Ref ID : 7704
John O. Corliss and Pierre-Marc Daggett; "Paramecium aurelia" and "Tetrahymena pyriformis": Current Status of the Taxonomy and Nomenclature of these Popularly known and widely used Ciliates. Protistologica XIX(3):307-322, 1983
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Paramecia, particularly species of the Paramecium aurelia complex, and tetrahymenas, especially species related to Tetrahymena pyriformis, are well known ciliates widely used by a variety of biologists in teaching as well as research. Recent valid taxonomic-nomenclatural changes made with respect of these two very popular protozoan groups have unfortunately resulted in considerable uncertainty as to proper identification of species within them. Such confusion, if permitted to go unchecked, will cause difficulty in comparing research results and in correlating observations and will facilitate continued dissemination of inaccurate information. We offer here a long-awaited review of the overall taxonomic-nomenclatural situation, with clarification of its more complicated aspects. Aware of the needs of workers ranging from ecologists to molecular biologists, we suggest some practical ways, suitable for both field and bench biologists, of identifying organisms assignable to these groups. An alternative solution (discussed in an Addendum) considers adoption of the relatively new concept of a taxonomic category called the "supraspecies". Finally, we supply information on available sources of "reference" strains for investigators currently studying or interested in future use of pedigreed stocks of such ciliates.