Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2025-12-01
Page range: 106-118
Abstract views: 28
PDF downloaded: 1

A checklist of peritrich ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora, Peritrichea) on aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida, Oligochaeta)

Near Hari mandir Road; Hirapur; Dhanbad 826001; Jharkhand; India
Annelida ciliate epibionts freshwater marine oligochaetes host

Abstract

A review of the peritrich ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora, Peritrichea) associated with aquatic Oligochaeta (Annelida) is presented, based on published records. Twenty-two peritrich species, along with four organisms classified to the genus level and two unidentified peritrichs, have been documented as epibionts on oligochaetes. Oligochaetes in the family Naidae presented the highest occurrence and diversity of associated ciliates. Most cases ciliates were predominantly attached on the posterior end of oligochaetes. Ciliate hyperepibiosis on oligochaetes was also observed.

 

References

  1. Benbow, M.E. (2009) Annelida, Oligochaeta and Polychaeta. In: Likens, G.E. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Inland Waters. Vol. 2. Elsevier, Oxford, pp. 124–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012370626-3.00257-X
  2. Boshko, E.G. (2009) The commensal sessile ciliates (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) on annelid worms and mollusks from water bodies of the Middle Dnieper (in Ukrainisch). Vestnik zoologii, Supplement N, 23, 20–25.
  3. Bourquin-Lindt, E. (1919) Contribution a l’etude des Protozoaires de la Vallee de la Chaux-de-Fonds. Bulletin de la Société des sciences naturelles de Neuchâtel, 1917–1918, 43, 39–95.
  4. Chatterjee, T. & Dovgal, I. (2020) A checklist of ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora) found on bryozoans. Zootaxa, 4896 (4), 547–559. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4896.4.6
  5. Chatterjee, T., Kotov, A. & Fernandez-Leborans, G. (2013) A checklist of epibiotic ciliates (Peritricha, Suctoria) on the cladoceran crustacean. Biologia, 68 (3), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-013-0180-8
  6. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I., Pešić, V. & Zawal, A. (2018) A checklist of epibiont suctorian and peritrich ciliates (Ciliophora) on halacarid and hydrachnid mites (Acari: Halacaridae & Hydrachnidia). Zootaxa, 4457 (3), 415–430. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4457.3.4
  7. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I. & Fernandez-Leborans, G. (2019) A checklist of suctorian epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora) found on meiobenthic marine nematodes. Journal of Natural History, 53 (33–34), 2133–2143. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2019.1692085
  8. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I., Mayén-Estrada, R. & Fernandez-Leborans, G. (2020a) A checklist of ciliates (Ciliophora) inhabiting on ostracods (Crustacea, Ostracoda). Zootaxa, 4763 (1), 17–30. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4763.1.2
  9. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I., Vieira, L.M., Dutta, A. & Nanajkar, M. (2020b) Report of ciliate-bryozoan-crustacean hyperepibiosis on crab (Decapoda: Brachyura) from west coast of India, Arabian Sea. Zootaxa, 4890 (3), 347–360. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4890.3.3
  10. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I. & Fernandez-Leborans, G. (2021a) A checklist of ciliates (Ciliophora) inhabiting on cnidarians. Zootaxa, 5039 (2), 151–178. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5039.2.1
  11. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I., Desai, A. & Nanajkar, M. (2021b) Report of rotifer-ciliate-gastropod hyperepibiosis found on snail (Mollusca) from Goa, India. Acta Biologica, 28, 81–89. https://doi.org/10.18276/ab.2021.28-09
  12. Chatterjee, T., Sautya, S., Abibulaeva, A. & Dovgal, I. (2022) Report of epibiont ciliates on benthic seed shrimps (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from subtidal Mumbai coast of India with addendum to the checklist of ciliates inhabiting ostracods. Charies De Biologie Marine, 63 (4), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.21411/CBM.A.F687A49B
