Rosaura Mayén-Estrada

First Record of Lagenophrys dennisi (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) on the Exoskeleton of Crayfish Cambarellus patzcuarensis

Abstract Lagenophrys dennisi, a peritrich ciliate, was observed attached to the exoskeleton of the crayfish Cambarellus patzcuarensis in Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, Mexico. Lagenophrys dennisi presents a hemispheroidal, suboval or oval lorica in dorsal view, the distinctive lorica aperture consists of a pair of lips highly arched, unthickened, and smooth. Comparison of morphometric characters of the ciliate with previous records is made. Structures such as a “V”-shaped lorica suture, collar ridges, and myoneme are proposed for species identification. An anterior crescentic thickening on the dorsal surface of the lorica was observed under the scanning electron microscope. Lagenophryids were associated with 11 of 13 body parts with antennules and rostrum showing the highest prevalence. Lagenophrys dennisi was also found attached to submerged glass slides. This study represents the first record of L. dennisi on C. patzcuarensis and the first record of its presence in Mexico.

Track analysis and geographic distribution of some Lagenophrys Stein, 1852 (Protozoa: Ciliophora: Peritrichia) species

Records of species of the peritrich ciliate genus Lagenophrys, obligate epibionts of crustaceans, were analysed using panbiogeographical track analysis to detect its worldwide distribution patterns. Track analysis of 28 species of this genus found five generalized tracks: (1) Euroamerican; (2) American; (3) Caribbean; (4) Tasmanian; and (5) South American. Two panbiogeographic nodes were found at the intersection of generalized tracks 1 and 2, and 2 and 5. The distributions of the Lagenophrys species show complex patterns that could be related to trophic opportunities, habitat and distribution of hosts, and other factors. The distribution patterns suggest that a number of allopatric events have caused regionalization of the taxa.

Free-living ciliates from epiphytic tank bromeliads in Mexico

The ciliate diversity of Mexican bromeliads is poorly known. We studied the ciliate community of two species of epiphytic tank bromeliads from 48 individuals of Tillandsia heterophylla and four of T. prodigiosa. The bromeliads occurred on over 22 tree host species. Samples were collected during 2009 and 2010 in a mountain cloud forest and in two coffee plantations and in a pine-oak forest. The ciliates were identified in live and protargol preparations. We recorded 61 ciliate species distributed in 39 genera grouped in eight classes. Ten species were frequent in the 52 samples (20 ± 3.2) and Leptopharynx bromeliophilus was the most frequent recorded in 25 samples. Thirty-three species are new for the fauna of Mexico, 24 species have been recorded for the first time in tank bromeliads. The classes Spirotrichea, Oligohymenophorea and Colpodea presented the highest number of species, 16, 14, and 12, respectively. Colpoda was the most species-rich genus being present with six species. A low similarity between areas and seasons was obtained with Jaccards index. We conclude that the two bromeliads species host a rich ciliate diversity whose knowledge contributes to the question of ciliate distribution and specifically, in tank bromeliads.

Epibiotic relationship between two species of suctorians (Protozoa: Suctoria) and Corisella edulis (Heteroptera: Corixidae)

Reports of epibiosis between ciliated protozoans and aquatic true bugs are scarce. The suctorian ciliates Discophrya elongata and Acineta tuberosa are recorded for the first time as epibionts of Corisella edulis (Corixidae) collected at Hidalgo, Mexico. We analyse the relationship between the architecture of the middle legs and the prevalence of ciliates and present data for their distribution, prevalence, mean abundance, intensity and density on host appendages. Discophrya elongata showed a prevalence of 71.5% on hosts, being attached mainly to middle legs (84%), occurring in highest abundance on the middle femur (mean = 112) and attaching with greatest density on the middle tibia. Acineta tuberosa was observed only on 12 individuals of Corisella edulis and its prevalence was lower than that of D. elongata. These are the first worldwide records of such protozoans being associated with corixids as epibionts.

Periacineta mexicana n. sp. (Ciliophora, Suctoria, Discophryida), epizoic on Mexican backswimmers of the genus Buenoa (Insecta, Hemiptera, Notonectidae).

ABSTRACT. A new species of suctorian in the genus Periacineta, epibiotic on aquatic bugs (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Nepomorpha), is described on the basis of morphological characteristics of the cell body, lorica, tentacular placement, and stalk, and its 18S rRNA partial sequence gene. Periacineta mexicana n. sp. is a loricate suctorian with elongate body and rounded apical region; tentacles are distributed randomly over apical region and not grouped into fascicles. Macronucleus in adult is elongate and located centrally. The suctorian usually forms closely aggregated pseudocolonies. We provide morphological data based on optical and scanning electron microscopy. A comparison with similar congeners, and emended diagnosis of the genus Periacineta also are provided. The ciliates were found attached to the first two pairs of legs of Mexican notonectids Buenoa pallens and Buenoa spp. (backswimmers).

