depicted by Fenchel (1965). So U. bivalvorum Fenchel, 1965 should be conspecific with U. binucleata. Uronychia antarctica Valbonesi & Luporini, 1990 differs from other related forms only in: 1) lower number of anterior adoral membranelles (11 vs. 9), and 2) the conformation of the mid-dorsal kinety (DK4) which in U. antarctica terminates at the level of the cell equator whereas it reaches the caudal cirri in the other known species. Since both those "differences" are very likely because of insufficient to improper observation (their data are based on SEM specimens, so the closely spaced small membranelles could be overlooked), it should be synonymized with U. binucleata. (ref. ID; 4905)
Neotype specimens
1 neotype as a slide of protargol impregnated specimens has been deposited in the Protozoological Laboratory, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of Qingdao, Qingdao, China. (ref. ID; 4905)
Uronychia setigera Calkins, 1901 (ref. ID; 7354) or 1902 (ref. ID; 4905) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 191)
Synonym
Uronychia transfuga sensu Curds & Wu 1983 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia transfuga Petz, Song & Wilbert, 1995 (in part) (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia uncinata sensu Kahl, 1932 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia uncinata Taylor, 1928 (ref. ID; 4905)
Improved diagnosis
Small Uronychia with oval body shape, in vivo about 40-70x30-55 um; 1 to 2 macronuclear segments; 4 frontal, 2 ventral, 5 transverse, 3 left marginal and 3 caudal cirri; 6 dorsal kineties; base of buccal cirrus ca. 2-3 um long. 11 anterior, 4 posterior adoral membranelles. (ref. ID; 4905)
Redescription
Cells small, in vivo mostly about 50 x 40 um, shape, pretty constant, more oval than rectangular with right margin slightly convex, left almost straight. Dorso-ventrally about 2:3 flattened. Posterior portion obliquely truncated with two depressions on ventral side and one dorsally, where the transverse, left marginal and caudal cirri are emerged respectively. Apically 2 distinct spurs on dorsal; each one on left and right side; one lateral (ventral-left) spur usually dominant and conspicuously subterminal or even halfway of cell length. Unlike in other congeneres, no evident spurs visible at posterior portion of cell. Ventral area deeply caved in oral region near posterior adoral zone of membranelles (AZM2). Pellicle rigid and characteristically armoured. Cytoplasm colourless to slightly greyish with numerous fine granules. Contractile vacuole relatively large, right to transverse cirri. Mostly 2 (sometimes only 1 in globular form) macronuclear segments (Ma), ellipsoid with large spherical nucleoli, often closely together connected by short funiculus and located near left body margin. Single micronucleus (Mi) spherical, between macronuclei. Movement Uronychia typical: rapidly jumping (often sideways or backwards) or swimming very fast while rotating around its longitudinal axis. When rests always with adoral membranelles and cirri stiffly spread. Buccal field ca. 60% of body length, very wide and roomy. Always 11 anterior adoral membranelles (AZM1), mostly extending onto dorsal side. Base of right-most ones slightly shorter, each with a single branched kinety fragment on right; all membranelles always comprising 3 kinety rows. Posterior part (AZM2) containing constant 4 long membranelles, each with about 6-8 rows of more or less irregularly arranged basal bodies; one small cirrus-like membranelle (named buccal cirrus here) apart from AZM2, its base only about 2-3 um long. Paroral membrane (PM) mighty, never in 2 sections, surrounding buccal field and almost forming closed circle. Right end (or posterior end) inconspicuous to considerably hook-like; cilia of membrane about 25 um long. Always 4 narrow frontal cirri (FC) resembling membranelles, bases ca. 4 um long, at anterior-most area of cell; 2 small ventral cirri (VC) on right margin, cilia of both frontal and ventral cirri about 10-15 um long. Always 5 transverse cirri (TC), 4 left one markedly large, cilia about 20-30 um long, right-most cirrus rather small, close to other TC. 3 enormous left marginal cirri (LMC) about 20-40 um long, curved at distal end. 3 mighty, hook-like caudal cirri (CC) about 35-45 um long, right on dorsal side. Dorsal kineties (DK) constant 6, as all other known species of this genus, in narrow longitudinal grooves of pellicle, consisting of closely arranged dikinetids. Usually kinety 1 and 6 on ventral side; both DK(1,2) terminating posteriorly in fragment which consists of tightly spaced basal bodies; kinety 3 extending over entire length of body, others only to caudal cirri. (ref. ID; 4905)