  13. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I., Fontaneto, D., Zawal, A. & Singh, R. (2023) A checklist of epibiont and parasite ciliates (Ciliophora) associated to rotifers (Rotifera). Zootaxa, 5389 (3), 373–385. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5389.3.5
  14. Chatterjee, T., Dovgal, I. & Zawal, A. (2025) Ciliates inhabiting Isopoda: Epibiont-Basibiont relations. A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, IE Kopyltsow P. I., Voronezh, 156 pp.
  15. Clamp, J.C., Chatterjee, T. & Fernandez-Leborans, G. (2016) Occurrence of Epistylis anastatica (Linnaeus, 1767) (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) on Mesocyclops isabellae Dussart & Fernando (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida) in India, with an annotated checklist of species of Epistylis reported as Epibionts of Cyclopoid Copepods and resources for their identification. Zootaxa, 4168 (3), 525–540. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4168.3.5
  16. Claparède, E. & Lachmann, J. (1858) Études sur les infusoires et les rhizopodes. Mémoires de l’Institut National Genevois, 5, 1–260. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.29753
  17. D’Agosto, M., Dias, R.J.P., Cabral, A.F., Silva-Neto, I.D. & Alves, R.G. (2006) Record and distribution of the peritrich epibiont Rhabdostyla sp. (Ciliophora, Peritrichia, Epistylidae) on limnic oligochaetes (Annelida, Oligochaeta) in an urban stream. XXII Meeting of the SBPZ, Brazilian Society of Protozoology, BC70, pp. 65. [poster]
  18. De Lima, M.F., Girollia, D.A., Sanchesa, N.A.O., Colombo-Corbia, V., Corbib, J.J. & Gorni, G.R. (2022) First record of Epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) associated with Dero digitata Müller, 1773 (Oligochaeta: Naididae) in Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 82, e235989. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.235989
  19. Dias, R.J.P., Cabral, A.F., Stephan, N.N.C., Martins, R.T., Silva-Neto, I.D., Alves, R.G. & D’Agosto, M. (2007) Record of Rhabdostyla chironomi Kahl, 1933 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) epibiont on chironomidae larvae (Dieptera, Chironomidae) in a lotic system in Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 67 (4). [published online] https://doi.org/10.1590/S1519-69842007000400030
  20. Dias, R.J.P., Cabral, A.F., Martins, R.T., Stephan, N.N.C., Silva-Neto, I.D., Alves, R.G. & D’Agosto, M. (2009) Occurrence of peritrich ciliates on the limnic oligochaete Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae) in the neotropics. Journal of Natural History, 43 (1–2), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222930802478644
  21. D’Udekem, M. (1864) Description des infusoires de la Belgique. Memoires de l’Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, 34, 5–34. https://doi.org/10.3406/marb.1864.3559
  22. Duarte de Lima, L. & Takemoto, R.M. (2024) First Record of Epibiont Ciliates (Ciliophora: Suctoria) Associated with Helobdella adiastola Ringuelet, 1972 (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in Brazil. Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 67, e24230495. https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4324-2024230495
  23. Fernandez-Leborans, G. (2003) Protist bryozoans crustacean hyperepibiosis on Goneplax rhomboides (Linnaeus, 1758) (Decapoda, Brachyura) from the NW Medaterannean coast. Crustaceana, 76 (4), 479–497. https://doi.org/10.1163/156854003322033870
  24. Fernandez-Leborans, G. & Tato-Porto, M.L. (2000a) A review of the species of protozoan epibionts on crustaceans. I. Peritrich ciliates. Crustaceana, 73, 643–684. https://doi.org/10.1163/156854000504705
  25. Fernandez-Leborans, G. & Tato-Porto, M.L. (2000b) A review of the species of protozoan epibionts on crustaceans. II. Suctorian ciliates. Crustaceana, 73, 1205–1237. https://doi.org/10.1163/156854000505209
