The morphology and ontogenesis of a novel stylonychid ciliate, Tetmemena pustulata indica nov. subspec., were investigated using live observation and protargol preparation. The new subspecies was isolated from a water sample collected from the Thane Creek, Mumbai, India. At first glance, T. pustulata indica looked very similar in morphology and ontogenesis to the well-known Tetmemena pustulata, however, on detailed investigation some non-overlapping features in the ciliature were identified, i.e., the numbers of cirri in marginal rows, adoral membranelles, and bristles in dorsal kineties. These morphometric differences justified the separation at subspecies level. Furthermore, the resting cysts are different, i.e., with smooth external layer in T. pustulata indica whereas spinous in the nominotypical subspecies T. pustulata pustulata. The Venezuelan population of T. pustulata described by Foissner corresponds very well with the Indian population in the ciliature; however, the information on the resting cyst is lacking for the former. Our study presents an example of a cyst subspecies among hypotrich ciliates, and thus extends the concept which has been mainly reported for spathidiids.

新型纤毛纤毛虫Tetmemena pustulata indica nov的形态学和致瘤性。现场观察和普鲁塔果醇的制备对亚规格进行了研究。从从印度孟买的塔那溪收集的水样中分离出新的亚种。乍一看，印度脓草在形态和致瘤性上都与著名的羊膜癣菌非常相似，但是，在详细研究中，发现纤毛虫中有一些不重叠的特征，即边缘排中的毛圈数，口腔背膜上的膜毛和刚毛。这些形态学差异证明了在亚种水平上进行分离的合理性。此外，静止的囊肿是不同的，即，在T. pustulata indica而棘突在非典型亚种T中。脓疱。委内瑞拉T的人口。pustulata描述由Foissner对应得很好，在纤毛印度人口; 但是，前者缺乏有关静息囊肿的信息。我们的研究提供了一个例子，在亚伪毛纤毛虫中有一个囊肿亚种，因此扩展了主要针对甲虫的报道。