Remarks
Based on the new diagnostic features described above, we are able to give a new, revised synonym-list, and to circumscribe Uronychia setigera as clearly distinct from other large forms, which has been often confused with different names to date (q.v. Curds & Wu 1983; Kahl 1932; Petz et al. 1995; Taylor 1928). This species is distinguished from its congeners in constant small size, oval body shape, 1-2 nuclear nodules, much lower number of basal bodies in dorsal kineties and species-characteristic buccal apparatus. In many previous works, the paroral membrane has been described/depicted as two parts. This is surely a misinterpretation. After staining, it exhibits clearly as a single unit in all specimens observed (the situation is the same in U. transfuga and U. binucleata). Both in the original and in the latest revision (Curd & Wu 1983), Uronychia setigera comprises only the form with small size (almost 40-50 um), 1-2 macronuclear fragments and "2-3 flagella-like cirri in the large peristome". Since the possession of the so-called flagella-like cirri is only due to misinterpretation, while all other morphological characters of U. setigera correspond perfectly with the organism studied here, there is no doubt to us in identification of our population. The length of spurs in this species is sometimes highly variable among different populations, and thus might have been overlooked by some previous authors. Therefore, the form with conspicuous spurs described by Kahl (1932, under the name of U. uncinata), should be synonymized with this species. Uronychia uncinata Taylor, 1928 is surely identical with U. setigera according to the new diagnosis given in the present paper, simply because no discriminating difference at all is shown in the original descriptions (q.v. Taylor 1928). Petz et al. (1995) described their populations found from the Weddell Sea, Antarctic as Uronychia transfuga. A reinvestigation of original slides and records showed that both the morphometric data and illustrations are likely derived from two different species: the living observations/illustration are largely based on a binucleata-population; the infraciliature (as depicted in the paper) is mainly according to U. setigera, and the statistic accounts are mixed from both forms. (ref. ID; 4905)
Neotype specimens
1 neotype as a slide of protargol impregnated specimens has been deposited in the Protozoological Laboratory, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of Qingdao, Qingdao, China. (ref. ID; 4905)
Uronychia transfuga (O.F. Muller, 1786) (ref. ID; 645, 650, 3119, 3498) reported year? (ref. ID; 2117) or (O.F. Muller, 1786) Stein, 1859 (ref. ID; 3630, 4905), Stein, 1859 (ref. ID; 7605) reported author and year? (ref. ID; 191)
Synonym
Uronychia heinrothi Bddenbrock, 1920 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia magnum Pierantoni, 1909 (ref. ID; 4905); Uronychia magnum sensu Wilbert, 1995 (ref. ID; 4905); Trichoda transfuga O.F. Muller, 1786 (ref. ID; 3630)
Improved diagnosis
Neither the cell size nor nuclear apparatus were mentioned in the original (Muller 1786) and Stein's reinvestigation (1859). Large Uronychia with elongated rectangular body shape and several to many macronuclear segments which are beaded and always form a horseshoe shape; size in vivo 110-250x80-180 um; 4 frontal, 2 ventral, 5 transverse, 3 left marginal and 3 caudal cirri; 6 dorsal kineties; base of buccal cirrus conspicuously long and narrow. 11 anterior, 4 posterior adoral membranelles. (ref. ID; 4905)
Descriptions
U. transfuga is a typical representative of its genus. The peristome is a large plate-like depression almost completely surrounded by a polykinety consisting of at least 10 kineties. A large membrane originates at the polykinety. The adoral membranelle zone is subdivided into a massive section on the frontal side and a separate group, with a constant number of 4 membranelles, located ventrally between the arms of the polykinety. The frontal cirri form two groups to the right of the polykinety and are uniformly composed of 2 kineties. The two posteriorly situated frontal cirri have a stylus shape, but the 3 cirri further for ward on the frontal edge, are differentiated into membranelles. In the