Morphology and systematic position of Euplotes manganari sp. n. (Ciliophora, Euplotida) isolated from the Sea of Marmara, Istanbul (Turkey)

Morphology and phylogenetic relationships of a euplotid ciliate, Euplotes manganari sp.n., isolated from the Sea of Marmara (Istanbul, Turkey) were investigated based on live observations, silver nitrate impregnation and Feulgen staining methods.The new species is characterized by the following combination of features: small size (31×19 µm), six conspicuous dorsal ridges, 10 normal-sized frontoventral cirri, two or three caudal cirri, five dorsal kineties, and doublepatella type of silverline system.The SSU rRNA sequence of E. manganari braches with good support in the E. orientalis and E. plicatum clade.