An annotated checklist of species in the family Lagenophryidae (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea, Peritrichia), With a brief review of their taxonomy, morphology, and biogeography

The genera Lagenophrys Stein, 1852, Paralagenophrys Clamp, 1987, Clistolagenophrys Clamp, 1991, and Operculigera Kane, 1969 make up the family Lagenophryidae and, together, contain more than 80 species worldwide that live mainly as ectosymbionts of crustaceans. Lagenophryids are characterized by possession of a lorica, but the lorica aperture and the associated parts of the body differ between genera. Despite their widespread distribution, relatively few papers have been published on lagenophryids in recent years, and the present paper is intended to promote research on lagenophryids by providing an annotated checklist of all known species and a brief review of the family, including data of their geographic distribution and their hosts.

Preference of host distributional pattern of Lagenophrys patina Stokes, 1887 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia, Lagenophryidae) on Mexican Hyalella azteca (Saussure, 1858) (Amphipoda) from two lakes in Mexico

Two Hyalella azteca (Saussure, 1858) populations were studied to statistically determine if their symbiont Lagenophrys patina Stokes, 1887 preferred to attach to body regions and/or appendages. The distribution pattern of the epibiont was investigated according to host size and period of the year, based on abundance and prevalence of L. patina in Xochimilco Lake and Cuitzeo Lake, Mexico. In both cases, a greater abundance of L. patina was found on coxal plates, followed by the pereiopods and, for the population of Cuitzeo Lake, the distributional pattern demonstrated a positive association between host size, period of the year, and abundance of the lagenophryids.

A taxonomic revision of order Pilisuctorida (Ciliophora, Apostomatia) with keys to the subordinate taxa

The article is to present a review of the taxonomic literature of pilisuctorid ciliates and new data from samples taken in Ukraine and Mexico. In order to contribute to the knowledge of this specialised ciliate group, the present article contains the general characteristics of order Pilisuctorida members, information on morphology and life cycles of all its representatives and some own data on distribution of three species of genus Conidophrys in Ukraine and Mexico. The taxonomic composition of this order, and diagnoses of all taxa are also included, as well the keys to the taxa.

Patterns in attachment sites of the parasite Hydrachna guanajuatensis Cook, 1980 (Acari: Hydrachnidiae) on aquatic heteropterans (Nepomorpha) from the Tecocomulco Lake, Mexico

The water mite Hydrachna guanajuatensis Cook, 1980 is recorded as an ectoparasite of Ranatra sp. (Nepidae), Notonecta sp., Buenoa sp. (Notonectidae), Krizousacorixa femorata (Guérin, 1857), Trichocorixella mexicana (Hungerford, 1927), and Hesperocorixa laevigata (Uhler, 1893) (Corixidae). The host body region, where the larvae and protonymph attach, depends significantly on the heteropteran species: χ2 = 3969.43, p < 0.05 and χ2 = 1893.6, p < 0.05, respectively. We performed a cross tabulation with a correspondence analysis and found three associations for the larvae: 1) dorsal side of abdomen underneath the wings of the two species of Notonectidae, 2) head, wings, and hind legs of two of the species of Corixidae (T. mexicana and K. femorata), and 3) thorax and fore and middle legs of the single species of Nepidae. These different patterns are discussed according to morphological and ecological characteristics of the hosts. This is the first study that deals with the spatial distribution patterns within the same species of ectoparasite.

Ciliate species from tank-less bromeliads in a dry tropical forest and their geographical distribution in the Neotropics

The study of ciliate diversity in tropical environments remains scarce. In Neotropical forests, bromeliads are a common component of the vascular flora; bromeliads with tank morphology intercept rain water and detritus, resulting in the formation of a phytotelm, where heterotrophic protist communities like ciliates can establish. However, it is not known if ciliates inhabit tank-less bromeliads. For this reason, the goal of the present study was to investigate if ciliates can establish between the leaf axils of five terrestrial and epiphytic tank-less bromeliad species in a dry tropical forest in west Mexico. We collected samples of rain water and detritus from the leaf axils during the humid season of years 2015 and 2016. For ciliate taxonomical identification, we used optical microscopy, in vivo observation, and silver impregnation techniques. To summarize information about geographical distribution of ciliates identified at species level in the Neotropics, we provided their records from previous works, at country level with locality and georeferenciation. We recorded 27 taxa of ciliates, where the class Oligohymenophorea contained the largest richness of taxa. Drepanomonas revoluta, Leptopharynx bromeliophilus, and Tetrahymena sp. were recorded from all the species of bromeliads. Bromelia karatas was the species that hosted the largest number of ciliate taxa (22). Our results indicated that Glaucomides bromelicola, Gonostomum bromelicola, Leptopharynx bromelicola and L. bromeliophilus, species which are considered endemic to tank bromeliads, can also inhabit tank-less bromeliads. We provided previous records of 19 ciliate species from eleven countries within the Neotropical region, and Bromeliothrix metopoides was the species most frequently recorded in Neotropical countries (9). Therefore, tank-less bromeliads can constitute a temporal habitat for ciliates, and function as cysts reservoirs in environments with a pronounced seasonality like dry tropical forests.