New aspects of the morphology and morphogenesis of Gonostomum strenuaEngelmann, 1862 (ciliophora, hypotrichida)

Abstract

The morphology and morphogenesis of a population of the hypotrichous ciliate Gonostomum strenua, found in moss samples from emergent stones collected in the Guadarrama River (Central Spain) is described. This population shows slight variations in morphology compared to the Chinese population studied by Song, (1990). The main differences between the European and Asian population appear in the first stages of morphogenesis. New data on infra-ciliature and cysts are also shown.