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Protistology 11 (2), 57-129 (2017)
Protistology
The cadastre of free-living ciliates and testate amoebae of Azerbaijan
Ilham Kh. Alekperov, Natalya Yu. Snegovaya and Elyana N.Tahirova
Institute ofZoology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, Azerbaijan | Submitted September 6, 2017 | Accepted September 16, 2017 |
Summary
This monograhy summarizes the most recent knowledge on species diversity and distribution of free-living ciliates and testate amoebae in natural waters and soils of Azerbaijan. The section on ciliates contains data on 757 species, with the indication of their distribution in 13 regions covering the entire territory of the country. The annotated species list includes the data on distribution ofrepresentatives of each ciliate family not only by region but also by the biotopes, including marine and freshwater as well as different soil habitats. The section on testate amoebae contains the data on 265 species, including biodiversity and occurrence of the species by regions and biotopes. This is the first comprehensive summary of the information about free-living ciliates and testate amoebae of Azerbaijan performed using the modern methods. This publication makes a substantial contribution to the existing knowledge of the overall biodiversity of the Caucasus Region.
Key words: free-living ciliates, testate amoebae, Azerbaijan
doi:10.21685/1680-0826-2017-11-2-1 © 2017 The Author(s)
Protistology © 2017 Protozoological Society Affiliated with RAS
Dedicated to the Founder of the Azerbaijani protozoology
Academician M.A. Musayev
History of research of free-living ciliates and testate amoebae in Azerbaijann
The World of Protozoa, mostly heterotrophic unicellular eukaryotic organisms, is huge: it comprises tens of thousands species of diverse morphologies inhabiting practically all regions of the globe. Their role in the biological processes on the Earth is enormous, and their importance is comparable to that of the autotrophs.
Out of nearly 200,000 morphological species of all protists known to date, ca. 40,000 species are inhabitants of the seas and oceans. According to the latest data, more than a half of the Earth's oxygen is produced by the World Ocean due to functioning of the unicellular autotrophic planktonic protists. Therefore, the notion "Woods are the lungs of the Earth" should be rather changed to: "Plankton are the lungs of the Earth".
In fresh waters and soils, the role of free-living heterotrophic protists (Protozoa) is likewise important: they actively participate in the processes ofproduction and decomposition of organic matter. For example, being bacteriophages, most ciliates and testate amoebae consume large amounts of bacteria, including pathogens, thereby contributing to biological purification of the environment. Soil Protozoa actively participate in the processes of increasing soil fertility. According to modern estimates, biomass of soil protozoans is quite comparable to biomass of multicellular pedobionts.
Information on free-living Protozoa ofAzerbai-jan in the publications of the early authors is very scarce (Grimm, 1876, 1877; Veysig, 1930, 1931, 1939, 1940; Alizade, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942). The main literature source is the Doctoral Dissertation of S.Ya. Veysig (1940) entitled "Materials on the microscopic hydrofauna ofthe Caucasus and its zoogeographical analysis". Further on, the monograph by A. Kasymov, the Corresponding Member of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, entitled "Hydrofauna of the Lower Kura and the Mingechaurian Reservoir", published in 1965, and also his second monograph, "The Freshwater Fauna of the Caucasus" (Kasymov, 1972) summarized the state-of-the-arts ofthis topic, with few additions to the already known data.
Analyzing the data of the early authors, we can conclude that only 53 species of ciliates and
49 species of amoebae (both "bare" and testate) from marine and fresh waters of Azerbaijan were known until the modern research period started.
The start of the modern period of studying free-living Protozoa in Azerbaijan was laid by F. Agamaliev's works on ciliates of the Caspian Sea, which began in the middle of the 1960s. His long-term research broadened our knowledge of free-living ciliates of the Caspian Sea. Earlier, according to O. Grimm and S. Veysig, only a few ciliate species were known, while Agamaliev's monograph "Ciliates of the Caspian Sea: Systematics, ecology, zoogeography" (1983) contained a list of 439 species, ofwhich 20 species and 1 genus were described for the first time.
In the 1960s, the first studies of soil protists were started in the Protistology Laboratory at the Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (Amiraslanova, 1967), and in the 1980s some additional complex studies on protistan pedobionts from several taxonomic groups (flagellates, amoebae, ciliates) were carried out. The soil protists of citrus plants plantations in Lankaran (Ibadov, 1983) and in cultivated soils of Absheron (Mirza-zade, 1989) were investigated. It should be noted that those researches were rather of ecological than of faunistic nature, and thus they were carried out without using the relevant species identification methods that are obligatory for the precise taxonomic determinations.
The first special investigation of soil testate amoebae in Azerbaijan was fulfilled in the 1990s (Zaidov, 1995). The 93 species of testate amoeba were found in the forest soils of North-Western Azerbaijan, of which 39 species were first observed for the fauna of the Caucasus, and 66 species were first records for the fauna of Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, at present studies of the soil testate amoebae are not carried out in Azerbaijan.
In the 80s of the XX century, several integrated hydrobiological investigations of freshwater micro-benthos were performed; during those studies, along with the other groups of aquatic organisms, free-living ciliates were investigated, and 15 ciliate species were described for the first time (Aliev, 1987a, 1987b,1990a, 1990b, 1991).
However, special regular investigations targeted on freshwater ciliates of Azerbaijan started only in 1972 by I. Alekperov. Taxonomic results of these long-term works were summarized and published in 2005, in his monograph "Atlas of Free-Living Ciliates (classes Kinetofragminophora, Colpodea, Polyhymenophora)", in which on the base of silver impregnation methods the illustrated descriptions of 251 species of ciliates, including 2 new families,
8 genera and 90 species were presented (Alekperov, 2005).
Of special importance for the knowledge of general biodiversity were the results of studies of free-living ciliates conducted in 1990 jointly with the colleagues from the Institute of Biology of the Kyrgyzstan Academy of Sciences, during the complex scientific expedition to Midle Asia. Three researchers — S. Dashdamirov, H. Aliyev and I. Alekperov from the Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, participated in this joint research. During the 2 months-long expedition, several groups of animals, including free-living ciliates, were sampled from the inland waters of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and partially Kazakhstan. The samples collected in the high-mountain fresh water reservoirs, as well as in the saline Issyk-Kul Lake were processed in Baku.
Moreover, according to the agreement with the colleagues-protozoologists from the Institute of Oceanology, USSR Academy of Sciences, in the late 1980s the preserved samples of planktonic ciliates from different areas of the Chukchi and Bering seas, as well as soil samples from the Line Island (Polynesia) were delivered to the Protistology Laboratory at the Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences for processing. All those unique materials were processed successfully and the obtained results, including the description of one new ciliate family and more than 10 new species, were published (Alekperov, Mamaeva, 1992).
The complete summary of results of the 45 years of research on the ciliate species diversity in marine, freshwater and soil habitats in Azerbaijan and other regions of the globe, as well as the results of environmental research, including the use of certain ciliate species for bioassays at the cellular and population levels, were summarized in the monograph "Free-living ciliates of Azerbaijan (ecology, zoogeography, practical significance)" (Alekperov, 2012). Currently, according to our estimation, the species diversity of free-living ciliates in Azerbaijan accounts for 755 species, including 3 families, 10 genera and more than 130 species described for the first time.
After more than a 40 years-long break, at the beginning of the millennium, the regular studies on freshwater testate amoebae of Azerbaijan were resumed, and their results have already shown the high species diversity of this group. At present, freshwater fauna ofthe testate amoeba in Azerbaijan
is represented by 275 species, of which 2 families, 8 genera and 47 species were described for the first time (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005, 2009, 2010a, 2010b). The studies of this group are currently in progress (Snegovaya, Tahirova, 2015).
Thus, the accumulated knowledge and vast, largely unpublished data on the biodiversity of these two groups ofthe free-living Protozoa in Azerbaijan required systematization and unification. Here we summarize all subsequent results of our own studies and also the reliable faunistic data from the published sources on the free-living ciliates from marine, freshwater and soil habitats, as well as freshwater and soil amoebae of Azerbaijan.
It goes without saying that this book is only the first attempt to sum up the results of studies of these two large groups of Protozoa in a certain geographic region, obtained (which is very important) by modern mandatory methods of taxonomic identification of species. The data on the species diversity of ciliates and testate amoebae presented in this monograph can be used for the adequate comparison of the faunas of Azerbaijan and the other regions of the world, where the studies were also carried out at the required methodological level, since only comparison of the data obtained by using the same methods gives the real picture of the protozoan zoogeography. Alternatively, we inevitably get stuck to the "cosmopolitanism theory" of the Protozoa.
All issues mentioned above explain the actuality of this monograph which should contribute significantly to the knowledge of the overall biodiversity of Azerbaijan and the entire Caucasus Region.
The attached map (Fig. 1) shows the regions of Azerbaijan where the investigations ofbiodiversity of free-living ciliates and testate amoeba were carried out.
The free-living ciliates
Since 1972, totally 757 species of free-living ciliates have been found during our research in marine and fresh waters, as well as in soil habitats in different regions of Azerbaijan. The annotated species list indicating the occurrence of these Protozoa by regions and biotopes in different study areas is given in Table 1.
In the section devoted to free-living ciliates in this publication, we use mainly the taxonomy system of A.W. Jankowski (2007), set forth in the second volume of the monograph "Protists".
Table 1. Taxonomic composition and occurrence of free-living ciliates in different regions of Azerbaijan.
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Class Kariorelictea Corliss, 1974 Order Trachelocercida Jank., 1978 Fam. Trachelocercidae Kent, 1880
1 Trachelocerca incaudata Kahl, 1933 +
2 T. cylindricolis Lepsi, 1962 +
3 Kovalevaia sulcata (Kovaleva, 1966) + +
4 K. teissieri (Dragesco,1960) + +
5 Tracheloraphis discolor Raikov,1962 + +
6 T. conformis Wright,1982 + +
7 T. binucleata Dragesco,1960 + +
8 T. oligostriata (Raikov,1962) + +
9 T. nivea Wright,1982 +
10 T. gracilis Dragesco,1960 +
Order Loxodida Jankowski, 1980 Fam. Kentrophoridae Jankowski, 1980
11 Kentrophorus canalis Wright,1982 + +
12 K. uninucleatus Raikov,1962 + + +