  26. Fernandez-Leborans, G., Dávila, P., Cerezo, E. & Contretas, C. (2013) Epibiosis and hyperepibiosis on Pagurus bernhardus (Crustacea: Decapoda) from the west Coast of Scotland. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 93 (5), 1351–1362. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315412001610
  27. Foissner, W. & Berger, H. (1996) A user-friendly guide to ciliates (Protozoa, Ciliophora) commonly used by hydrobiologists as bioindicators in rivers, lakes, and waste waters, with notes on their ecology. Freshwater Biology, 35 (2), 375–498. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.1996.tb01775.x
  28. Foissner, W., Berger, H. & Kohmann, F. (1992) Taxonomische und okologische Revision der Ciliaten des Saprobiensystems. Band II: Peritrichia, Heterotrichida, Odontostomatida. Informationsberichte des Bayerischen Landesamtes f, r Wasserwirtschaft, 5, 1–502.
  29. Foissner, W., Blake, N., Wolf, K., Breiner, H. & Stoeck, T. (2010) Morphological and molecular characterization of some peritrichs (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) from tank Bromeliads, including two new genera: Orborhabdostyla and Vorticellides. Acta Protozoologica, 48 (4), 291–319.
  30. GBIF Secretariat (2023) GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei (accessed 14 September 2025)
  31. Girolli, D.A., De Lima, M.F., Sanches, N.A.O., Gorni, G.R., Colombo-Corbi, V. & Corbi, J.J. (2022) First report of Epibiont ciliates (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) living in Brinkhurstia americanus (Oligochaeta: Alluroididae) in a Neotropical river. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 82, e234953. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.234953
  32. Glasby, C.J., Biriukova, O., Martin, P., Dyne, G.R., Utevsky, S. & Wilson, R.S. (2025) ANNiKEY Linear-diagnoses, description and a single access identification key to Annelida family-level taxa. Zookeys, 1247, 217–403. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1247.137606
  33. Gouda, H.A. (2006) The effect of peritrich ciliates on some freshwater leeches from Assiut, Egypt. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 93 (3), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2006.06.005
  34. Guhl, W. (1972a) Pyxidiella matthesi, n. sp., ein auf Oligochaeten lebendes Peritrich. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 189, 278–280.
  35. Guhl, W. (1972b) Opercularia inclinans (O. F. MULLER 1786) nov. comb., ein symphoriontes Peritrich von Oligochaeten. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 189, 351–356.
  36. Guhl, W. (1979) Beitrag zur Systematik, Biologie und Morphologie der Epistylidae (Ciliata, Peritricha). Archiv für Protistenkunde, 121, 417–483. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9365(79)80056-1
  37. Henebry, M.S. & Ridgeway, B.T. (1979) Epizoic Ciliated Protozoa of Planktonic Copepods and Cladocerans and Their Possible Use as Indicators of Organic Water Pollution. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society, 98 (4), 495–508. https://doi.org/10.2307/3225899
  38. Jankowski, A.W. (1976) Revision der Abteilung Sessilia (Peritricha). In: Material und öffentliche Tagungen der Protozoologie I. s.n., Kiew, pp. 168–170.
  39. Jankowski, A.W. (2007) Review of taxa Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901. In: Alimov, A.F. (Ed.), Protista: Handbook on Zoology. Part 2. Nauka, St. Petersburg, pp. 415–993. [in Russian]
  40. Jankowski, A.W. (2014) Cothurnia polydorica sp. nov. (Ciliophora: Peritrichia), a symbiont of shell-boring spionid polychaetes in the Sea of Japan, and a review of ciliates associated with polydorids. Zoosistematica Rossica, 23 (2), 167–173. https://doi.org/10.31610/zsr/2014.23.2.167
  41. Kahl, A. (1933) Ciliata libera et ectocommensalia. Die Tierwelt der Nord- und Ostsee. Vol. 23. G. Grimpe, Leipzig, 146 pp.
  42. Kahl, A. (1935) Peritricha und Chonotricha. In: Dahl, F. (Ed.), Die Tierwelt Deutschlands und der angrenzenden Meeresteile nach ihren Merkmalen und nach ihrer Lebensweise. G. Fischer, 30, 651–805.
  43. Keiser, A. (1921) Die sessilen peritrichen Infusorien und Suctorien von Basel und Umgebung. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 28, 221–341. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.84688
