Genus Neoholosticha gen. nov.

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Type species

Neoholosticha vikali gen. et sp. nov.

Diagnosis

Holostichidae with a continuous adoral zone of membranelles, frontoterminal cirri present, transverse cirri fewer than the midventral cirral pairs, more than four dorsal kineties, and multiple caudal cirri present.

Etymology

The genus-group name is a composite of the Greek prefix ‘neo - ’ (meaning ‘new’) and the generic name Holosticha, referring to the similar frontoventral ciliature of Holosticha and Neoholosticha. Feminine gender.

Comparison of Neoholosticha gen. nov. with similar genera

Among the 13 genera of the family Holostichidae, Neoholosticha gen. nov. is mainly distinguished by the presence of 6–8 dorsal kineties and 7–12 caudal cirri (Berger 2006; Li et al. 2017).

The genus Acuholosticha differs from Neoholosticha gen. nov. by having a narrowly rounded (vs flattened) posterior end, pretransverse ventral cirri present or absent (vs absent), and two to four (vs six to eight) dorsal kineties. Adumbratosticha is distinguished by an elongate rectangular body with a rounded posterior end (vs ellipsoidal with a flattened posterior end), fewer caudal cirri (often two) than dorsal kineties, and in some species vestigial caudal cirri (vs always more caudal cirri than dorsal kineties). It also has relatively short, almost straight, non-intersecting (vs long and optically intersecting) undulating membranes, and pretransverse ventral cirri present or absent (vs absent). Afrothrix differs by possessing a bipartite (vs continuous) adoral zone of membranelles and the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Anteholosticha can be separated by having transverse cirri usually fewer than midventral pairs (vs invariably two) and by the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Caudikeronopsis differs by the presence (vs absence) of pretransverse ventral cirri and occurrence in marine (vs terrestrial) habitats. Diaxonella is distinguished by having two or more (vs a single) left marginal rows. Extraholosticha differs by the presence (vs absence) of a short cirral row between the left frontal cirrus and the undulating membranes. Holosticha differs, inter alia, by having a gap between the proximal and distal parts of the adoral zone of membranelles (vs continuous adoral zone), short and parallel (vs long and optically intersecting) undulating membranes, transverse cirri equal to or slightly fewer than midventral pairs (vs invariably two), and the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Limnoholosticha is distinguished by an elliptical to wide elliptical body (vs slender elliptical), five to eight (vs invariably two) transverse cirri, and occurrence in stagnant inland waters (vs terrestrial habitats). Multiholosticha differs by the presence (vs absence) of pretransverse ventral cirri, seven to twelve (vs invariably two) transverse cirri, and a freshwater (vs terrestrial) habitat. Periholosticha can be separated by having a bipartite (vs continuous) adoral zone, the buccal cirrus absent (vs present), and midventral pairs that extend only shortly (vs extending almost to the transverse cirri). Psammomitra differs by its tripartite (vs ellipsoidal) body form, short and parallel (vs long and intersecting) undulating membranes, and the absence (vs presence) of caudal cirri. Pseudoamphisiella is distinguished by the absence (vs presence) of frontoterminal cirri and by having multiple (vs invariably two) transverse cirri.