living animal they cannot be distinguished from the membranelles of the AZM; for this reason they have previously been overlooked. In a protargol preparation they are quite distinct from the AZM membranelles, for the latter are formed by three kineties rather than two. The two can also be distinguished on the basis of morphogenesis, for they are of different origin. There is a membranelle-like feature similar in structure to the frontal cirri between the lower arm of the polykinety and the 4 isolated membranelles of the AZM. This membranelle could not be discerned in the living animal; in the protargol preparation it appears to be situated on a protrusion over the cytostome. This organelle has not previously been described. 3 powerful marginal cirri arise caudally on the right, in a pit-like depression, and oriented perpendicular to them in a shallow pit are 5 transverse cirri. On the ventral aspect the first row of dorsal cilia and the end of the second can be seen on the left side. The kinetosomes of the dorsal cilia are arranged in pairs. This arrangement is lost in the part of the first and second dorsal rows near the marginal cirri; there the rows end in an array of kinetosomes like a comet's tail. The dorsal part of the body bulges outward and bears 5 longitudinal furrows in which the dorsal cilia are based. The 4th to 6th rows of dorsal cilia are not polar; they end beneath the pole, at the margin of a transverse depression. Here there are 3 large, hook-shaped caudal cilia. The macronucleus is C-shaped, and often is structured so as to set off a smaller caudal part. In its vicinity there is a micronucleus. (ref. ID; 645)
Uronychia transfuga is highly sculptured, oval, with a flattened ventral and rounded aboral surface. The anterior end is truncated with short spines arising along the dorsal surface. The posterior end bears three deep concavities occupied by the caudal, left marginal, and transverse cirri respectively. The terminology of the different ciliary components is based on topographic and developmental characteristics. The bipartite adoral zone of oral polykinetids (AZOPK) [in the earlier literature termed the adoral zone of membranelles, AZM] has 11 collar polykinetids and five lapel polykinetids. The 1st six collar polykinetids are approximately the same size and border the dorsal anterior surface. The next three collar polykinetids are large, extending from the dorsal surface over the shoulder to the ventral surface. To their right, on the ventral surface, are two short collar polykinetids. One small and four large lapel polykinetids are on the left side of the cytostome. The conspicuous oral membrane is formed of two components. The right component follows the course of the right oral overture starting near the cytostome. The left oral membrane begins anterior to the lapel polykinetids of the AZOPK and follows the course of the left side of the oral overture, ending anterior to the right oral membrane. A cortical flap extends from the left oral overture and partially covers the oral membrane on the left side. Cirri make up the remaining ventral ciliature. The paroral cirrus (II/1), located to the right of the anterior end of the right oral membrane, develops from the 2nd ciliary primordium. The cirri of the frontoventral-transverse system develop from primordia III-VII: 4 large (III/1, IV/1, V/1, VI/1) and 1 small (VII/1) transverse cirri, 3 frontoventral cirri (III/2, III/3, IV/3) located near the paroral cirrus, and 2 small frontoventral cirri (VII/2, VII/3) along the right margin of the organism. A single collection of organisms had five small frontoventral cirri (VII/2-VII/6) along the right margin of the cell. Three left marginal cirri (LM1-LM3) increase in size from anterior to posterior with a smaller 4th anterior left marginal cirrus sometimes present. The three massive caudal cirri (C1-C3) on the dorsal surface are bent to the left distally. The six kineties which sit within cortical grooves, contain many closely set kinetids with paired kinetosomes (one of which is ciliated). Row one is on the left ventrolateral surface of the cell just to the left of the AZOPK with the remaining rows being numbered to the cell's right. Rows one and two come close together to the left of the left marginal cirri, where the cilia are so close as to form a stubby membrane. Row two starts anteriorly on the dorsal surface and continues over the left edge of the cell to the ventral surface. Most rows stop at the level of the caudal cirri; however, row three extends to the posterior end of the cell. (ref. ID; 3630)