13 K. trichocistis (Dragesco,1954) + +
14 K. fauréi (Dragesco, 1954) + +
15 K. flavus Raikov et Kovaleva, 1968 + +
16 K. latus Raikov, 1962 + + +
Fam. Loxodidae Butschli, 1889
17 Loxodes rostrum (Mluller,1773) + + + + +
18 L. kahli Dragesco et Njine, 1971 + +
19 L. rex Dragesco, 1970 +
20 L. vorax Stokes, 1887 + + + +
21 L. penardi Dragesco, 1960 + +
22 L. striatus (Engelmann, 1862) + + + +
Fam. Cryptopharyngidae Jankowski, 1980
23 Cryptopharynx setigerus Kahl, 1928 + +
24 C. multinucleatum Dragesco,1960 + +
25 Apocryptopharynx wardi (Small et Lynn, 1985) +
Order Protoheterotrichida Nouzarede, 1977 Fam. Geleiidae Foissner, 1998 nec Kahl, 1933
26 Geleia fossata (Kahl, 1933) +
27 G. major (Dragesco, 1954) +
28 G. simplex (Fauré-Fremiet, 1951) +
29 G. nigriceps (Kahl, 1933) +
30 G. luci (Dragesco, 1960) +
31 G. acuta (Dragesco, 1960) +
Fam. Aveliidae Dragesco, 1999
32 Avelia gigas (Dragesco, 1954) + + +
33 A. arcachonense (Nouzarede, 1975) + + +
Order Heterotrichida Stein, 1859 Fam. Blepharismidae Jank. in Small et Lynn, 1985
34 Anigsteinia salinara (Florentin, 1899) + + + + + +
35 Blepharisma hyalinum Perty, 1849 +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
36 B. dileptus Kahl, 1928 +
37 B. falcatum Gelei, 1954 +
38 B. tardum Kahl, 1928 + +
39 B. vestitum Kahl, 1928 + +
40 B. coerulea Gajewskaja, 1933 + +
41 B. dawsoni Christie et Hirshfield, 1967 +
42 B. undulans Stein, 1868 + +
Fam. Spirostomatidae Stein, 1867
43 Spirostomum minus Roux, 1901 + + + + +
44 S. ambiquum (Müller, 1786) + + +
45 S. loxodes Stokes, 1885 + + + + +
46 S. teres Claparede et Lachmann, 1859 + + + + +
Fam. Climacostomidae Repak, 1972
47 Climacostomum virens (Ehrenberg, 1833) + + + + +
48 C. minimum Foissner, 1980 + + + + +
49 Fabrea salina Hennequy, 1890 +
Fam. Condylostomatidae Kahl in Dofflein and Reichenow, 1927
50 Condylostoma fieldi Hartwig, 1973 + +
51 C. granulosum Bullington, 1940 + +
52 C. psammophila Bock, 1954 +
53 C. reichi Wilbert et Kohan, 1981 +
54 C. subterraneum Lepsi, 1962 +
55 C. kasymovi Alekperov, 1984
56 C. arenarium Spiegel, 1926 +
57 C. magnum Spiegel, 1926 + +
58 C. spatiosum Ozaki et Yagiu in Yagiu, 1944 + + +
59 Linostomatella vorticella (Ehrenberg, 1833; + + +
Fam. Stentoridae Carus, 1863
60 Stentor amethistinus Leidy,1880 + +
61 S. polymorphus (Muller, 1773) + +
62 S. gracilis Maskell, 1887 +
63 S. roeselii Ehrenberg, 1835 +
64 S. mulleri Ehrenberg, 1831 +
65 S. viridis Ghosh, 1921 +
66 S. globator Stokes, 1885 +
67 S. coeruleus Ehrenberg, 1830 +
68 S. gallinulus Penard, 1922 +
Class Spirotrichea Butschli, 1889 Fam. Phacodiniidae Corliss, 1979
69 Phacodinium muscorum Prowazek, 1900 + + +
Order Stichotrichida Faure-Fremiet, 1961 Fam. Amphisiellidae Jankowski, 1979
70 Amphiziella annulata (Kahl, 1928) +
71 A. turanica Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1999 +
72 A. milnei Kahl, 1932 +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
73 A. quadrinucleata Berger et Foissner, 1989 + +
74 A. vitiphila (Foissner, 1987) + + +
75 A. marioni Wicklow, 1982 + + +
76 Hemiamphisiella terricola Foissner, 1988 + + +
77 Paramphisiella acuta Foissner, 1994 +
78 Paragastrostyla lanceolata Hemberger, 1985 + + +
79 Pseudouroleptus caudatus Hemberger, 1985 + + +
80 P. terrestris Hemberger, 1985 + + +
Fam. Kahliellidae Tuffrau, 1979
81 Kahliella acrobates Horvath, 1932 +
82 K. microstoma Alekperov, 1985 +
83 K. spirostoma Alekperov, 1988 +
84 K. costata Kahl, 1932 +
85 K. bacilliformis (Gelei, 1954) +
Fam. Oxytrichidae Ehrenberg, 1838
86 Tachysoma rigescens (Kahl, 1932) +
87 T. ovata Song et Wilbert, 1997 +
88 Stylonychia bifaria (Stokes, 1887) + + + + +
89 S. vorax Stokes, 1885 + + + +
90 S. quadrinucleata Alekperov et Musaev, 1988 +
91 S. putrina Stokes, 1885 + + +
92 S. vorax Stokes, 1885 + + + +
93 S. notophora Stokes, 1885 + +
94 Histriculus similis (Quennerstedt, 1867) + + +
95 H. complanatus (Stokes, 1887) + + +
96 H. vorax (Stokes, 1891) + + + + +
97 H. steini (Sterki, 1878) + + +
98 Sterkiella tricirrata (Buitkamp, 1977) + +
99 Paraurostyla (Urostyla) wessei (Stein, 1859) + + + + +
100 P. granulifera Berger et Foissner, 1989 + + + +
101 P. polynucleata Alekperov, 1993 + + +
102 Oxytricha fallax Stein, 1859 + + + + +
103 O. balladina Song et Wilbert, 1989 + + +
104 O. himenostoma Stokes, 1887 + +
105 O. marina Kahl, 1932 + + + +
106 Tachysoma (Oxytricha) pellionella (Müller, 1773) + + +
107 O. setigera Stokes, 1891 + +
108 O. aeruginosa Wrzesniovski, 1870 + + +
109 O. tenella Song et Wilbert, 1989 + + +
110 O. halophila Kahl, 1932 + + +
111 O. ovalis Kahl, 1932 +
112 O. discifera Kahl, 1932 +
113 O. longa Gelei et Szabados, 1950 +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Distribution by regions
Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
114 O. gibba (Müller, 1786) +
115 Wallaskia schiffmanni Foissner, 1976 + + +
116 Gonostomum gonostomoida (Hemberger, 1985) + +
117 G. affinis (Stein, 1859) + +
118 G. kuehnelti Foissner, 1987 + +
Fam. Keronidae Dujardin, 1841
119 Kerona pediculus (Müller, 1773) +
120 Paraholosticha herbicola (Kahl, 1932) + +
121 P. polychaeta Borror, 1966 + + +
122 P. flava (Berger, 2006) + + +
123 Keronopsis arenivorus Dragesco, 1954 + + + + +
124 K. longissima Dragesco et Dragesco-Kerneis, 1986 +
125 K. helluo (Penard, 1922) + +
126 K. gracilis Dragesco, 1954 + + +
127 K. pernix Wrzesniowski, 1877 + + + +
128 Strongylidium wilberti Foissner, 1982 + + +
129 S. crassum Sterki, 1878 +
Order Urostylida Jankowski, 1979 Fam. Pseudokeronopsidae Borror et Wicklow, 1983
130 Pseudokeronopsis rubra (Ehrenberg, 1838) + + + + +
131 P. carnea (Cohn, 1866) +
132 P. flava (Cohn, 1866) + + + +
133 P. sepetibensis Wanick et Da Silva Neto, 2004 + +
Fam. Bakuellidae Jankowski, 1979
134 Bakuella marina Agamaliev et Alekperov, 1976 + + +
135 B. crenata Agamaliev et Alekperov, 1976 + +
136 B. polycirrata Alekperov, 1988 +
137 B. imbricata Alekperov, 1982 +
138 Metabakuella perbella Alekperov et Musaev, 1988 + +
139 Pseudobakuella walibonensis (Song, Wilbert, Berger, 1992) +
140 P. gracilis Alekperov, 1992 + +
Fam. Pseudourostylidae Jankowski, 1979
141 Pseudourostyla cristata (Jerka-Dziadosz, 1964) + + + +
142 P. laevis Takahashi, 1973 + + +
143 P. franzi Foissner, 1987 +
Fam. Urostylidae Bütschli, 1889
144 Urostyla marina Kahl, 1932 + + + + +
145 U. grandis Ehrb., 1830 + + + + + +
146 U. viridis Stein, 1859 + +
147 U. dispar Kahl, 1932 + + + + +
148 U. latissima Dragesco, 1970 +
149 U. chlorelligera Foissner,1980 +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
150 U. hologama Heckmann, 1963 +
151 Metaurostyla polonica (Borror, 1972) +
152 M. raikovi (Alekperov, 1987) +
153 Birojimia terricola Berger et Foissner, 1989 + +
154 Pseudoamphisiella alveolata (Kahl, 1932) + +
155 Paruroleptus gallina (Müller, 1786) +
156 P. notabilis Berger et Foissner, 1987 +
157 Holosticha heterofoissneri Hu et Song, 2001 + +
158 H. pullaster (Müller, 1773) + + +
159 H. foissneri Petz, Song et Wilbert, 1995 + + +
160 Anteholosticha monilata (Kahl, 1928) +
161 A. adami (Foissner, 1982) + +
162 A. pulchra (Kahl, 1932) +
163 A. randani (Gluliere, 1975) +
164 A. manca (Kahl, 1932) + +
165 A. grisea (Kahl, 1932) + + +
166 A. muscicola (Gellert, 1956) + +
167 Trichototaxis crassus (Claparede et Lachmann, 1858) + + +
168 T. velox (Quennerstedt, 1869) + +
169 T. pulchra Borror,1972 +
Order Euplotida Jankowski, 1980 Fam. Kiitrichidae Nozawa, 1941
170 Musajevella minima Alekperov, 1984 + + +
Fam. Euplotidae Ehrenberg, 1838
171 Euplotes raikovi Agamaliev, 1966 + + + + +
172 E. khazarica Alekperov, Buskey, Snegovaya, 2006 +
173 E. pseudoraikovi Alekperov, 2005 +
174 E. harpa Stein, 1859 + + + + + +
175 E. balteatus Dujardin, 1842 + + +
176 E. eurystomus Wrzesniowski, 1870 + + +
177 E. gracilis Kahl, 1932 + + + +
178 E. minuta Yocom, 1930 +
179 E. vannus (Müller, 1786) + + + +
180 E. rariseta Curds, West et Dorahy, 1974 +
181 E. focardii Valbonesi et Luporini, 1990 +
182 E. charon (Müller, 1786) + + +
183 E. alatus Kahl, 1932 +
184 E. corsica Berger et Foissner, 1989 +
185 E. trisulcatus Kahl, 1932 + + +
186 E. octocirratus Agamaliev, 1967 +
187 E. apsheronicus Agamaliev, 1966 +
188 E. muscicola Kahl, 1932 + + +
189 E. poljanskyi Agamaliev, 1966 +
190 E. strelkovi Agamaliev, 1967 +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
191 E. dogieli Agamaliev, 1967 +
192 E. patella (Müller, 1773; + + +
193 E. kurekchayi Aliev, 1987 +
194 E. sharuri Aliev, 1987 +
195 E. ogusi Aliev, 1987 +
196 E. kasymovi Aliev, 1987 +
Fam. Aspidiscidae Ehrenberg, 1838
197 Aspidisca fusca Kahl, 1928 + + + +
198 A. leptaspis Fresenius, 1865 +
199 A. pulcherrima Kahl, 1932 +
200 A. aculeata (Ehrenberg, 1838) + +
201 A. dentata Kahl, 1928 +
202 A. cicada Müller, 1786 + + + +
203 A. binucleata Kahl, 1932 + +
204 A. magna Kahl, 1930 +
205 A. turrita (Ehrenberg, 1838) + +
206 A. polystyla Stein, 1859 + + +
207 A. mutans Kahl, 1932 + +
208 A. sedigita Quennerstedt, 1867 +
209 A. poljanski Alekperov, 1985 + + +
210 A. steini Buddenbrock, 1920 + + + +
211 A. caspica Agamaliev, 1967 + +
Fam. Uronychiidae Jankowski, 1975
212 Diophrys scutum Dujardin, 1841 + + + + +
213 D. multicirratus Alekperov, 1984 +
214 D. polycirratus Alekperov, 1984 +
215 D. oligothrix Borror, 1965 + + +
216 D. kasymovi Agamaliev, 1971 +
217 D. scutoides Agamaliev, 1967 +
218 D. quadricaudatus Agamaliev, 1967 +
219 Uronychia transfuga (Müller, 1776) + + + +
220 U. binucleata Young, 1922 + +
221 U. setigera Calkins, 1902 + +
222 U. heinrothi Buddenbrock, 1920 + + +
223 U. bivalvorum Fenchel, 1965 + +
224 U. invicta Alekperov, 1985
225 U. caspica Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1999 + +
226 U. magna Pierantoni, 1909 + +
Class Oligotrichea Butschli, 1887 Order Halteriida Jankowski, 2007 Fam. Halteriidae Clap. et L., 1858
227 Halteria grandinella (Müller, 1786) + + + + + +
228 H. maxima Szabo, 1934 + +
229 H. bifurcata Tamar, 1968 + +
230 H. oviformis Gelei, 1950 + +
231 H. geleiana Szabo, 1935 + +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
232 H. tamari Dragesco et Dragesco-Kerneis, 1986 +
233 Pelagohalteria viridis (Fromentel, 1876) + + +
234 P. cirrifera (Kahl, 1932) + + +
Order Strombidiida Jankowski, 1980 Fam. Strombidiidae Fauré-Fremiet, 1970
235 Omegastrombidium elegans (Florentin, 1901) +
236 Arcostrombidium grande (Levander, 1894) + + +
237 Heterostrombidium calkinsi Fauré-Fremiet, 1932 +
238 H. faurei (Dragesco, 1960) + + +
239 H. clavellinae (Buddenbrock, 1922) + +
240 Limnostrombidium viride (Stein, 1867) + + + +
241 Novistrombidium testaceum (Anigstein, 1914) + +
242 Spirostrombidium coronatum (Sauerbrey, 1928) + +
243 S. cinctum Kahl, 1932 + + +
244 Pelagostrombidium mirabile (Penard, 1916) + + +
245 P. fallax (Zacharias, 1896) + + +
246 Strombidium obtusum Alekperov et Mamaeva, 1992 + +
247 S. apsheronicum Alekperov et Asad., 1997 + + + +
248 S. kahli Bock, 1952 + +
249 S. elegans Florentin, 1899 + +
250 S. arenicola Dragesco, 1960 + +
251 S. oculatum Gruber, 1888 + +
252 S. obliquum Kahl, 1932 +
253 S. elatum Alekperov, 1985 + +
254 S. caspicum Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1997 + + +
255 S. conicoides (Leegaard, 1915) + + +
256 S. nabranicum Alekperov, Buskey, Snegovaya, 2005 + +
Order Strobilidiida Jankowski, 1980 Fam. Strombidinopsidae Small et Lynn, 1985
257 Strombidinopsis claparedi Kent, 1881 + + +
258 S. elongata Song et Bradbury, 1998 + + +
259 S. elegans Song et Bradbury, 1998 + +
260 S. spinifera (Leegaard, 1915) + +
261 S. azerbaijanica Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1997 +
Fam. Strobilidiidae Kahl in Doflein et Reich., 1929
262 Strobilidium caudatum (Fromentel, 1876) + + +
263 S. marinum Fauré-Fremiet, 1924 + + +
264 S. conicum Kahl, 1932
265 Rimostrombidium velox (Fauré-Fremiet, 1924) + + + + +
266 R. humile (Penard, 1922) + + +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 19G1 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 Б 6 7 3 9 1G 11 12 13
261 Pelagostrobilidium neptuni Montagnes et Taylor, 1994 + +
2б8 P. spirale (Leegaard, 1915) + +
Order Tintinnida Kofoid et Campbell, 1929 Fam. Codonellidae Kent, 1331
269 Codonella cratera (Leidy, 1811) + +
210 C. relicta Minkewitch, 1909 + +
