Rediagnoses of closely related pigmented marine species of the genus Pseudokeronopsis (ciliophora, hypotrichida)

The morphology and the infraciliature of Pseudokeronopsis rubra [7, 10, 11], P. carnea [8] nov. comb, and P. flava [8] nov. comb, are redescribed using protargol silver staining, biometry, and chromatography. These species differ in the colour and composition of the pigment granules, the length of the midventral rows, the number of frontal cirri comprising the bicorona, and the number of transverse cirri. An albino strain of P. rubra shows a highly instable cortical pattern. Seven populations belonging to P. rubra (2 South Africa, Indopacific region), P. carnea (Helgoland, Denmark, Yugoslavia), and P. flava (Denmark) are biometrically characterized. A multiple comparison of 13 characters confirms a highly significant heterogeneity among all populations. The available literature on “red” coloured species of Pseudokeronopsis is reviewed. The data suggest a strong genetical and ecological radiation of this genus. There are probably some more “red” species, for instance a particular kind of Mediterranean population.