  44. Kellicott, D.S. (1884) Observations infusoria, with descriptions of new species. Proceedings of the American Society of Microscopists, 6, 110–125. https://doi.org/10.2307/3220628
  45. Kent, W.S. (1881) A Manual of the Infusoria. Vol. II. David Bogue, London, 298 pp.
  46. Korchelt, E. (1906) Zugleich Organ Der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft. VEB Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena, 912 pp.
  47. Lopez-Ochoterena, E. (1964) Hypophrya fasciculata gen. nov, sp. nov. (Ciliata: Suctoria). Journal of Protozoology, 11 (2), 222–224. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1550-7408.1964.tb01744.x
  48. Lynn, D.H. (2008) The ciliated Protozoa. Characterization, classification and guide to the literature. Springer, Dordrecht, 605 pp.
  49. Magagnini, G. & Verni, F. (1988) Epibiosis of Scyphidia sp. (Ciliophora, Peritrichida) on Nerilla antennata (Archiannelida, Nerillidae). Bollettino di zoologia, 3, 185–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/11250008809386616
  50. Marchesini, R.D.O. (2015) Estudo filogenetico de representantes da subclasse Peritrichia Stein, 1859 (Alvolata: Ciliophora) com base em sequencies de18S-rDNA e caracterizacao multidisciplinar de Rhabdostyla inclinans Kent, 1881(Peritrichia, Epistylididae). Masters Thesis, Universidade Federalde Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, 121 pp.
  51. Martin, P., Martinez-Ansemil, E., Pinder, A., Timm, T. & Wetzel, M.J. (2008) Global diversity of oligochaetous clitallates (“Oligochaeta”; Clitellata) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia, 595, 117–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9009-1
  52. Mayén-Estrada, R. & Utz, L.R.P. (2018) A checklist of species of Vorticellidae (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) epibionts of crustaceans. Zootaxa, 4500 (3), 301–328. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4500.3.1
  53. Mayén-Estrada, R., Davila, S. & Dias, R.J.P. (2024) Ciliate symbionts of bivalves with notes on their worldwide geographic Distribution. Zootaxa, 5448 (4), 451–481. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5448.4.1
  54. Mestre, A., Poulin, R., Holt, R.D., Barfield, M., Clamp, J.C., Fernandez-Leborans, G. & Mesquita-Joanes, F. (2019) The interplay of nested biotic interactions and the abiotic environment regulates populations of a hypersymbiont. Journal of Animal Ecology. [published online]. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13091
  55. Mikac, B., Semprucci, F., Guidi, L., Ponti, M., Abbiati, M., Balsamo, M. & Dovgal, I. (2020) Newly discovered associations between peritrich ciliates (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) and scale polychaetes (Annelida: Polynoidae and Sigalionidae) with a review of polychaete peritrich epibiosis. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 188, 939–953. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlz111
  56. Mironova, E.I., Telesh, I.V. & Skarlato, S.O. (2014) Ciliates in plankton of the Baltic Sea. Protistology, 8 (3), 81–124.
  57. Monard, A. (1918) Sur la faune profunde du Lc de Neuchatel. Description de quelques nouvelles especes. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 26, 341–359. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.16168
  58. Müller, O.F. (1786) Animalcula infusoria fluviatilia et marina quæ detexit, systematice descripsit et ad vivum delineari curavit Otho Fridericus Müller; sistet opus hoc posthumum, quod cum tabulis Aeneis L. in lucem tradit vidua ejus nobilissima cura Othonis Fabricii. Typis N. Mölleri, Hauniæ [Copenhagen], lvi + 367 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.129933
  59. Nenninger, U. (1948) Die Peritrichen der Umgebung von Erlangen mit besonderer Berücksichtigung ihrer Wirtsspezifität. Zoologisches Jahrbuch, Systematik, 77, 169–266.
  60. Parona, C. (1883) Essai d’une protistologie de la Sardaigue avec la description de quelques protistes nouveaux ou peu connus. Archives des Science physique et naturelles, Sr. 3, 10, 225–243.
