A TAXONOMIC STUDY OF SESSILE PERITRICHIANS OF A SMALL IMPOUNDMENT WITH NOTES ON THEIR SUBSTRATE PREFERENCES

Abstract

A taxonomic study of the sessile peritrichians (Ciliophora: Peritricha) was carried out on material collected from plants and animals, as well as inanimate substrates, experimentally placed into West-dene Dam, Johannesburg. A total of 15 species, representing the genera Carchesiwn, Voorticella, Apiosoma, Epistylis, Opercularia, Scyphidia, Cothurnia and Vaginicola were identified. Four new species are described and comparative descriptions of the known species given. Substrate preference and specificity are discussed. Peritrichians associated with fish, were not only found to be morphologically distinct, but also specific to their piscean substrates.