Populations studied here in vivo about 120-220x90-160 um, yet mostly 150-200 um long; cell shape evidently more elongated rectangular than two forms described above (U. binucleata and U. setigera); both right and left margins slightly convex; dorso-ventrally about 1:2 flattened; other general morphological similar to that of other two forms described above. Spurs, with exception of anterior ones, usually inconspicuous and difficult to observe, generally 3 (or more) anterior, 1 lateral and 2 posterior. Cytoplasm greyish, sometimes pretty dark due to numerous fine "stored" granules. Food vacuoles containing mainly flagellates and small scuticociliates. Contractile vacuole right to transverse cirri. Macronuclear segments (mostly 7-10 in number) beaded and connected by funiculus; nodules ellipsoid to elongate or even sausageshaped, always in C-form, often with one segment extending to posterior end of cell. One spherical micronucleus lower-left to macronuclei. Movement Uronychia-typical, jumping or swimming very fast with rotating around its longitudinal axis, when rests always with adoral membranelles and cirri stiffly spread. Buccal field enormous, about 3/4 of cell length. General infraciliature almost entirely the same as in U. setigera: 11 anterior adoral membranelles in AZM1, cilia about 20-30 um long. Each of right-most membranelles with one branched kinety on right. Base of 4 membranelles in AZM2 hypertrophied, basal bodies irregularly arranged (not in rows); buccal cirrus relatively long (10-14 um vs. 2-3 um in previous two forms). Base of paroral membrane mighty and containing numerous irregularly arranged basal bodies; its right end frequently forming shape crook, cilia about 50 um long. Somatic cirral pattern similar to that of Uronychia setigera or U. binucleata. Constant 4 frontal and 2 ventral cirri. When more than 2 ventral cirri present (only in "young" cell just after dividing), those extra ones (often 3) always fine, anterior to transverse cirri (rather than on right cell margin) will be resorbed soon after completion of division, as in other congeners (Hill 1990; Song 1995). 5 transverse cirri as usual, of which left 4 ones are strong, about 40-50 um long. Left marginal cirri ca. 50-65 um long. Caudal cirri even 70-100 um long. 6 dorsal kineties with about the same pattern as in U. setigera. Basal bodies in each kinety considerably higher in number. Posterior end of kinety 1 species-characteristic, where basal bodies are arranged as a closely distributed patch instead of a densely positioned fragment. (ref. ID; 4905)
Remarks
As in Uronychia setigera, the length of spurs in this species might be rather variable even within the same population, especially the lateral (on the left cell margin) and the posterior spurs. Therefore, spur length would not be of species value for species identification. Based on its large size, beaded nuclear apparatus, elongated rectangular body shape and characterized pattern of buccal apparatus, this species is clearly separated from other congeners. Pierantoni (1909) described a giant form. Uronychia magna which has the same nuclear apparatus as in U. transfuga and is characterized only (!) by the extremely large size (ca. 450 um). We suppose, however, that Pierantoni might be mistaken with the measurement (the cilia must be, according to his illustrations, approximately over 200 um long- incredible), because Uronychia with that size has never been confirmed in subsequent works in almost a century. We identify it with the U. transfuga. Similarly, the population described by Wilbert recently (1995) should also be conspecific with U. transfuga. Uronychia heinrothi Buddenbrock, 1920, which was confused with other 2 macronuclei-containing forms (q.v. Curds & Wu 1983) has the same characters as U. transfuga, and is thus regarded as a junior synonym. (ref. ID; 4905)
Neotype specimens
1 neotype as a slide of protargol impregnated specimens has been deposited in the Protozoological Laboratory, College of Fisheries, Ocean University of Qindgao, Qingdao, China. (ref. ID; 4905)
Measurements
Specimens of Uronychia transfuga in the non-dividing state measure 55-98 um (average 74 um, n=50) in length and 30-70 um (average 52 um, n=50) in width. In some cultures, cannibal giants developed with body sizes (185x130 um) about twice the size of normal U. transfuga. (ref. ID; 3630)