211 Tintinnopsis cylindrata Kofoid et Campbell, 1892 + +
Class Armophorea Lynn, 2GG2 Order Metopida Jankowski, 193G Fam. Metopidae Kahl, 1927
212 Metopus acidiferus Kahl, 1935 + + + +
213 M. caucasicus Alekperov, 1984 + + +
214 M. fuscoides Alekperov, 1984 + + +
215 M. contortus (Quennerstedt, 1867) +
216 M. es (Muller, 1786) + +
211 M. halophilus Kahl, 1932 + + +
218 M. major Kahl, 1932 +
219 M. propagatus Kahl, 1927 + + + +
280 M. vestitus Kahl, 1935 + + +
281 Brachonella caduca (Kahl, 1927) + +
282 B. mitriformis Alekperov, 1984 + + +
283 B. spiralis (Smith, 1897) + +
284 B. darwini (Kahl, 1927) + +
285 B. elongata Jankowski, 1964 + +
Order Armophorida Jankowski, 19б4 Fam. Caenomorphidae Poche, 1913
286 Caenomorpha medusula Perty, 1852 + +
281 C. levanderi Kahl, 1921 +
288 C. lauterborni Kahl, 1921 + +
Order Odontostomatida Sawaya, 194G Fam. Epalxellidae Corliss, 196g
289 Pelodinium rotundum Kahl, 1926 + +
290 Epalxella mirabilis (Roux, 1899) +
291 E. antiquorum (Penard, 1922) + +
292 E. triangula (Kahl, 1932) + +
293 E. elliptica (Penard, 1922) +
294 E. striata (Kahl, 1926) + +
295 Saprodinium dentatum (Lauterborn, 1908) + +
296 S. halophilum Kahl, 1932 + + +
291 S. putrinum Lackey, 1925 +
298 S. mimeticum (Penard, 1922) + +
299 S. spinigerum Kahl, 1932 +
Fam. Mylestomatidae Kahl in Doflein et Reich., 1929
300 Mylestoma flagellatum Penard, 1922 +
301 M. uncinatus (Penard, 1922) +
302 M. bipartitum (Gourret et Roeser, 1886) + +
303 M. pusillum Kahl, 1932 +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 19G1 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 б 7 8 9 1G 11 12 13
Class Litostomatea Small et Linn, 1981 Order Haptorida Corliss, 1974 Fam. Fuscheriidae Foissner, Agatha et Berger, 2002
304 Fuscheria nodosa Foissner, 1983 + + + +
305 F. terricola Berger, Foissner et Adam, 1983 + + +
Fam. Encheliodontidae Foissner, Agata et Berger, 2GG2
306 Encheliodon armatides Foissner, Agata et Berger, 2002 + +
307 E. nodosus Berger, Foissner et Adam, 2002 + +
308 E. tratzi Foissner, 1987 +
Fam. Enchelyidae Ehrenberg, 1838
309 Enchelys gasterosteus Kahl, 1926 + +
310 E. marina (Meunier, 1910) + +
311 E. pectinata Kahl, 1930 + +
312 E. simplex Kahl, 1926 +
313 E. lencoranica Alekperov, 1984 +
314 Papillorhabdos multinucleatus Foissner, 1984 +
315 Lagynophrya mutans Kahl, 1927 + +
316 L. halophila Kahl, 1930 + +
317 L. pumilio Mansfeld, 1923 +
318 L. maxima Burkovski, 1970 + +
Fam. Trachelophyllidae Kent, 1882
319 Trachelophyllum vestitum Stokes, 1886 +
320 T. pusillum Claparede et Lachmann, 1858 +
321 T. clavatum Stokes, 1886 + + +
322 T. triangularum Tucolesco, 1962 + +
323 T. apiculatum (Perty, 1852) + +
324 T. attenuatum Tucolesco, 1962 + + +
Fam. Lacrymariidae Fromentel, 187б
325 Lacrymaria olor (Müller, 1786) + + + + +
326 L. marina Kahl, 1933 + + + + + +
327 L. kahli Dragesco, 1954 + + + +
328 L. pulchra Wenzel, 1953 + + + + +
329 L. lagenula Kahl, 1927 + + +
330 L. clavarioides Alekperov, 1984 + + + + +
331 L. issykkulica Alekperov, 1997 + + + +
332 L. acuta Kahl, 1933 + +
333 L. minuta Dragesco, 1963 + + + +
334 L. spiralis Corliss and Snyder, 1986 + +
335 L. cucumis Penard, 1922 + + + + +
336 L. delmarei (Dragesco, 1954) + + + +
337 Pelagolacrymaria moserae Foissner, Berger et Schaumburg, 1999 + +
338 P. rostrata Kahl, 1935 + +
339 Phialina pupula (Müller, 1773) + + +
340 P. vermicularis (Müller, 1773) + + +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 19G1 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 Б 6 7 3 9 1G 11 12 13
341 P. conifera (Burkovsky, 1910) + +
342 P. vertens (Stokes, 1885) + +
343 P. macrostoma Foissner, 1983 + +
344 P. decussata (Tucolesco, 1962) + +
345 P. ovata Burkovsky, 1910 + + +
Fam. Spathidiidae Kahl, 1929
346 Spathidium procerum Kahl, 1930 +
346 S. porculus Penard, 1922 +
348 S. moniliforme Bhatia, 1920 + + + +
349 S. deforme (Kahl, 1928) + +
350 S. chlorelligerum Kahl, 1930 +
351 S. cetiforme Alekperov, 1984 +
352 S. meloforme Alekperov, 1983 +
353 S. extensum Kahl, 1933 + +
354 S. fossicola Kahl, 1933 + +
355 S. binucleatum Lepsi, 1964 + +
356 S. amphoriforme Greef, 1888 +
351 S. seppelti Petz et Foissner, 1991 +
358 Supraspathidium vermiforme (Penard, 1922) + +
359 S. polyvacuolatum (Vuxanovichi, 1959) + +
360 S. latissimum (Lepsi, 1959) + +
361 S. spathula (Müller, 1186) +
362 S. armatum Foissner, Agatha et Berger, 2002 + +
363 S. teres (Stokes, 1886) + + +
364 S. procerum Kahl, 1930 + + +
365 Epispathidium ascendens (Wenzel, 1953) +
366 E. polynucleatuum Foissner, Agatha et Berger, 2002 +
361 Arcuospathidium cultriforme (Penard, 1922) + +
368 A. novaki Foissner, Agatha et Berger, 2002 + +
369 Protospathidium muscicola Dragesco et Dragesco-Kerneis, 1919 + + +
310 P. terricola Foissner, 1998 + + +
311 Perispira ovum Stein, 1859 + +
312 P. strephostoma Stokes, 1886 +
313 P. oligospira Gelei, 1954 + +
Fam. Didiniidae Poche, 1913
314 Monodinium balbianii Fabre-Domerque, 1888 + + + + + +
315 M. perrieri Delphy, 1925 + + + +
316 M. alveolatum Kahl, 1930 + + +
311 M. chlorelligerum Krainer, 1995 + + +
318 Didinium nasutum (Müller, 1113) + + + + + + + + +
319 D. chlorelligerum Kahl, 1935 + + + + + +
380 D. gargantua Meinier, 1901 + + + +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Fam. Trachelidae Ehrenberg, 1838
381 Dileptus mucronatus Penard, 1922 + + + +
382 D. breviproboscis Foissner, 1981 + + + + +
383 D. orientalis Song, Pakroff et Wilbert, 1988 + +
384 D. cygnus (Claparede et Lachmann, 1859) + + + + + +
385 Pelagodileptus trachelioides (Zacharias, 1894) + + +
386 Paradileptus elephantinus (Svec, 1897) + +
387 P. conicus Wenrich, 1929 +
388 Trachelius ovum Ehrenberg, 1831 + + +
389 Teutophrys trisulca (Chatton et de Beauchamp, 1923) +
390 Paraspathidium obliquum Dragesco, 1963 + + + + +
391 P. fuscum Kahl, 1928 + + + + +
392 P. longinucleatum Czapik et Jordan, 1976 +
Order Cyclotrichida Jankowski, 1980 Fam. Mesodiniidae Jankowski, 1980
393 Askenasia confunis Alekperov, 1984 + +
394 A. mobilis Alekperov, 1984 + +
395 A. elegans (Fauré-Fremiet, 1924) + + + + +
396 A. chlorelligera Krainer et Foissner, 1990 + + + +
397 A. volvox (Eichwald, 1852) + + + + +
398 A. stellaris (Leegard, 1920) + + + +
399 Mesodinium acarus (Claparede et Lachmann, 1859) + + + + + +
400 M. apsheronicum Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1996 + + +
401 M. cinctum Kahl, 1930 + + + + +
Fam. Cyclotrichiidae Jankowski, 1980
402 Cyclotrichium cyclokaryon Meunier, 1910 +
403 C. gigas Fauré-Fremiet, 1924 + + +
404 C. inflatum Alekperov, 1984 +
405 C. ovatum Fauré-Fremiet, 1924 + + + +
Order Pleurostomatida Schewiakoff, 1896 Fam. Amphileptidae Butschli, 1889
406 Amphileptus claparedii Stein, 1867 + +
407 A. punctatus (Kahl, 1926) + + + +
408 A. fusiformis Song et Wilbert, 1989 +
409 A. falcatus Song et Wilbert, 1989 + +
410 A. procerus (Penard, 1922) + + + +
411 Litonotus triqueter Penard, 1922 + + +
412 L. obtusus Maupas, 1888 + +
413 L. minusculus Song et Wilbert, 1989 +
414 L. crystallinus (Vuxanovici, 1960) + + +
415 L. anguilla Kahl, 1931 + + +
416 L. uninucleatus (Kahl, 1931) + +
417 L. mononucleatus Song et Wilbert, 1989 + +
418 Loxophyllum meleagris (Müller, 1773) + + + +
419 L. helus Stokes, 1884 + + + + +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
420 L. vorax Stokes, 1886 + + + +
421 L. multiplicatum Kahl, 1931 +
422 L. undulatum Sauerbrey, 1928 + +
423 L. semilunare Vuxanovichi, 1960 + +
424 L. hyalinum Vacelet, 1961 + +
Class Phyllopharyngea Puytorac et al., 1974 Chlamidodontida Deroux, 1976 Fam. Chilodonellidae Deroux, 1970
425 Chilodonella uncinata (Ehrenberg, 1838) +
426 C. aplanata Kahl, 1932 + + + +
427 C. capucina (Penard, 1922) + + + +
428 Trithigmostoma steini (Blochmann, 1895) + + + + + +
429 T. bavariensis (Kahl, 1931) + +
430 T. cucullulus (Müller, 1786) + + + + + +
431 T. hialina (Kidder et Summers, 1935) + + +
432 Alinostoma multivacuolatum Alekperov, 1993 + +
433 A. polyvacuolatum (Foissner et Didier, 1981) + +
Fam. Gastronautidae Deroux, 1994
434 Gastronauta membranaceus Engelmann in Bütschli, 1889 + +
435 G. derouxi Blatterer et Foissner, 1992 +
Fam. Chlamydodontidae Stein, 1859
436 Chlamydodon mnemosyne Ehrenberg, 1835 + + + + +
437 C. obliquus Kahl, 1931 + + + + + +
438 C. apsheronicus Aliev, 1987 +
439 C. rectus Ozaki et Yagiu, 1941 + + +
440 C. cyclops Entz, 1886 +
441 C. roseus Dragesco, 1966 +
442 C. erythrorhynchus (Perejaslawzewa, 1885) + +
443 C. major (Kahl, 1931) + +
444 Cyrtophoron poljanskyi Aliev, 1991 +
445 C. burkowskyi Aliev, 1991 +
446 Nezamidon kasymovi (Aliev, 1991) +
Order Dysteriida Deroux, 1976 Fam. Dysteriidae Claparede et Lachmann, 1858
447 Dysteria procera Kahl, 1931 + +
448 D. monostyla (Ehrenberg, 1838) + +
449 D. pectinata (Nowlin, 1910) + +
450 D. parovalis Wilbert and Song, 2003 + +
451 D. armata Huxley, 1857 + +
452 D. ovalis (Gourret et Roeser, 1886) + +
453 D. calkinsi Kahl, 1931 +
454 D. navicula Kahl, 1928 +
455 D. sulcata Claparede et Lachmann, 1885 +
456 D. marioni Gourret et Roeser, 1887 +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Fam. Hartmanulidae Poche, 1913
457 Hartmanula acrobates Brodsky, 1908 + +
458 H. entzi Kahl, 1931 + +
459 H. ocellata Tucolesco, 1962 + +
460 H. angustipilosa Deroux et Dragesco, 1968 + + +
Class Nassophorea Small et Lynn, 1981 Order Synhymeniida Puytorac et al., 1974 Fam. Orthodonellidae Jankowski, 1968
461 Chilidontopsis depressa (Perty, 1852) + + +
462 C. kurensis Alekperov, 1985 +
463 C. vermiformis Deroux, 1978 + + +
464 Zosterodasys debilis Alekperov, 1984 + + +
465 Z. caspica Fernandez-Leborans et Alekperov, 1995 + +
466 Z. cantabrica Fernandez-Leborans et Alekperov, 1995 + + +
467 Z. mirabilis Alekperov, 1984 + +
468 Z. fluviatilis Fern.-Leb. et Alekperov, 1995 + +
469 Z. vorax (Stokes, 1887) + + +
470 Z. alizadei Aliev, 1990 +
471 Z. azerbaijanicus Aliev, 1990 +
472 Z. raikovi Aliev, 1990 +
473 Z. jankowski Aliev, 1990 +
474 Z. shumerica Aliev, 1990 +
475 Z. kurensis Aliev,1990 +
476 Z. kasymovi Aliev, 1990 +
Order Nassulida Jankowski, 1968 Fam. Nassulopsidae Deroux in Corliss, 1979
477 Nassulopsis elegans (Ehrenberg, 1833) + + +
478 N. lagenula Fauré-Fremiet, 1959 + +
479 N. muscicola Kahl, 1933 + +
480 N. aziatica Alekperov, 1997 +
481 Beersena mirabundis (Alekperov, 1984) +
Fam. Furgasoniidae Corliss, 1979
482 Furgasonia tricirrata (Gelei, 1932) +
483 F. rubens (Perty, 1849) +
484 F. theresae (Fabre-Domergue, 1888) +
485 F. blochmanni Fauré-Fremiet, 1967 + + +
Fam. Nassulidae Fromentel, 1874
486 Nassula ornata Ehrenberg, 1834 + + + + + +
487 N. parva Kahl, 1928 + + + + +
488 N. tumida Maskell, 1887 + + + + + + +
489 N. argentula Biernacka, 1963 + +
490 N. marina Alekperov et Asadullaeva, 1997 + + +
491 N. dragescoi Foissner, Agatha, Berger, 2002 +
492 N. etoschensis Foissner, Agatha, Berger, 2002 +
493 N. tumida Maskell, 1887 + + + + + +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
494 N. terricola Foissner, 1990 + +
495 N. nahchivanica Alekperov, 1984 +
496 N. argentula Biernacka, 1963 + +
497 Obertrumia regina (Alekperov, 1984) + +
498 O. aurea (Ehrenberg, 1834) + + +
499 O. gracilis (Kahl, 1931) + + +
Order Microthoracida Jankowski, 1967 Fam. Pseudomicrothoracidae Jankowski, 1967
500 Pseudomicrothorax agilis Mermod, 1914 + + + + +
501 P. dubius Maupas, 1883 + + + + + +
Fam. Microthoracidae Wrzesniowski, 1870
502 Microthorax pusillus Engelmann, 1862 + +
503 M. penicillata Vuxanovici, 1961 + +
504 M. spiniger Penard, 1922 +
505 M. elegans Kahl, 1931 + + +
506 M. glaber Kahl, 1926 + +
507 M. transversus Foissner, 1985 + +
508 M. tridentatus Kahl, 1931 + + +
509 M. leptopharyngiformis Foissner, 1985 + +
510 M. ovinucleatus Sramek-Husek, 1957 + +
511 Leptopharynx minimus Alekperov, 1993 + +
512 L. costatus Mermod, 1914 + + +
513 L. margaritata Alekperov, 1993 + +
514 Trochiliopsis opaca Penard, 1922 + + + +
515 Drepanomonas dentate Fresenius, 1858 + + + +
Class Colpodea Small et Lynn, 1981 Order Colpodida Puytorac et al., 1974 Fam. Colpodidae Bory de St. Vincent, 1826
516 Colpoda maupasi Enriques, 1908 + + + +
517 C. inflata (Stokes, 1884) + + + + +
518 C. cucullus (Müller, 1773) + + + + + +
519 C. minima (Alekperov, 1985) +
520 C. aspera Kahl, 1926 + + + + + +
521 C. magna (Gruber, 1879) + + + +
