A new contribution to the raptorial ciliate genus (Protista: Ciliophora): a brief review and comprehensive descriptions of two new species from Changjiang Estuary.

Ciliates serve as excellent indicators for water quality monitoring. However, their utilization is hindered by various taxonomic confusions. The ciliate genus Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1824 is commonly found in different aquatic habitats, but its taxonomy has been sparsely investigated using state-of-the-art methods. This study investigated two new species from Nanhui Wetland, Shanghai, China, using living observation, protargol staining, and molecular phylogeny methods. sp. nov. is 180-340 × 20-25 μm in size and possesses 12-16 somatic kineties, 1 terminal contractile vacuole, 2 macronuclear nodules, and 2 types of rod-shaped extrusomes. sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by its cell size of 210-400 × 25-35 μm, 14-17 somatic kineties, 1 terminal contractile vacuole, 1 macronucleus, and 2 types of rod-shaped extrusomes. Phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA gene sequences indicate that Lacrymariidae is monophyletic but is not. Additionally, a brief review of the genus is provided in this study. We suggest that Alekperov, 1984, Kahl, 1930, and Burkovsky, 1970 be removed from the genus and propose nov. comb. and nov. comb. for the latter two. ZooBank registration: Present work: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:CDFB1EBD-80BD-4533-B391-CEE89F62EDC4 sp. nov.: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:417E7C2D-DAEC-4711-90BB-64AB3CD2F7D5 sp. nov.: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8778D6B0-1F2E-473C-BE19-3F685391A40D.