  61. Penard, E. (1922) Etudes sur les infusoires d’eau douce. George & Cie, Geneve, 331 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.122543
  62. Porto, A.V.D., Rigo, F.V., Warren, A. & Utz, L.R.P. (2024) Checklist of species in the genus Epistylis (Ciliophora, Peritrichia): the first step for a taxonomic revision. Zootaxa, 5415 (2), 289–299. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5415.2.3
  63. Precht, H. (1935) Epizoen der Kieler Bucht. Nova Acta Leopoldina Halle, N.F., 3 (15), 405–474.
  64. Righi, G. (1973) On Pristina minuta (Oligochaeta, Naididae) from Brazilian soil and its epizoic Rhabdostyla pristinis sp. n. (Ciliata, Epistylidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger, 191, 295–299.
  65. Schenková, J., Pařil, P., Petřivalská, K. & Bojková, J. (2010) Aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) of the Czech Republic: check-list, new records, and ecological remarks. Zootaxa, 2676 (1), 29–44. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2676.1.2
  66. Schödel, H. (2018) Kompendium der auf Wirbellosen epizoisch lebenden limnischen sessilen Peritrichia (Ciliophora) West-, Mittel- und Osteuropas. Denisia, 41, 47–294.
  67. Sergeeva, N. & Dovgal, I. (2014) First finding of epibiont peritrich and suctorian ciliates (Ciliophora) on oligochaetes and harpacticoid copepods from the deep-water hypoxic/anoxic conditions of the Black Sea. Ecologica Montenegrina, 1, 49–54. https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2014.1.7
  68. Sergeeva, N.G., Abibulaeva, A.S. & Dovgal, I.V. (2022) First finds of sessile ciliates (Ciliophora) in artificial and natural caverns on the Crimean coast of the Black Sea. Ecologica Montenegrina, 52, 33–41. https://doi.org/10.37828/em.2022.52.5
  69. Shubernetskii, I.V. (1978) New species of peritrichous infusoria from the waters of Moldavia. Buletinul Akademiej de Stiince a RSS Moldovenest. Stiinte Biologice si Chimice, 5, 62–67.
  70. Smith, M.E. (1986) Distribution patters and sazonal occurence of Rhabdostyla sp. (Peritrichia: Epistylididae) on Dero nivea (Oligochaeta: Naididae). American Midland Naturalist, 116 (2), 348–355. https://doi.org/10.2307/2425743
  71. Souza, P.M.D., Rossi, M.F. & Dias, R.J.P. (2024) Systematic review of the genera Rhabdostyla Kent 1880 and Orborhabdostyla Foissner et al 2010 (Ciliophora, Peritrichia, Epistylididae). Zootaxa, 5399 (3), 201–230. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5399.3.1
  72. Stiller, J. (1931) Die peritrichen Infusorien von Tihany und Umgebung. Arbeiten des Ungarischen Biologischen Forschungsinstituts Tihany, 4, 171–205.
  73. Stiller, J. (1971) Szajkoszorus Csillósok-Peritricha. Fauna Hungariae, 105, 1–245.
  74. Stokes, A.C. (1887) Notices of new freshwater infusoria VI. The American Monthly Microscopical Journal, 8, 141–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2818.1888.tb05833.x
  75. Verdonschot, P.F.M. (2015) Introduction to Annelida and the Class Polychaeta. In: Thorp, J. & Rogers, D.C. (Eds.), Ecology and General Biology: Thorp and Covich’s Freshwater Invertebrates. Academic Press, San Diego, California, pp. 507–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-385026-3.00020-6
  76. Warren, A. (1986) A revision of the genus Vorticella (Ciliophora: Peritrichida). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology, 50 (1), 1–57. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.18297
  77. Warren, A. & Paynter, J. (1991) A revision of Cothurnia (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) and its morphological relatives. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Zoology, 57 (1), 17–59.
  78. Zaleski, M. & Claps, M.C. (2001) First record of some peritrichs ciliates for San Miguel del Monte pond (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Gayana, 65 (1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-65382001000100007

How to Cite

Chatterjee, T. (2025) A checklist of peritrich ciliate epibionts (Ciliophora, Peritrichea) on aquatic oligochaetes (Annelida, Oligochaeta). Zootaxa, 5725 (1), 106–118. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5725.1.4