522 C. bifurcata Alekperov, 1993 +
523 C. edaphoni Foissner, 1980 +
524 C. colpidiopsis Kahl, 1931 + + + + + +
525 C. oblonga Dragesco, 1972 + + + +
526 C. praestans Penard, 1922 +
527 Bresslaua vorax Kahl, 1931 + + +
528 B. dissimilis Alekperov, 1985 +
529 B. insidiatrix Claff, Dewey et Kidder, 1941 + + +
Fam. Hausmanniellidae Foissner, 1987
530 Hausmaniella discoidea (Gellert, 1956) + +
531 H. patella (Kahl, 1931) +
532 H. quinquecirrata (Gellert, 1955) +
533 Avestina acuta (Buitkamp, 1977) + +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Fam. Grossglockneriidae Foissner, 1980
534 Grossglockneria acuta Foissner, 1980 + +
535 G. hyalina Foissner, 1985 +
536 Pseudoplatyophrya nana (Kahl, 1926) +
537 P. terricola Foissner, 1985 +
Order Bursariomorphida Fernandez-Galiano, 1978 Fam. Bursariidae Foissner, 1993
538 Bursaria truncatella Müller, 1773 + + +
539 B. ovata Beers, 1952 +
Order Bryophryida Puytorac, Perez-Paniagua et Perez-Silva, 1979 Fam. Bryophryidae Puytorac, Perez-Paniagua et Perez-Silva, 1979
540 Bryophrya bavariensis Kahl, 1931 + +
541 B. rubescens (Penard, 1922) + +
542 B. flexibilis (Penard, 1922) +
Order Cyrtolophosidida Foissner, 1978 Fam. Cyrtolophosididae Stokes, 1888
543 Cyrtolophosis mucicola Stokes, 1885 + + +
544 C. bivacuolata Vuxanovici, 1963 + + +
545 C. minor Vuxanovici, 1963 + + +
546 C. acuta Kahl, 1926 + + + +
Fam. Platyophryidae Puytorac, Per.-Pan. et P.-Silva, 1979
547 Platyophrya vorax Kahl, 1926 + + +
548 P. spumacola Kahl, 1927 + + +
549 P. sphagni (Penard, 1922) + + +
550 P. dubia Foissner, 1980 + +
Fam. Woodruffiidae Gelei, 1954
551 Rostrophrya falcata Alekperov, 1984 + +
552 R. regis Njine, 1993 +
553 R. camerounensis Njine, 1979 +
554 Woodruffia rostrata Kahl, 1931 +
Order. Briometopida Foissner, 1985 Fam. Briometopidae Jankowski, 1980
555 Briometopus pseudochilodon Kahl, 1932 + +
556 B. sphagni (Penard, 1922) +
557 Thylakidium truncatum Schewiakoff, 1892 +
558 T. macrostomum Alekperov, 1991 + +
559 T. magnum Alekperov, 1991 + +
Class Prostomatea Small et Lynn, 1985 Order Prorodontida Corliss, 1974 Fam. Colepidae Nitzsch, 1827
560 Coleps remanei Kahl, 1933 + + + +
561 C. trichotus Savi, 1913 + + + +
562 C. spiralis Noland, 1937 + + +
563 C. arenicolus Dragesco, 1965 + + +
564 C. spinosus Vacelet, 1961 + + + + +
565 C. bicuspis Noland, 1925 + + + + +
566 C. pulcher Spiegel, 1926 +
567 C. elongatus Ehrenberg, 1833 + + + + + +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
568 C. amphacanthus Ehrenberg, 1833 + +
569 C. lacustris Fauré-Fremiet, 1924 + + + + +
570 C. nolandi Kahl, 1930 + + +
571 C. hirtus Nitzsch, 1921 + + + + + + + + +
572 C. tesselatus Kahl, 1930 + + +
Fam. Holophryidae Perty, 1852
573 Holophrya saginata Penard, 1922 + +
574 H. gracilis Penard, 1922 +
575 H. nigricans Lauterborn, 1894 + +
576 H. vorax Dragesco, 1960 + + +
577 H. salinarum Foissner, Agata et Berger, 2002 + + +
578 H. carchesii Canella, 1964 + + +
579 H. africana Dragesco, 1965 + +
580 H. spirogyrophaga (Leipe, 1989) + + +
Fam. Placidae Small et Lynn, 1985
581 Placus longinucleatus Song and Wilbert, 1989 + +
582 P. striatus Cohn, 1856 +
Fam. Plagiocampidae Kahl, 1926
583 Plagiocampa mutabile Schewiakoff, 1893 +
584 P. kurensis Alekperov, 2005 +
585 P. atra Grandori, 1934 +
586 P. acuminata Kahl, 1933 +
587 P. caudata Alekperov, 1984 + +
588 P. binucleata Tucolesco, 1962 +
589 P. multiseta Kahl, 1930 +
590 P. ovata Gelei, 1954 +
591 P. rouxi Kahl, 1926 +
592 P. bitricha Foissner, 1999 +
593 P. difficilis Foissner, 1981 + +
Fam. Prorodontidae Ehrenberg, 1834
594 Prorodon pluvialis Dragesco, 1962 + + + +
595 P. ovalis Dragesco, 1970 +
596 P. africanus Dragesco, 1970 +
597 P. ellipticus (Kahl, 1930) +
598 P. niveus Ehrenberg, 1834 + + +
599 P. nucleolatus Penard, 1938 +
600 P. laurenti Dragesco, 1966 + + + +
601 P. lucens Alekperov, 1985 + + +
602 P. platyodon Blochmann, 1895 + + +
603 P. mimeticus Kahl, 1932 + + + +
Fam. Urotrichidae Small et Lynn, 1985
604 Rhagadostoma completum Kahl, 1926 +
605 R. nudicaudatum Kahl, 1920 +
606 Urotricha farcta Claparede et Lachman, 1859 + +
607 U. macrostoma Foissner, 1983 +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
608 U. sphaerica Groliere, 1977 + +
609 U. armata Kahl, 1927 + +
610 U. discolor Kahl, 1931 + +
611 U. baltica Czapik et Jordan, 1977 + +
612 U. atypica Alekperov, 1993 +
613 U. turanica Alekperov, 1977 +
614 U. pelagica Kahl, 1932 + +
615 U. valida Song et Wilbert, 1989 +
616 U. globosa Schewiakoff, 1892 +
617 U. corlissiana Song et Wilbert, 1989 +
618 U. apsheronica Alekperov, 1984 + +
619 U. terricola Alekperov et Musaev, 1988 +
620 Longifragma obliqua (Kahl, 1926) + +
621 L. gracilis Alekperov et Musaev, 1988 + +
Class Plagiopylea Small et Lynn, 1985 Order Plagiopylida Jankowski, 1978 Fam. Plagiopylidae Schewiakoff, 1896
622 Sonderia macrochilus Kahl, 1931 + + + +
623 S. megalabiata Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1996 + + +
624 S. paralabiata Small et Lynn, 1985 + + +
625 S. sinuata Kahl, 1931 + + +
626 Plagiopyla frontata Kahl, 1931 +
627 P. stenostoma Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1999 +
628 P. vestita Kahl, 1928 +
629 P. nasuta Stein, 1860 + + + +
630 P. ovata Kahl, 1931 +
Class Oligohymenophora Puytorac et al., 1974 Order Peniculida Fauré-Fremiet in Corliss, 1956 Fam. Frontoniidae Kahl, 1926
631 Frontonia macrostoma Dragesco, 1960 + + +
632 F. arenaria Kahl, 1933 + + + +
633 F. algivora Kahl, 1931 + +
634 F. marina Fabre-Domerque, 1891 + +
635 F. leucas (Ehrenberg, 1833) +
636 F. elliptica Beardsley, 1902 + +
637 F. obtusa Song et Wilbert, 1989 +
638 F. salmastra Dragesco et Dragesco-Kerneis, 1986 + + +
639 F. azerbaijanica Alekperov, 1983 +
640 F. roquei Dragesco, 1960 + +
641 Disematostoma butschlii Lauterborn, 1894 + +
642 D. invallatum Gelei, 1954 +
643 Wenrichia lahurica Alekperov, 1996 +
644 Stokesia vernalis (Wang, 1928) + +
Fam. Lembadionidae Jankowski in Corliss, 1979
645 Lembadion bullinum Perty,1849 + + + +
646 L. magnum (Stokes, 1887) + + + +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 19G1 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 Б 6 7 3 9 1G 11 12 13
641 L. lucens (Maskell, 1881) + +
Fam. Urocentridae Claparede et Lach., 1ЗБ9
648 Urocentrum turbo (Müller, 1786) + + + +
Fam. Parameciidae Dujardin, 1840
649 Paramecium caudatum Ehrenberg, 1832 + + + + + + + + +
650 P. jenningsi Diller et Earl, 1958 +
651 P. woodruffi Wenrich, 1928 + + + + + +
652 P. calkinsi Woodruff, 1922 +
653 P. multimicronucleatum Powers et Mitchell, 1910 + + + +
654 P. bursaria (Ehrenberg, 1832) + + + +
655 P. putrinum Claparede et Lachmann, 1858 + + + + + + +
Order Tetrahymenida Fauré-Fremiet in Corliss, 1956 Fam. Tetrahymenidae Corliss, 1952
656 Tetrahymena pyriformis (Ehrenberg, 1830) + + + +
651 T. edaphoni Foissner, 1986 + +
Fam. Turaniellidae Didier, 1971
658 Colpidium colpoda (Losana, 1829) + +
659 C. singulare Vuxanovici, 1962 + + + +
660 C. striatum Stokes, 1886 + + + +
Fam. Spirozonidae Kahl, 1926
661 Stegochilum fusiforme Schewiakoff, 1893 + + + +
662 S. smalli Alekperov, 1993 +
Fam. Glaucomidae Corliss, 1971
663 Glaucoma scintillans Ehrenberg, 1830 + + + + +
664 G. chattoni Corliss, 1959 + + +
665 Epenardia myriophillii Corliss, 1971 + + + +
Fam. Ophryoglenidae Kent, 1331
666 Ophryoglena atra Ehrenberg, 1838 + + +
661 O. acuminata Ehrenberg, 1838 + +
668 O. catenula Savoie, 1965 + +
669 O. flava (Ehrenberg, 1838) + + +
610 O. kahli Tucolesco, 1962 +
611 O. minima Song et Wilbert, 1989 +
612 O. mugardi Savoie, 1962 + +
613 O. oblonga Stein, 1860 +
614 O. ovata Stokes, 1885 +
615 O. pectans Mugard, 1948 +
616 O. viridis Penard, 1922 +
Order Scuticociliatida Small, 1967 Fam. Loxocephalidae Jankowski, 1964
611 Dexiotricha simplex Penard, 1922 + +
618 D. lucida (Smith, 1897) + + +
619 D. polystyla Foissner, 1987 + +
680 D. kahli (Tucolesco, 1962) + +
681 D. raikovi Jankowski, 1964 + +
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
682 Loxocephalus luridus Eberhard, 1862 + +
683 L. intermedius Kahl, 1928 + + + +
684 Platynematum sociale (Penard, 1922) + + + +
685 P. hyalinum (Kahl, 1931) + +
686 P. marinum (Kahl,1933) + + + +
687 P. denticulatum (Kahl, 1933) + + +
688 Sathrophilus muscorum Kahl, 1931 +
689 S. granulatus Czapik, 1968 + +
690 S. putrinus Kahl, 1926 +
691 Cinetochilum margaritaceum Ehrenberg, 1831 + + + +
692 C. marinum Kahl, 1931 + +
693 C. impatiens Penard, 1922 +
Order Philasterida Small, 1967 Fam. Cyclidiidae Ehrenberg, 1838
694 Cristigera vestita Kahl, 1928 + + +
695 C. phoenix Penard, 1922 + +
696 C. fusiformis Penard, 1922 + + +
697 C. media Kahl, 1928 + + + +
698 C. constricta Madsen,1931 +
699 Caspionella berger (Agamaliev, 1972) + +
700 Cyclidium citrullus Cohn, 1865 + + + + + + + + + + +
701 C. glaucoma Muller, 1786 + + + + + + + + + + +
702 C. marinum Borror, 1963 + +
703 C. borrori Small et Lynn, 1985 + +
704 Protocyclidium terrenum Alekperov, 1993 +
Fam. Pseudocohnilembidae Evans et Thompson, 1964
705 Pseudocohnilembus veisovi Alekperov et Musaev, 1988. +
Fam. Uronematidae Thompson, 1964
706 Homalogastra setosa Kahl, 1926 + + +
707 Uronema marinum Dujardin, 1841 + + + + + + + + + + + +
708 U. nigricans (Müller, 1786) + + + + + + + +
709 U. elegans (Maupas, 1883J + + + + + + + +
710 U. acutum Buddenbrock, 1920 + + + + + + +
711 U. parduczi Foissner, 1971 + + +
Fam. Azeridae Alekperov, 1985
712 Azerella calva Alekperov, 1985 +
Fam. Gymnociclidiidae Alekperov, 2009
713 Gymnocyclidium nabranicum Alekperov, 2009 +
Order Parastomatida Jankowski, 2007 Fam. Pleuronematidae Kent, 1881
714 Pleuronema crassum Dujardin, 1841 + + + +
715 P. coronatum Kent, 1881 + + + +
716 P. marinum Dujardin, 1841 + + + +
717 P. oculata Dragesco,1960 + + + +
718 P. nana Tucolesco, 1962 + + + +
Table 1. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition of the Phylum Ciliophora Doflein, 1901 Distribution by regions
1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Order Sessilida Kahl, 1933 Fam. Epistylidae Kahl, 1933
719 Epistylis plicatilis Ehrenberg, 1830 + + + + + +
720 E. coronata Nusch, 1970 + +
721 E. nympharum Engelmann, 1862 + + + + + +
722 E. procumbens (Zacharias, 1897) + + + + + +
723 E. rotatorium Kahl, 1935 + + + + +
724 E. anastatica (Linne, 1767) + + + + + + + +
725 E. cyclopi Banina, 1977 + + +
726 E. dafniae Fauré-Fremiet, 1905 + + + + + +
Fam. Vorticellidae Ehrenberg, 1838
727 Vorticella chlorellata Stiller, 1940 + + +
728 V. microstoma Ehrenberg, 1830 + + + + + + +
729 V. similis Stokes, 1887 + +
730 V. spuripicta Song et Wilbert, 1889 + + + + + + +
731 V. alba Fromentel, 1874 + + + +
732 V. chlorellata Stiller, 1940 + +
733 V. octava Stokes, 1885 + + + + + + + +
734 Carchesium aselli Engelmann, 1862 + + +
735 C. brevistylum Stiller, 1941 + + + + +
736 C. prechti Banina, 1977 + + + + + +
737 C. umbilicatum Stiller,1941 + +
738 C. steini Precht, 1935 + +
739 C. wassenum Viljoen et Reinecke, 1988 + + +
Fam. Zoothamniidae Sommer, 1951
740 Zoothamnium arbuscula Ehrenberg, 1831 + + + + + +
741 Z. alternans Claparede et Lachmann, 1859 + + + +
742 Z. plumosum Wright, 1860 + + + +
743 Z. kenti Leidy, 1874 + + + + +
744 Z. adamsi Stokes, 1885 + + + + +
745 Z. haplocaulis Stiller, 1953 + + + +
746 Z. marinum Mereschekowski, 1877 + + + + +
747 Z. carcini Kent, 1881 + +
748 Z. glesnicum Claparede et Lachmann, 1859 + +
749 Z. triophilum Stiller, 1946 + +
750 Z. cupiferum Stiller, 1986 +
751 Z. vermicola Precht, 1935 + +
752 Z. haplocaulis Stiller, 1953 + +
753 Z. astacicolae Shubernetzky, 1978 + +
754 Z. balticum Biernacka, 1963 + + + + + + +
Fam. Telotrochidiidae Foissner, 1978
755 Telotrochidium crateriforme (Muller, 1773) + + + + +
756 T. johanninae Fauré-Fremiet, 1950 +
757 T. cylindricum Foissner, 1978 +
* Note: 1 - Absheron Peninsula, 2 - North-Eastern Azerbaijan, 3 - Divichi firth (Agzybir Lake), 4 - Gizil-Agach Bay, 5 - Lenkoran coast of the Caspian Sea, 6 - Astara coast of the Caspian Sea, 7 - Estuary of the Kura River, 8 - Fresh waters and soils, SouthEastern Azerbaijan, 9 - Fresh waters and soils, the Greater Caucasus, 10 - Inland waters of the Kura River basin, 11 - Fresh waters and soils, North Azerbaijan, 12 - Fresh waters and soils, North-Western Azerbaijan , 13 - Fresh water reservoirs, Nakhichevan AR.
