Morphology of B romeliophrya quadristicha n. spec., an Inhabitant of Tank Bromeliads ( B romeliaceae), and Phylogeny of the B romeliophryidae ( C iliophora, T etrahymenida)

Using morphological, morphometric, and molecular methods, we describe B romeliophrya quadristicha n. spec. from tank bromeliads of J amaica and the D ominican R epublic. The new species differs from the single congener, B . brasiliensis , mainly in having four (vs. 2) left lateral kinetofragments, 23 (vs. 32) ciliary rows, and a short (vs. long and C‐shaped) adoral membranelle 3. Both the morphological and molecular phylogenies show B romeliophrya and G laucomides as sister group of the G laucomidae. Thus, they should have the same (family) rank.