Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37170316›Full record

ArticleBMC zoology2021

The neotypification of Frontonia vernalis (Ehrenberg, 1833) Ehrenberg, 1838 and the description of Frontonia paravernalis sp. nov. trigger a critical revision of frontoniid systematics.

Valentina Serra, Aldo D'Alessandro, Venkatamahesh Nitla, Leandro Gammuto, Letizia Modeo, Giulio Petroni, Sergei I Fokin

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Article in BMC zoology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Valentina SerraDepartment of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. valentina.serra@biologia.unipi.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2887-993X
Aldo D'AlessandroDepartment of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Venkatamahesh NitlaDepartment of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Leandro GammutoDepartment of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Letizia ModeoDepartment of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Giulio PetroniDepartment of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. giulio.petroni@unipi.it.
Sergei I FokinDepartment of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Funding

Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia 2019.0380FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions 247658H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 872767
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAmong Oligohymenophorea (Ciliophora, Alveolata) the subclass Peniculia stands as one of the most well-known groups. Frontonia is the largest genus of Peniculia, and its representatives are spread in any type of water bodies as well as in soil. At a first glance, Frontonia species exhibit an overall similar morphology, and form a well-recognizable taxon of ciliates. Despite the general morphological homogeneity, the phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S rDNA sequencing showed that Frontonia is a non-monophyletic group. The systematics of this genus should be deeply reviewed, although additional issues complicate the task solving. First, type species of the genus is not yet clearly established, and no type material is available. In this context, the situation of F. vernalis, one of the first Frontonia ever described, is somehow puzzled: the description of this ciliate made by Ehrenberg (in 1833 and 1838) contains several inaccuracies and subsequent misidentifications by other authors occurred. Moreover, the 18S rDNA sequence of a putative F. vernalis is available on GenBank, but no morphological description of the correspondent specimens is provided; thus, in our opinion, it should be only prudently associated with F. vernalis or at least indicated as "F. vernalis".

resultsIn the present work, we provide the neotypification of F. vernalis newly found in Italy, presenting its multidisciplinary description and its neotype material. Similarly, we describe a novel species bearing Chlorella-like endosymbionts, Frontonia paravernalis sp. nov., retrieved in two far distant locations (Italy, Russia). A critical discussion on the status of Frontonia taxonomy and phylogeny is also presented, based on the 18S rDNA sequencing of both these two newly collected species and other 14 frontoniids isolated in different parts of the world. Finally, in the present study F. leucas was neotypified and proposed as the type species of the genus.

conclusionsGreen frontoniids form a monophyletic clade of freshwater organisms characterized by having a single contractile vacuole and bearing intracytoplasmatic Chlorella-like symbionts. With the neotypification of F. vernalis and F. leucas a fundamental step in Frontonia systematics was taken, and the bases for further taxonomic studies were laid.

Indexed as

Frontonia leucasFrontonia vernalisGreen frontoniidsNeotypificationPeniculiaPhylogenyTaxonomy

Identifiers

PMID37170316
PMCPMC10127333

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