Fig. 1. Regions of Azerbaijan where the biodiver-sity investigations of the free-living ciliates and testate amoebae were conducted. 1 - Absheron Peninsula, 2 - North-Eastern Azer-baijan, 3 - Divichi firth (Agzybir Lake), 4 - Gizil-Agach Bay, 5 - Lenkoran coast of the Caspian Sea, 6 - Astara coast of the Caspian Sea, 7 - Estuary of the Kura River, 8 - Fresh waters and soils, South-Eastern Azerbaijan, 9 - Fresh waters and soils, Greater Caucasus, 10 - Inland waters of the Kura River basin, 11 - Fresh waters and soils, North Azerbaijan, 12 - Fresh waters and soils, North-Western Azerbaijan, 13 - Freshwater reservoir Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.
Notes on distribution and occurrence of free-living ciliates in Azerbaijan
Fam. Trachelocercidae Kent, 1880
In Azerbaijan, all representatives of this family are found only in the Caspian psammon. Ten species representating 3 genera (Trachelocerca, Kovalevaia, and Trachelorahis) were found in the Caspian Sea. Trachelocerca species were found only in very fine sand on the Northern coast of Absheron.
Two species of Kovalevaia (K. sulcata and K. teissieri) were observed in the littoral psammon of Sumgait coast of the Absheron Peninsula, as well as in silty sand of Davachi frith. Most species of Trachelorahis (T. conformis, T. binucleata, T. oligostriata, T. discolor) were observed in Lankaran and Astara psammon coast of the South Caspian (South-Eastern Azerbaijan).
Small number of specimens of T. nivea and T. gracilis several times were observed in the psammon of the Northern coast of the Absheron Peninsula.
Fam. Kentrophoridae Jankowski, 1980
Representatives of a single genus Kentrophoros in Azerbaijan were found mainly in the psammon of
the Southern and Middle Caspian. All six registered species of this genus were found on the coast of Astara and Lankaran (South Caspian). Moreover, K. latus and K. uninucleatus were also observed in the psammon ofthe Southern coast of the Absheron Peninsula.
The species K. trichocistis, K. faurei, and K. flavus were also observed in the desalted Davachi frith and Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea.
The smallest and rare K. canalis were always found only in small number of specimens in sea baths on the coastal rocks ofthe Northern Absheron.
All representatives of Kentrophoros prefer a biotope of fine sand having a high content of organic matter. Due to symbiosis with numerous sulfur bacteria that settle on the dorsal side of ciliates, Kentrophoros is adapted to life in the fine sand with high organic content and a low content of dissolved oxygen in the water.
Fam. Loxodidae Butschli, 1889
In Azerbaijan, six representatives of the genus Loxodes are widely spread mainly in the freshwater benthos, especially on black silt, practically in all territories of the republic. The only exception is the giant L. rex, first described by Dragesco (1970) from
fresh waters of Africa which has not been observed yet in the other regions of the world except for Azerbaijan.
In Azerbaijan these species were observed only for a few times during the summer and only in fresh waters of Nakhichevan.
Other species (L. kahli, L. vorax, L. penardi, L. striatus and L. rostrum) are quite often observed in freshwater silt benthic communities, especially black and sapropelic silt, the bottoms of eutrophic water bodies of the Kura River basin, and fresh waters of the Northern East Azerbaijan. Only L. striatus was observed in fresh waters ofthe Northern Azerbaijan.
Fam. Cryptopharyngidae Jankowski, 1980
Three representatives of the genus Cryptopharynx and a single species of the genus Apocryptopharynx from this family are observed in Azerbaijan. These are very interesting eurybiont ciliates having a wide ecological plasticity.
Preferring thickets of red algae, C. multinuclea-tum and C. setigerus are often found in marine benthos, on the littoral of the Northern coast of the Absheron Peninsula, as well as in the psammon of the Astara coast of the South Caspian, and C. setigerus — also in periphyton of coastal rocks.
Apocryptopharynx wardi several times was observed in the strongly salty sea baths in the splash zone of the Absheron coast, with salinity of 37 %c (the average salinity in the Caspian Sea is 12 %).
Fam. Geleiidae Foissner, 1998 nec Kahl, 1933
Geleiidae are very specific marine ciliates. In Azerbaijan, 6 species of the genus Geleia were found in the psammon and periphyton of the Astara and Lankaran coasts of the South Caspian.
Two species (G. fossata and G. simplex) were frequently observed in the sea baths ofthe Northern coast of Absheron in Bilgah, but G. major and G. nigriceps were observed in the desalinated estuary of the Kura River.
The rarest species were G. luci and G. acuta, observed in low number of specimens, only a few times in the early autumn, in the psammon of the North coast of the Absheron Peninsula.
Fam. Aveliidae Dragesco, 1999
These are big vermiform and extremely rare marine ciliates in our region. Two species of the
genus Avelia (Avelia gigas, A. arcachonense) were observed in the periphyton of the sea rocks in the South and Middle Caspian in Azerbaijan.
Fam. Blepharismidae Jankowski in Small et Lynn, 1985
Representatives of this family are commonly met in marine and fresh waters of Azerbaijan. Altogether 9 species have been found, one of them belonging to the genus Anigsteinia (A. salinara) is frequently found in the periphyton and benthos of the entire Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
The other 8 species belong to the genus Blepha-risma, representatives of which were observed both in the desalinated sea perifyton of the Davachi frith (B. undulans, B. tardum) and in the Caspian psammon of North-Eastern Azerbaijan (B. hyalinum, B. dileptus, B. falcatum, B. dawsoni).
Two species (B. vestitum and B. coerulea) were observed in fresh waters ofthe Kura River reservoirs, as well as in fresh waters of North-Western Azerbaijan, near the state border with Georgia.
Fam. Spirostomatidae Stein, 1867
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented only by the genus Spirostomum, three species of which are found on the territory of the republic. It should be noted that although all Spirostomum species are considered as inhabitants of fresh waters, nevertheless, species of this genus were also found in the Caspian Sea waters by S. Veisig (1940), who described, e.g., S. ambiguumfrom the Baku Bay.
These species were also found in Gizil-Agach Bay and on the Astara coast of the Caspian Sea. In addition, S. minus and S. loxodes were observed in the freshwater reservoirs of the Kura River basin, in the Davachi frith, in the reservoirs of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and in the North, as well as in North-Western Azerbaijan.
Fam. Climacostomatidae Repak, 1972
This family in Azerbaijan is represented by two species of the genus Climacostomum (C. virens, C. minimum) and the monotypic genus Fabrea (F. salina).
The first genus is quite often found in freshwater silty bottoms of South-Eastern Azerbaijan and the inland waters of the Kura River basin. Frequently, the presence of Climacostomum is discovered in
fouling and near-bottom plankton of fresh waters in the reservoirs of the Northern and North-Western Azerbaijan, as well as in the phytociliocenoses of small eutrophic forest ponds of the Great Caucasus.
Several times, the Climacostomum species were observed as facultative pedobionts in forest soils of the mountain forests of Lerik and Talish area of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan, where they appear during the periods of prolonged atmospheric precipitation, when a lot of common freshwater species of ciliates can be found in the forest litter.
Despite the fact that the second representative of the family Climacostomatidae of genus Fabrea — F. salina is presented in the references as a widespread species, it was observed only in the hyperhaline waters of the salty lakes of the Absheron Peninsula and in the drying sea baths of the supralittoral of the Caspian Sea.
Fam. Condylostomatidae Kahl in Dofflein et Reichenow, 1927
Representatives of this family are commonly observed in marine and fresh waters of Azerbaijan and belong to 2 genera — Linostomatella (L. vorticella), a well-known big planktonic species that sometimes multiply in the plankton of fresh and brackish water bodies, especially during the phytoplankton blooms, and Condylostoma — 9 species that are commonly met both in fresh and marine waters.
A representative of the first genus, L. vorticella, is observed in the Great Caucasus inland water plankton, as well as in the freshened Davachi firth and the Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea. According to our observations, Condylostoma species prefer near-bottom plankton communities rather than benthos and they are frequently observed in the coastal phytocyliocenoses ofthe small shallow bays of the Caspian Sea (C. fieldi, C. granulosum, C. magnum and C. spatuosum) along the entire Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
Fam. Stentoridae Carus, 1863
Stentoridae are the ciliates of characteristic shape and large size, some species secrete in the caudal end of a transparent mucous house encrusted with mineral detritus particles.
9 species are discovered in Azerbaijan; they are living mainly in the freshwater benthos, almost throughout the territory of the country. In the Caspian Sea, S. coeruleus, S. mulleriand S. gallinulus
are observed in the desalinated delta of the Kura River.
S. roeseli, S. globator, S. gracilis and S. viridis are quite common in plankton, periphyton and phytociliocenoses of fresh water reservoirs of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan. Two species, S. polymorphus and S. amethistinus, are often found in the freshwater plankton of the reservoirs of NorthWestern Azerbaijan and the Great Caucasus.
Fam. Phacodiniidae Corliss, 1979
In Azerbaijan, a representative of the genus Phacodinium (P. muscorum) was found living in soils, mainly in the forest zones. It was also observed in wet mosses and tree hollows. Being distributed in the forests ofthe North-Eastern and South-Eastern Azerbaijan, it was also observed in the forests of the Great Caucasus, both in soils and wet mosses.
Fam. Amphisiellidae Jankowski, 1979
The representatives of 5 genera belonging to this family were observed in Azerbaijan; they are: Amphisiella (6 species), Hemiamphisiella, Paraamphisiella and Paragastrostyla (1 species in each), and Pseudouroleptus (2 species).
The species A. annulata, A. turanica and A. milnei were observed in periphyton and silty sand of the Absheron Peninsula littoral. The more rare species, A. vitiphila and A. marioni, were discovered in desalinated parts of the Caspian Sea — Davachi firth, Gizil-Agach Bay and delta of the Kura River.
Ciliates from the genus Hemiamphisiella (H. terricola) and Paraamphisiella (P. acuta) were found in the soils of the Lankaran citrus plants plantations of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan, melons agrocenoses on the Absheron Peninsula, as well as in meadow and forest soils of Ismayilli and Pirguli mountain State Reserves (the Great Caucasus).
Three other pedobionts, Paragastrostyla lanceo-lata, Pseudouroleptus caudatus and P. terrestris, were also found in soil biotopes with high content of organic matters: in cultivated soils of household plots in the Absheron Peninsula and only a few specimens were observed in early spring in fresh waters of the Northern and North-Western Azerbaijan.
Fam. Kahliellidae Tuffrau, 1979
In Azerbaijan, these primitive hypotrichs are observed in all investigated biotopes — marine and fresh waters, as well as soils. Nevertheless, six species
of a single genus Kahliella are quite rare and occur in small numbers.
The majority of Kahliella records was observed in the Absheron, including soils (K. costata K. bacilliformis), as well as freshwater reservoirs of the Nakhchivan AR (K. spirostoma, K. microstoma), the South-Eastern Azerbaijan, and in fresh waters and soils of the Lankaran natural area.
The most common K. acrobates was observed in marine baths on the Caspian littoral ofNorth-Eastern Azerbaijan, near the state border with Russia.
Fam. Oxytrichidae Ehrenberg, 1838
In Azerbaijan, this big family is represented by 8 genera, of which 2 species are accounted for the genus Tachysoma, 6 — Stylonychia, 4 — Histriculus, 1 — Sterkiella, 3 — Paraurostyla, 13 — Oxytricha, 1 — Wallaskia, and 3 species of Gonostomum.
The genus Tachysoma includes two species (T. rigescens and T.ovata) that were found in the psammon of the Northern coast of the Absheron Peninsula and in the salty inland waters of the Absheron.
Most of the widespread representatives of the genera Stylonychia and Histriculus were observed only in aquatic biotopes, both marine and freshwater. The only exception was S. quadrinucleata, first found and described in cultivated soils of the rhizosphere of pomegranate trees in the Absheron (Alekperov, 1984c).
