Two New Diophrys-Like Genera and Their Type Species, Apodiophrys ovalis n. g., n. sp and Heterodiophrys zhui n. g., n. sp (Ciliophora: Euplotida), with Notes on Their Molecular Phylogeny

Based on both morphological and molecular information, two new euplotid genera Apodiophrys n. g. and Heterodiophrys n. g. are described in the present paper. Apodiophrys n. g. is defined as sculptured Diophryinae with bipartite adoral zone; frontoventral cirri arranged in Diophrys-pattern; marginal cirri located in two clearly separated groups. Heterodiophrys n. g. is recognizable by the combination of Diophrys-like frontoventral cirri and the unique structure of several marginal cirri that are arranged in a long row. The type species for both new genera, Apodiophrys ovalis n. sp. and Heterodiophrys zhui n. sp., collected from southern China sea, are described. The small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences for both new taxa are determined. Phylogenetic analyses based on these data indicate that Apodiophrys is most closely related to Paradiophrys, which then clusters with Uronychia species. Thus, Apodiophrys-Paradiophrys is separated from other typical Diophrys-like genera in the SSU rRNA gene trees. The new genus Heterodiophrys is basal to the sister group of Diophrys-Diophryopsis, hence belongs to the "core" Diophrys-complex.