Abstract 41 How to cite the abstract: Berger H., AL-Rasheid K.A.S., Foissner W. (2009): Two new species of hypotrichous ciliates (Ciliophora, Spirotricha) from a saline soil in Saudi Arabia. - 28th Annual Meeting of the German Society of Protozoology, February 25-28, 2009, Naumburg (Saale). Abstract on p. 23 of Abstract booklet. Supported by the Center of Excellence in Biodiversity Research, King Saud University. Two new species of hypotrichous ciliates (Ciliophora, Spirotricha) from a saline soil in Saudi Arabia Berger, Helmut (1); AL-Rasheid, Khaled A. S. (2); Foissner, Wilhelm (3) (1) Consulting Engineering Office for Ecology, Salzburg, Austria; Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University; (3) Department of Organismal Biology, University of Salzburg Two new hypotrichs (stichotrichs) have been discovered in a highly saline soil (12%) from the Al Hasan oasis near the Arabic Gulf in Saudi Arabia. The first species resembles some amphisiellids and is characterised, inter alia, by a distinct gap in the adoral zone of membranelles, a short and a long frontoventral row, a conspicuous postoral row, a second, rather variable left marginal row, and an anteriorly very strongly shortened dorsal kinety 1. The second species belongs to Cladotricha and is binucleate, has a buccal row, and one long and two short frontoventral rows. The oral apparatus of Cladotricha is gonostomoid, indicating that it forms a monophyletic group (Gonostomatidae Small & Lynn) together with, e.g., Gonostomum, Paragonostomum, Wallackia. The dorsal infraciliature (three bipolar kineties with caudal cirri) was taken over from the ground pattern of the hypotrichs, indicating that the gonostomatids cluster outside the Dorsomarginalia. The financial support by the Center of Excellence in Biodiversity Research, King Saud University, is greatly acknowledged. Links Homepage www.protozoology.com Publication list of Helmut Berger Publisher Helmut Berger Main publication to this topic (not yet published) Adobe to get the free Adobe Acrobat Reader Keywords: Hypotricha, Hypotrichida, Stichotrichida, stichotrichs, Apourosomoida, halophila, cell division, salinity, Asia, soil biology Top Dr Helmut BERGER Consulting Engineering Office for Ecology - Technisches Büro für Ökologie Radetzkystrasse 10, 5020 Salzburg, Austria, Europe Phone +43-(0)662-432538; Fax +43-(0)662-443139; email office@protozoology.com; http://www.protozoology.com