Representatives of Wallaskia and Paraurostyla, including Paraurostyla polynucleata previously unknown in Azerbaijan as well as representatives of Gonostomum, were observed mainly in soil biotopes in the Absheron and in citrus plants plantation soils of South-Eastern Azerbaijan, although they were also occasionally found in the periphyton of fresh water bodies in this region.
Fam. Keronidae Dujardin, 1841
In Azerbaijan, 3 genera of this family were observed. These are Kerona (1 species), Paraho-losticha (3 species) and Keronopsis (1 species).
The genus Kerona is very specific and was registered only on the epithelium of freshwater Hydra. This genus is rather rare; it observed on Hydra in fresh waters of several Nagorno-Karabakh reservoirs and surrounding areas (Sarsang water reservoir, Kendalanchay 1 and 2 water reservoirs), as well as Goy-Gel Lake and fresh waters of the Great Caucasus.
Representatives of Paraholosticha are frequently found in damp mosses in the forest zone of the North-Eastern and South-Eastern regions of Azerbaijan. Several times P. polychaeta was observed in fresh waters on the Absheron.
The third genus, Keronopsis is widely spread throughout the littoral of the Caspian Sea — from the state border with Iran in the south to the state border with Russia in the north. It also occurs in fresh waters, especially on the surface of aquatic plants.
Fam. Pseudokeronopsidae Borror et Wichlow, 1983
This family is represented in Azerbaijan by only one genus Pseudokeronopsis with 4 species. The most common of them are P. rubra and P. flava discovered on the coast Azerbaijani sector of Caspian Sea — in the benthos of the Absheron coast, on the silty soils of the Davachi frith, as well as on the littoral of the Astara and Lankaran coast ofthe South Caspian.
Species P. carnea and P. sepetibensis are particularly well-developed in sea baths on the rocks in the splash zone of the North Absheron. P. rubra was sometimes observed in the salty waters of the inland reservoirs of the Absheron.
Fam. Bakuellidae Jankowski, 1979
Most species of this family, including the Bakuella, were first found in Azerbaijan (Agamaliev, Alekperov, 1976). Representatives of the genus Bakuella (3 species) are observed both in marine (B. marina) and fresh waters in Absheron (B. crenata and B. polycirrata).
The single representative of the genus Meta-bakuella (Alekperov, Musaev, 1988) was originally described from the soils of the Absheron; however, during the subsequent studies it was found also in fresh waters of the Kura River basin.
The genus Pseudobakuella (Alekperov, 1992) includes 2 species observed in fresh waters of the reservoirs of the Lower Kura River and the NorthEastern Azerbaijan.
The revision of the Bakuellidae family was carried out by different authors in the same year (Alekperov, 1992; Song, 1992). The most recent revision provided a more precise allocation of the new taxa (Alekperov, 2006).
Fam. Pseudourostylidae Jankowski, 1979
Only 3 species of the genus Pseudourostyla are known in Azerbaijan. Ofthese, P. cristata is common
in the freshwater benthos. It is found throughout the territory of the Azerbaijan.
The next species, P. laevis was found in the marine periphyton on the coastal rocks of the Northern coast of Absheron, as well as in the waters of the desalinated Davachi frith (now Lake Aghzibir).
The third species, P. franzi was observed in the meadow and forest soils of the Ismayilli State Reserve in the Great Caucasus.
Fam Urostylidae Butschli, 1889
This is a large family, ofwhich representatives of 8 genera were found in Azerbaijan. These are Urostyla (7 species), Metaurostyla (2 species), Birojimia (1 species), Pseudoamphisiella (1 species), Paruroleptus (2 species), Holosticha (3 species), Anteholosticha (7 species) and Trichototaxis (3 species).
Representatives of the genus Urostyla are common in the freshwater benthos. In Azerbaijan, they are widespread in fresh waters of the whole Republic. Here, this genus is represented by 7 species: two species (Urostyla grandis and U. latissima) are observed in the freshwater benthos of the reservoirs of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic while U. marina, U. grandis and U. viridis were found in fresh water reservoirs as well as in sea waters of small bays of the Caspian coast of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Although species of the genus Metaurostyla (M. polonica and M. raikovi) are frequently found, they seldom reach high density; usually, just a few specimens of these species are found in eutrophic reservoirs of the Kura River basin.
A single species of the genus Birojimia (B. terricola) was registered only in the soil biotopes of the forest zones of South-Eastern and NorthEastern Azerbaijan. During the entire research period, it was found only 3 times in the Baku parks' soils.
In Azerbaijan the representative of Pseudo-amphisiella (P. alveolata) was observed only in the desalted Kura River delta and the similarly desalinated waters of Davachi firth.
The genus Paruroleptus is represented by two species — P. gallina, observed in marine baths in the splash zone on the rocks of the Northern Absheron, and P. notabilis which was frequently found in fresh waters of the Kura River basin, overgrown with aquatic plants.
In Azerbaijan the genus Holosticha is represented by 3 species observed in both marine (H. foissneri)
and fresh waters (H. heterofoissneri, H. pullaster). H. pullaster was repeatedly observed in the meadow soils of Ismayilli State Reserve (the Great Caucasus).
A closely related genus, Anteholosticha, is represented by 7 species found in marine (A. randani, A. manca and A. grisea) and fresh waters (A. monilata, A. adami and A. pulchra), as well as in soil biotopes (A. muscicola) of broad-leaved forests of SouthEastern and North-Eastern Azerbaijan. All 7 species are observed on the entire territory of the country but not in the Nakhichevan AR.
The genus Trichototaxis includes 3 species of which T. crassus and T. velox prefer marine benthos of the Lankaran and Astara coasts of the South Caspian, although they are also registered in the periphyton of the coastal rocks of the Middle Caspian on the Absheron. The third species, T. pulchra is observed in the forest litter ofbroad-leaved forests of North-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Fam. Kiitrichidae Nozawa, 1941
only one monotypic genus, Musajevella, from this family was found and first described in fresh waters of South-Eastern Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1984e). The species Musajevella minima was found on silty bottom with high content of organic matters. These rare ciliates can only be found in small number of specimens at the beginning of summer.
Later these ciliates were also found in brackish waters of Davachi firth.
Fam. Euplotidae Ehrenberg, 1838
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by a big genus Euplotes. A number of Euplotes species are widely spread and found in both marine and fresh water bodies. During the period of intense precipitation when moisture content ofmeadow and forest soils increases greatly, some species (E. patella, E. gracilis, E. minuta) can be observed on the surface layers of the soil and forest litter. They are found there only in the period of maximum soil moisture, as facultative species of the ciliates soil community.
In total, 25 species of this genus were found widely spread in all freshwater reservoirs and along the entire Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
Fam. Aspidiscidae Ehrenberg, 1838
Fifteen species of the genus Aspidisca were discovered in Azerbaijan. Most of them are ordinary inhabitants ofthe marine benthos and periphyton of the Caspian coastal rocks. At the same time, several
species (A. fusca, A. aculeata, A. cicada, A. steini) are repeatedly observed in the freshwater benthos, periphyton and in the ciliate communities of freshwater phytociliocenoses. Two species from this genus were described in Azerbaijan for the first time: A. caspica in the Caspian Sea (Agamaliev, 1967) and A. poljanski — in fresh waters (Alekperov, 1985).
Fam. Uronychiidae Jankowski, 1975
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera: Diophrys (5 species) and Uronychia (8 species). Representatives of both genera are typical marine inhabitants. These ciliates are found in benthos, especially on silty sand, and periphyton of coastal rocks along the entire coast ofthe Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. At the same time, some species of Diophrys, first described in Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1984d), were observed in fresh waters on the Absheron (D. multicirratus, D. polycirratus).
Meanwhile, it is important to mention that the species Uronychia invicta, first described in Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1985), is the single representative of the genus Uronychia found in fresh waters of the Khanbulanchay reservoir in the SouthEastern Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1985).
It should be also noted that this species demonstrates pronounced morphological differences from all other species of the genus Uronychia. Namely, it has a specific fine argyrome that covers all surfaces on the ventral and dorsal sides. In our opinion, this species is a marine relict in the freshwater fauna of the Caucasus.
Fam. Halteriidae Claparede et Lachmann, 1858
Representatives of this family are mainly inhabitants of plankton communities. In Azerbaijan, 2 genera are observed: Halteria (6 species) and a closely related genus Pelagohalteria (2 species). Halteria species are observed in all investigated fresh water bodies of Azerbaijan.
The most common are H. grandinella, H. ovi-formis and H. maxima that form a regular component of the nearbottom plankton of fresh water bodies. The other three species are usually rare; they can be found more frequently only in a certain season.
For example, H. tamari was always observed in small number of specimens in freshwater reservoirs of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, and H. geleiana and H. bifurcata were found only in the mesosaprobic fresh waters of South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
In the Caspian Sea, representatives ofthe genus Pelagohalteria (P. viridis, P. cirrifera) along with H. grandinella occur in the Kura River delta at salinities 4-7 %.
Fam. Strombidiidae Faure-Fremiet, 1970
At present, this family is replenished by a number of newly allocated genera. Representatives of 8 genera were found in Azerbaijan: Omegastrombidium (1 species), Arcostrombidium (1 species), Hetero-strombidium (3 species), Limnostrombidium (1 species), Novistrombidium (1 species), Spiro-strombidium (2 species), Pelagostrombidium (2 species), and Strombidium (14 species).
Most of the 25 species of these genera occur both in fresh water and in the Caspian Sea. It should be noted that some species (S. nabranicum, S. apsheronicum, S. caspicum, S. obtusum) during the whole time span of our research were observed only in the Caspian plankton. However, some species, being usual components of freshwater plankton communities, were met in desalinated areas of the Caspian Sea — Aghzibir Lake (the former Davachi firth), Gizil-Agach Bay and the Kura River Delta, where the salinity does not exceed 4-7 %. These include Arcostrombidium grande, Spirostrombidium coronatum and Strombidium kahli.
Despite the general acceptance of this group of ciliates as plankton inhabitants, the observations indicate that many of these species preferably occur either in the near-bottom water layer (i.e. their belonging to the plankton community is rather conventional), or they are the components of coastal phytociliocenoses.
Fam. Strombidinopsidae Small et Lynn, 1985
Along with the marine species such as Strombi-dinopsis elongata and S. elegans, five other species of this genus, including S. azerbaijanica described for the first time in the Caspian Sea (Alekperov and Asadullayeva, 1997), were found in Azerbaijan.
Two other representatives of this family — S. claparedi and S. spinifera — were met only a few times in the desalinated waters of the Davachi firth as well as in the Gizil-Agach Bay ofthe Caspian Sea.
Fam. Strobilidiidae Kahl in Doflein et Reichenow, 1929
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by three genera — Strobilidium with three species (S. caudatum,
S. conicum, S. marinum), Rimostrombi-dium with two species (R. humile and R. velox), and Pelagostrombi-dium with two species (P. neptunii and P. spirale).
Representatives of the first two genera were observed both in fresh and sea waters. Of these, S. humile and S. marinum were found in the sea baths on the littoral of the North Absheron in the plankton of the coastal zone of the North-Eastern and South-Eastern Azerbaijan, as well as in the phytociliocenoses communities of Davachi firth.
Three other species were found in fresh waters of the reservoirs of the Kura River basin, Northern and North-Western Azerbaijan, as well as in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan AR.
Representatives ofthe genus Pelagostrombidium were observed only in the pelagic plankton of the South Caspian in Lankaran and Astara coasts of the Caspian Sea. Both representatives of this genus are extremely rare and usually occur in plankton communities in late autumn.
Fam. Codonellidae Kent, 1881
Two species of the genus Codonella (C. cratera and C. relicta) and a single representative of the genus Tintinnopsis (T. cilindrata) belong to this family in the fauna of Azerbaijan. All these ciliates are found mainly in the freshwater plankton of the Nakhichevan AR fresh water bodies, in the reservoirs of South-Eastern Azerbaijan and in the reservoirs established on the Kura River (Shamkir, Mingechaur, Varvara and others).
Fam. Metopidae Kahl, 1927
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented only by two genera — Metopus with 9 species and Brachonella with 5 species. Those are ordinary representatives of the freshwater benthos that prefer black silt and sapropel.
Some representatives of this family (M. cauca-sicus, M. fuscoides and Brachonella mitriformis), described for the first time in Azerbaijan, were found in the fishponds of the Lower Kura (Alekperov, 1984), but subsequent studies unveiled their wide prevalence in the fresh waters of the Kura and South-Eastern Azerbaijan. Like the other members of the saprobiont complex, these ciliates are found in eutrophicated waters on black or sapropel silts.
Fam. Caenomorphidae Poche, 1913
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by only
three species of the genus Caenomorpha. Among those, C. medusula and C. lauterborni are quite common on silty bottoms rich in organic matter, in fresh waters of the Kura River reservoir and the desalinated Davachi firth.
However, the third species, C. levanderi is observed extremely rarely, usually in the first half of summer, on the black silts of the Lower Kura inland waters.
Fam. Epalxellidae Corliss, 1960
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by 3 genera: Pelodinium — 1 species, Epalxella — 5 species, and Saprodinium — also 5 species. According to the habitat conditions, they are also saprobionts like the members of the previous two families.
They were observed in the abandoned fish ponds of the sturgeon fishery (Lower Kura River), in summer in brackish waters of Davachi firth on black silts, as well as extremely rarely — in lentic waters of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan. In the Caspian Sea, additionally to the desalinated Davachi firth, these species were observed also in the Small Gizil-Agach Bay. Only Saprodinium spinigerum was observed twice in the reservoirs of the Nakhichevan AR.
Fam. Mylestomatidae Kahl in Doflein et Reichenow, 1929
In Azerbaijan, 4 species of a single representative of this family — the genus Mylestoma, are extremely rare.
During our long-terms studies (more than 45 years), M. bipartitum and M. flagellatum were observed only 7 times in the sea baths of the South Caspian among rotting algae. The other two species (M. uncinatus and M. pusillum) were also extremely rare: we observed only several specimens in the Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea.
Fam. Fuscheriidae Foissner, Agatha et Berger, 2002
Representatives of this family are typical inhabitants of soils, although they are also found in fresh water bodies.
Only two representatives of the genus Fuscheria — F. nodosa and F. terrícola were found in the soils ofthe Absheron Peninsula, the soils ofthe mountain forests of Lerik (South-Eastern Azerbaijan) and the Ismailli State Reserve (Great Caucasus). In addition, only F. nodosa was found in the fresh waters of the Absheron and the Kura River basin.
