Morphology and molecular phylogeny of Monomicrocaryon trimarginalis sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Hypotricha), a new soil ciliate species from South Korea

The morphology and molecular phylogeny of the new soil ciliate, <i>Monomicrocaryon trimarginalis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, which was discovered in the soil of from Gwangdeok Mountain, Hwacheon-Gun, South Korea, were investigated. The new species is characterized by the following morphological features: cell ellipsoidal to slightly ovate, with both ends rounded; cortical granules absent; 17-24 adoral membranelles; three frontal cirri; four frontoventral cirri, two postoral ventral cirri; one buccal cirrus; 10-13 left and 9-13 right marginal cirri; five transverse cirri; four dorsal kineties and three dorsomarginal kineties; two macronuclear nodules and one micronucleus in between macronuclear nodules. Phylogenetic analyses showed that <i>M. trimarginalis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> is placed within a clade containing <i>M. euglenivorum euglenivorum</i> and species belonging to <i>Quadristicha</i> in the dorsomarginalian hypotrichs.