Main Content

The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Ref ID : 7205

Denis H. Lynn and Jay R. Malcolm; A multivariate study of morphometric variation in species of the ciliate genus Colpoda (Ciliophora: Colpodida). Can.J.Zool. 61:307-316, 1983

Reprint

In File

Notes

Univariate and multivariate statistical methods were used to study morphometric variation of 19 clones from eight species of the ciliate genus Colpoda. No single character could provide complete discrimination of all species. However, results of canonical variates analysis demonstrated that some morphological characters, which are considered important by taxonomists, do provide for maximum discrimination among the species. These characters include left and right keel kinety number, incurrent and excurrent canal kinety number, and vestibular kinety number. The clones in the somatic length range of 44-70 µm are apparently more difficult to distinguish by morphometric criteria.