Fam. Encheliodontidae Foissner, Agatha et Berger, 2002
In Azerbaijan, only the genus Enchelyodon with three species can be observed — E. armatides, E. nodosus and E. tratzi. The first two species are found quite frequently in meadow and forest soils of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan, as well as in the Great Caucasus mountain forest soils.
The third species (E. tratzi) is extremely rare in fresh waters of the temporary water bodies of the North-Western Azerbaijan.
Fam. Enchelyidae Ehrenberg, 1838
Representatives of 3 genera belonging to this family were found in Azerbaijan. Of these, 5 species belong to the genus Enchelys, one species — to Papillorhabdos and four species — to Lagynophrya. Enchelys species are found in many fresh water bodies of the Republic — in the Kura River basin, inland waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and others.
E. lencoranica, described in Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1984), is observed only in fresh waters of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
E. marina and E. pectinata occurred in the Davachi firth and on the littoral of the Middle Caspian and the North-Eastern coast near the state border between Azerbaijan and Russia. E. simplex was found in the soil biotopes of the Absheron. Only Papillorhabdos multinucleatus was observed several times by small number of specimens in the reservoirs of the Lower part of the Kura River.
Representatives of the genus Lagynophrya were observed in both marine and fresh waters. In the Caspian, L. halophila and L. maxima were found on the Astara coast of the South Caspian and in the salt lakes of the Absheron.
L. mutans can be found in almost all fresh waters of the Kura River, as well as a facultative pelobiont in the forest litter of the deciduous forests of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan. In the inland waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, only Lagynophrya pumilio was observed in low number of specimens in the early spring.
Fam. Trachelophyllidae Kent, 1882
only 6 species of this family belonging to the genus Trachelophyllium are observed in Azerbaijan. Most of these ciliates were recorded in meadow
and forest soils of Talish mountain forests (SouthEastern Azerbaijan), only two species (T. apiculatum and T. attenuatum) were found in temporary reservoirs and soils of the Absheron Peninsula, as well as in meadow and forest soils ofmountain state reserves of the Great Caucasus.
T. clavatum was observed in fresh waters of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan and in reservoirs of the Great Caucasus and the Sarsang reservoir (Nagorno-Karabakh), and T. triangularum and T. antennuatum were found in the reservoirs of the Kura River basin.
Fam. Lacrymariidae Fromentel, 1876
Only three genera from this family are found in Azerbaijan: Lacrymaria (12 species), Pelagolacry-maria (2 species) and Phialina (7 species). Some representatives ofthe first genus (L. olor, L. marina, L. issykkulica, L. delmarii, L. minuta and L. kahli) were observed in the littoral of the whole Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. Additionally, L. olor was frequently found in the fresh waters ofthe Absheron, together with the other, mainly freshwater species L. pulchra, L. lagenula, L. clavarioides and L.cucumis (the latter species was transferred to the genus Lagynus, validity of which is not sufficiently substantiated yet).
The latter four species of ciliates mentioned above were observed in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan AR, the inland waters ofthe Great Caucasus, and in addition, as facultative pedobionts, they are quite often in meadow and forest soils of the mountain forests ofthe Northern and North-Eastern Azerbaijan along the state borders with Russia and Georgia.
The rarest species is Lacrymaria spiralis; these ciliates were found only in the benthos ofthe NorthEastern coast of Azerbaijan, not far from the state border with Russia, and on algal silts in Davachi firth.
Two representatives ofplanktonic genus Pelago-lacrymaria (P. moserae and P. rostrata) were found in fresh waters of the reservoirs of the Kura River basin and the desalinated Davachi firth.
Seven species belonging to the genus Phialina were observed both in the marine waters (P. rostrata, P. conifera, P. ovata) in the psammon of the Astara and Lankaran coasts of the Caspian Sea, and in fresh waters (P. pupula, P. vermicularis, P. vertens, P. decussata) of the Kura River basin and NorthWestern Azerbaijan.
Representatives of the genus Phialina have high ecological plasticity and are often found not only in water but also in soil biotopes of meadow and forest soils of the Great Caucasus (P. pupula, P. vermicularis, P. macrostoma and P. ovata).
Fam. Spathidiidae Kahl, 1929
Ciliates belonging to this family are widespread in Azerbaijan and represented by 6 genera: Spathi-dium (12 species), Supraspathidium (7 species), Epispathidium (2 species), Arcuospathidium (2 species), Protospathidium (2 species) and Perispira (3 species).
Representatives of the genus Spathidium are widespread in fresh waters and soils of Azerbaijan. Among those, S. procerum, S. chlorelligerum, S. fossicola and S. deforme were mainly found in the soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan. The other species are mainly found in fresh waters of the Lower Kura, in fishponds, as well as in freshwater basins of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. Representatives of the genus Supraspathidium are mostly inhabitants of meadow and forest soils, especially many of them dwell in the forest litter. They are observed in the mountain forest soils of the Great Caucasus and Talysh.
Two species of Arcuospathidium (A. cultriforme, A. novaki) were found in the highland soils of the Ismayilli state reserve in the rhizosphere of broad-leaved oak, as well as in soils of citrus plants plantation (South-Eastern Azerbaijan).
Representatives of the genus Protospathidium (P. muscicola and P. terricola) were found both in aquatic and soil biotopes. P.muscicola can be found in fresh waters of the reservoirs of the Kura River basin, as well as in the reservoirs of the Northern and North-Western Azerbaijan. The second species, P. terricola is a typical pedobiont found in the soils of broad-leaved forests of the North-Western Azerbaijan, forest and meadow soils of the Great Caucasus and mountain forest soils of Talish and Lerik (South-Eastern Azerbaijan).
The genus Perispira is represented by 3 species in Azerbaijan. Of these, P. ovum is the most common in the benthic ciliate communities offresh waters on silty bottoms of eutrophic water bodies.
Two other species of this genus (P. ovum, P. strephostoma) were also found in abandoned fish ponds of the Lower Kura fish farms, in many eutrophic reservoirs of the Kura River basin, in North-Western and North-Eastern Azerbaijan, and
in desalinated Davachi firth of the Middle Caspian. P. oligospira occurs less often and is absent in the Davachi firth; it was observed also in the desalinated Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea.
Fam. Didiniidae Poche, 1913
Two genera belonging to this family are observed in Azerbaijan. The genus Monodinium includes 4 species (M. balbianii, M. perrieri, M. alveolatum and M. chlorelligerum). All of them are typical representatives of freshwater plankton ciliate communities, though at certain times they were observed in the low salinity zones of the Caspian Sea — Davachi firth, Gizil-Agach Bay and in the Kura River delta.
These ciliates are widely spread in all freshwater bodies, including the Absheron (M. balbianii, M. perrieri), waters of the Kura River basin, fresh waters of the Northern Azerbaijan (M. balbianii) and fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. It should be noted that, besides plankton communities, the species M. alveolatum and M. chlorelligerum are often found in phytociliocenoses in the coastal zones of fresh water bodies.
The second genus, Didinium is represented by three species (D. nasutum, D. chlorelligerum, D. gargantua). The first two species are ordinary inhabitants of most plankton communities in Azerbaijan freshwater basins. D. nasutum was occasionally observed as a facultative pedobiont in forest soils of broad-leaved forests of the NorthEastern Azerbaijan and in soils of citrus plants plantations in the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
The third species, D. gargantua was observed in the sea baths at the rocky littoral of the South and Middle Caspian Sea.
Fam. Tracheliidae Ehrenberg, 1838
In Azerbaijan, this ciliate family is represented by 6 genera. The genus Dileptus includes 4 species, three of which — D. micronatus, D. breviproboscis and D. cygnus inhabit mostly fresh waters, frequently occurring on silty bottom and in phytociliocenoses of eutrophic water bodies almost throughout Azerbaijan. Being a rare marine species, D. orientalis is observed in psammon at the Northern Absheron coast and among aquatic plants in the Davachi firth.
Representatives of the genera Pelagodileptus (1 species), Paradileptus (2 species), Trachelius and Teutophrys (one species in each) belong to the
freshwater plankton ciliate communities. These ciliates are active predators being even capable of feeding on small multicellular hydrobionts. They are observed in the large reservoirs ofthe Kura River basin, freshwater reservoirs of the Great Caucasus, South-Eastern Azerbaijan and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.
Representatives of the last genus of this family — Paraspathidium (3 species) were observed only in marine biotopes, mainly in psammon, but can be also found in sea baths among rotting algae on the Absheron coast, as well as in periphyton of coastal rocks and hydraulic structures on the Caspian littoral of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan.
It should be noted that P. longinucleatum belongs to rare species; it was found several times, only in the benthos of the Davachi firth on algal silts.
Fam. Mesodiniidae Jankowski, 1980
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera — Askenasia (6 species) and Mesodinium (3 species). Representatives ofthe first genus are typical inhabitants of freshwater plankton.
A. mobilis and A. confunis, first described from fresh waters of the Absheron (Alekperov, 1984), were observed in freshwater reservoirs of the Great Caucasus during further studies. The other species (A. elegans, A. chlorelligera, A. volvox and A. stellaris) are much more widespread and are observed in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, the Kura River basin and the waters of SouthEastern Azerbaijan.
Species of the genus Mesodinium (M. acarus, M. apsheronicum, M. cinctum) are found only in plankton of the South and Middle Caspian, including desalinated sea areas — the Gizil-Agach Bay and the Davachi firth.
Fam. Cyclotrichiidae Jankowski, 1980
Only 4 species of the genus Cyclotrichium living in plankton of the inland water bodies of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (C. ovatum and C. gigas), the Kura River basin (C. inflatum) and North-Eastern Azerbaijan (C. cyclocaryon) were found in Azerbaijan. Most of them can be related to the rare species, since they occur only from spring through the first half of summer.
Fam. Amphileptidae Butschli, 1889
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by
three genera — Amphileptus (5 species), Litonotus (7 species) and Loxophyllum (7 species).
Representatives ofthe first genus are widespread in the freshwater benthos communities on the silty bottoms of fresh water bodies of the Kura River basin, in the phytociliocenoses of the coastal zone, and in the periphyton of the littoral stones and hydro-constructions of the Absheron freshwater reservoirs and the inland fresh waters of the SouthEastern Azerbaijan.
Most representatives ofthe genus Litonotus were found only in fresh waters. Among those, L. triqueter, L. obtusus, L. minusculus and L. crystallinus were observed in the reservoirs ofthe North- Eastern and South-Eastern Azerbaijan, as well as in the reservoirs of the Great Caucasus.
L. anguilla and L. uninucleatuscan be considered as the most common representatives of the genus Litonotus. These species were observed in fresh water bodies of the Northern and North-Western Azerbaijan, as well as in reservoirs of the Kura River basin.
L. mononucleatus apparently should be recognized as the rare species. Commonly it is found only in late autumn, in small number of specimens and only in the desalinated area of the Caspian Sea — Davachi firth and Gizil-Agach Bay.
The genus Loxophyllum is represented by seven species, ofwhich L. meleagris, L. helus, and L. vorax are the most widely spread and observed in the fresh water basins of the Kura, Absheron, North, NorthWestern and South-Eastern Azerbaijan. In addition to the reservoirs of the Great Caucasus, where the genus L. multiplicatum occurs, it can be found also in gray and black silts and in coastal thickets of aquatic plants.
The species L. undulatum, L. semilunare and L. hyalinum are occasionally found on the sandy and silty bottoms of the desalinated Davachi firth and the Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea.
Fam. Chilodonellidae Deroux, 1970
Representatives ofthree genera belonging to the family Chilodonellidae were found in Azerbaijan. These are: Chilodonella (3 species), Trithigmostoma (4 species) and Alinostoma (2 species).
The species of Chilodonella are common components of freshwater benthic and periphyton ciliate communities. C. uncinata occurs also on the gills of many freshwater fishes, i.e. in fact it is their exo-parasite. Ciliates from this genus are especially often found in the freshwater reservoirs ofthe North-
Western Azerbaijan, where the fish contagion with various exoparasites is generally high.
The other species of Chilodonella (C. aplanata and C. capucina) were observed in fresh waters ofthe reservoirs of the Kura River basin, South-Western and South-Eastern Azerbaijan, and brackish waters of the Kura River mouth.
Representatives of the closely related genus Trithigmostoma are also inhabitants of freshwater benthos, periphyton and coastal phytociliocenosis. T. cucullulus and T. steini are the most common species observed in the reservoirs of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, the Kura River and fresh waters ofthe Great Caucasus. In spring, due to precipitation and snow melting, they often occur in the biotopes ofmeadow and forest soils ofthe NorthWestern and Northern Azerbaijan, as well as in the soils of Talish mountain forests (South-Eastern Azerbaijan) caracterized by high soil moisture.
The third species of Trithigmostoma — T. hialina is extremely rare. Until now, this species has been observed only a few times in the spring waters in the forest zone of the Great Caucasus. In the other regions of Azerbaijan it has never been found.
Representatives of the genus Alinostoma were observed in the Absheron soils and in the forest zone of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan (A. multivacuola-tum), as well as in the soils of the household plots of the Northern and North-Eastern Azerbaijan (A. polyvacuolatum).
Fam. Gastronautidae Deroux, 1994
During our research, two species from the genus Gastronauta were found in Azerbaijan. Both representatives are typical pedobionts, living in soils of various regions of the country. First, G. membranaceus was observed in humid mosses of the mountain forests of the Great Caucasus, and also in meadow and forest soils of tugai forests along the Kura River.
The second species, G. derouxi was found in the Absheron soils, polluted with oil products and reservoir waters. It was not found in any other regions of Azerbaijan.
Fam. Chlamidodontidae Stein, 1859
Seven species of the genus Chlamidodon were found in Azerbaijan, most of which were observed in the sea. C. mnemosyne, C. obliquus and C. major were recorded in the psammon along the entire Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea.
In addition to marine psammon, the species C. rectus and C. roseus were also found in the fouling of the coastal rocks ofthe Northern Coast ofAbsheron and sea baths on the Southern Caspian littoral. The genus C. cyclops was observed only in the marine periphyton of the coastal rocks of the Northern Absheron.
C. erythorhynchus and C. major were observed in fresh waters of the Absheron and North-Eastern Azerbaijan. The species C. major is the rarest, occurring in summer in the Absheron salt lakes.
Fam. Dysteriidae Claparidiet et Lachmann, 1858
Ten species belonging to the genus Dysteria were found in Azerbaijan. All of them are typical marine ciliates, the inhabitants of periphyton, where they are often attached to the substrate. Three species — D. procera, D. monostyla and D. pectinata were found not only in the marine periphyton ofthe coastal cliffs of the Northern Absheron, but also on silty sand in the Davachi firth.
The other three species — D. parovalis, D. armata and D. calkinsi are spread only on the Southern Caspian coast, which is possibly due to higher water salinity of this area.
The rarest species are D. navicula, D. sulcata and D. marioni. These three species were always observed by several specimens in periphyton of the areas protected from marine surf. They are also found on the littoral of the Lankaran and Astara coasts of the South Caspian Sea.
Fam. Hartmanulidae Poche, 1913
Four species of the genus Hartmanula were found in the territories of Azerbaijan. They are all typical inhabitants of the marine periphyton. The most common are H. acrobates and H. angustipilosa, sometimes reaching high numbers on the periphyton of hydraulic structures and natural objects of the Southern Caspian.
H. ocellata, and especially H. entzi, are significantly less common. Usually these two species can be found in periphyton and on algae' surfaces in the first half of summer on the littoral of the Lankaran and Astara coasts of the South Caspian Sea.
Fam. Orthodonellidae Jankowski, 1968
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera — Chilodontopsis with 3 species, (C. kurensis, C. vermiformis, C. depressa) and Zosterodasys, with
6 species (Z. mirabilis, Z. caspica, Z. cantabrica, Z. vorax, Z. fluviatilis and Z. debilis).
Representatives of the genus Chilodontopsis were observed in fresh waters of the Kura River basin, Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic water reservoirs and several times on the silty bottoms of the Davachi firth.
Representatives of the genus Zosterodasys were observed both in the sea (Z. mirabilis, Z. caspica, Z. cantabrica) on the Absheron Peninsula and among rotting algae in the sea baths of the South Caspian littoral. The species Z. cantabrica was found several times in the desalted Davachi firth.
The following three species, Z. vorax, Z. fluviatilis and Z. debilis are mostly freshwater inhabitants, especially often found on polluted and silty soils in the eutrophic reservoirs of the Lower Kura River, Nakhchivan AR and South-Eastern Azerbaijan. In the latter region, they are frequently found in the period of autumn rains and in surface layers of Talish mountain forest soils.
Fam. Nassulopsidae Deroux in Corliss, 1979
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the genera Nassulopsis (4 species) and Beersena (former Phasmatopsis, with 1 species). Both genera are inhabitants offresh waters, especially they are found in ciliate communities of coastal thickets of aquatic plants (phytociliocenoses).
Three species of Nassulopsis (N. elegans, N. lagenula and N. muscicola) were observed in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, the Kura River basin and the reservoirs of the Great Caucasus, where they are quite often met in benthos and phytociliocenoses, mainly in early summer.
N. aziatica was first described in the psammon of the middle flow of the Syrdarya River (Uzbekistan) and was unknown in the other regions for a long time (Alekperov, 1997). In Azerbaijan, N. aziatica was observed only in the phytociliocenoses of the Varvara reservoir (Middle Kura River).
Representatives ofthe genus Beersena (formerly Phasmatopsis) — B. mirabundis, first found in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (Alekperov, 1984), are extremely rare and still unknown in the other regions of Azerbaijan.
It should be noted that ciliates from this genus are generally rare: e.g., Phasmotopsis limax described for the first time in fresh waters of France has not yet been observed anywhere else outside France.
Fam. Eurgasoniidae Corliss, 1979
Only one genus belonging to this family was found in Azerbaijan — Furgasonia with 4 species (F. tricirrata, F. rubens, F. theresae and F. blochmanni). All four species are typical inhabitants of fresh waters. Ofthese, F. tricirrata and F. rubens are widely distributed in fresh water bodies of the entire Kura River basin.
F. theresae is the rarest species found only a few times in fresh water bodies of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan, and F. blochmanni is found in the reservoirs of the Absheron and desalinated Davachi firth.
Interestingly, in the autumn season F. bloch-manni occurs on the surface layers of the broad-leaved forests soils of North-Eastern Azerbaijan, where it is present as a facultative species.
Fam. Nassulidae Fromentel, 1874
Representatives of this family are traditionally considered freshwater inhabitants, though recent studies show that among them there are also marine and soil species.
Twelve species of the genus Nassula and three — of the genus Obertrumia are observed in Azerbaijan. Most species of Nassula really were observed in fresh water. N. ornata, N. parva and N. tumida are found very frequently in all places. These species were observed in many freshwater reservoirs of various regions of Azerbaijan.
N. marina, first described in Azerbaijan (Alek-perov, Asadullaeva, 1997), was found in the Caspian Sea. These ciliates, as well as N. argentula, are occasionally observed in sea baths on the Absheron littoral and several times were found in the periphyton of the Astara coast of the Southern Caspian.
Two species, N. dragescoi and N. etoschensis, were observed in the soils polluted with oil products and salt waters in the old oil fields near Baku. However, N. dragescoi was also observed in the relatively clean soils of the Absheron, together with another species, N. terricola, which was also observed in meadow and forest soils of the Talish Mountains and the Great Caucasus.
Freshwater species N. nahchivanica, first described in one reservoir of Nakhichevan AR (Alekperov, 1984a), should also be noted. Interestingly, this species was not observed in the other
regions ofAzerbaijan; however, it was found during our research in the water bodies of Uzbekistan (Shor-Kul Lake and Kairakum Reservoir), as well as in Tajikistan (mountain lakes near Aslanbob city) (Alekperov, 1997).
In Azerbaijan, the genus Obertrumia is represented by three species (O. regina, O. aurea and O. gracilis). The latter two species are not rare, they are common components of freshwater phyto-ciliocenoses and sand and silty benthos of the reservoirs in the Kura River basin, North-Western and North-Eastern Azerbaijan.
The distribution of O. regina, described in fresh waters of the Varvara Reservoir (the Kura River basin, Central Azerbaijan), is more limited. Except for the place of the first description, this species was found only in the reservoirs of the Great Caucasus in Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1984a).
Interestingly, O. regina was widely observed in the fresh water bodies of the Middle Asia — in the Syrdarya and Kara-Darya rivers (Uzbekistan) and the Kafernigan River, as well as in the mountain lakes near "Tigrovaya Balka" State Reserve (Tajikistan).
Fam. Pseudomicrothoracidae Jankowski, 1967
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented only by the genus Pseudomicrothorax with two species — P. agilis and P. dubius. These are typical representatives of fresh waters and soils. Like many ciliates from the genus Nassula, the species belonging to the genus Pseudomicrothorax also feed on blue green algae staining the transparent ciliates' endoplasm in blue-green color.
These widespread species were observed in fresh waters in all regions of Azerbaijan. In soils, they prefer meadow and forest, and in the dry season in summer they migrate from the surface layers to deeper humid horizons of 20-35 cm and more.
Fam. Microthoracidae Wrzesniowski, 1870
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by 4 genera — Microthorax with 9 species, Leptopharynx with 3 species, Trochiliopsis and Drepanomonas with 1 species in each.
Representatives of all these genera are true pedobionts, common in soil ciliate communities. Most species of Microthorax were found in the soils of Talish mountain forests, broad-leaved forests of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan and meadow soils
of the Great Caucasus. They are often found in wet mosses near forest springs. M. pusillus and M. transversus were also observed in the eutrophic ponds of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Representatives of the genus Leptopharynx are also typical inhabitants of mosses, soils and eutrophied fresh waters. Two species (L. minimus and L. margaritata) were first found in the soils of St. Petersburg parks (Alekperov, 1993) and only later were observed in the soils of the Talish Mountains and of the Great Caucasus forests.
The genera Trochiliopsis and Drepanomonas are primarily pedobionts; however, they are often found in many fresh water bodies of the Kura River basin.
Fam. Colpodidae Bory de St. Vincent, 1826
Traditionally, representatives of this family are considered typical inhabitants of soils, though a number of species were observed in fresh waters.
Two genera belonging to this family were found in Azerbaijan — these are the genus Colpoda with 11 species and the genus Bresslaua with 3 species.
The representatives of Colpoda — C. maupasi, C. inflata, C. cucullus, C. aspera, C. edaphoni and C. colpidiopsis, the widespread pedobionts, were observed in soils offorest zones and alpine meadows of the Great Caucasus, though C. cucullus and C. inflata was often found in the fresh waters of the Kura River basin and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
Such species as C. minima, C. bifurcata, C. oblonga and C. praestans, being met incomparably less freqently, should also be noted, since they are observed only in a certain season of the year and for very short period. These species were observed in citrus plants plantation soils of South-Eastern Azerbaijan as well as in eutrophic fresh water reservoirs of the same region. Such species as C. magna and C. oblonga prefer fresh waters, where they occur both on sand and silty bottom, and in the phytociliocenoses.
In Azerbaijan the second genus, Bresslaua is represented only by three species, ofwhich B. vorax and B. insidiatrixwere observed in fresh water bodies ofthe Kura River basin, where they are usually found in late autumn. However, our studies showed that in freshwater these species are found as facultative ones, since they are mainly inhabitants of soils and mosses. The third species, B. dissimilis is an inhabitant offresh waters and was described from the reservoir in the Great Caucasus (Alekperov, 1985).
During our further studies, they were also observed outside ofAzerbaijan, in the floods ofthe Kafernigan River (Tajikistan).
Fam. Hausmaniellidae Foissner, 1987
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera: Hausmaniella (3 species) and Avestina (1 species). Representatives of the first genus are rare ciliates, typical pedobionts observed only in the mountain forest soils of the Pirguli State Reserve (the Great Caucasus).
H. discoidea several times was also registered in the rhizosphere of the chestnut oak in the NorthEastern Azerbaijan forests. The single representative of the second genus, Avestina — A. acuta was initially recorded in the forest soils of the Great Caucasus. More recent studies discovered it in the soils of mountain forests in the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Fam. Grossgloskneriidae Foissner, 1980
The representatives ofthis family are two genera found in Azerbaijan — Grossgloskneria (2 species) and Pseudoplatyophrya (2 species). These two genera are also typical pedobionts having a characteristic sucking mouth apparatus for feeding numerous yeast cells and small fungi in the soil. G. acuta is observed in the soils of the Northern and North-Western Azerbaijan near the border with Georgia.
G. hyalina was recorded only a few times in the meadow soils of the Shahdag National Park (the Great Caucasus).
Both species of Pseudoplatyophrya — P. nana and P. terricola were also found in the orchard soils of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Fam. Bursariidae Foissner, 1993
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented only by the genus Bursaria with two known valid species — B. truncatella and B. ovata. In spite ofthe wide universal spreading, these ciliates are extremely rare in the fresh waters of Azerbaijan.
The first species, B. truncatella is confined to fresh waters of the mountain lakes of the Great Caucasus (Goygel Lake) and the Gandargel Lake (North-Western Azerbaijan, on the state border with Georgia). On the Absheron, during the period of our long-term research, it was observed only twice, in February, in fresh waters ofthe Jeyranbatan reservoir. It should be noted that these ciliates are
very sensitive to changes in the environmental conditions and are capable of extremely rapid encystation.
The second species, B. ovata is also extremely rare and was observed several times in the waters of the forest springs of the Great Caucasus, mainly in the early spring. During the rest of the year it has never been observed.
Fam. Bryophryidae Paytorac, Perez-Paniagua et Perez, 1979
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the genus Bryophryawith three species (B. bavarien-sis, B. rubescens and B. flexilis). These are typical inhabitants of soils, mosses and marshes. In Azerbaijan they are frequently found in swampy soils of the Karayaz State Reserve (North-Western Azerbaijan), near the state border with Georgia.
In the other regions, B. bavariensiswas observed in soils flooded with irrigation waters of agrocenoses in the lower flow ofthe Kura River, and B. rubescens — in the abandoned fish ponds in the fish farms of the Lower Kura. They are rarely found, usually in the late autumn.
Fam. Cyrtolophosididae Stokes, 1888
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the genus Cyrtolophosis with four species (C. mucicola, C. bivacuolata, C. minor and C. acuta). All species are bacteriophages; they frequently form a tubular "house" around themselves. They are common in the freshwater benthos of eutrophic water bodies, on the silt bottom. C. mucicola and C.minor were recorded in the reservoirs of the Kura River basin, the North-Eastern and South-Eastern Azerbaijan and the Great Caucasus. C. bivacuolata and C. acuta were found in the reservoirs of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, in fresh waters of the Absheron Peninsula, North and North-Western Azerbaijan.
Fam. Platyophryidae Paytorac, Perez-Paniagua et Perez, 1979
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented only by the genus Platyophrya with 5 species. These ciliates are mainly pedobionts. The species P. vorax, P. spumacola and P. sphagni were found in the soils of citrus plants plantations in the South-Eastern Azerbaijan, in meadow and mountain forest soils of
alpine and forest zones of the Ismayilli State Reserve (the Great Caucasus), as well as in broad-leaved soils of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan.
P. macrostoma was found in orchard cultivated soils ofthe North-Eastern Azerbaijan, and P. dubia, the rarest species, was observed in virgin soils of the Absheron Peninsula and in agrocenoses of cultivated soils in the Kura River delta.
Fam. Woodruffiidae Gelei, 1954
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera. The first genus is Rostrophrya with three species (R. falcata, R. regis and R.. camerounensis). The species R.. falcata Jankowski (2007) considered as a synonym to E. ouganda (Dragesco, 1972). In our opinion, R.. falcata has enough differences from E. ouganda; that is why we keep its status as valid. It was found in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, where it was observed on algal silt. In addition to this region, it was only once met in fresh waters of the Northern Azerbaijan.
The other two species, R.. regis and R. cameroun-ensis, were also found only in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, in the coastal phytociliocenoses, and also in benthos on algal silt.
The only representative of the last genus, Woodruffia, is W. rostrata which has a peculiar distribution in Azerbaijan. This spesies was found only in the Mingechaur reservoir (the Kura River basin) during all time of the research, where it showed amazing constancy of distribution in time and space. W. rostrata massively increases its population density in the end of April in plankton of the Khanabad Gulf of the Mingechaur reservoir. Here, such a massive development is observed during no more than two weeks, after which this species completely falls out ofthe plankton community and disappears until the next year. A similar pattern was observed in this area for several years. However, it was not observed in the other regions ofAzerbaijan.
Interestingly, outside Azerbaijan it was also found only in fresh waters of mountain reservoirs on the Kitob pass (Uzbekistan), in April.
Fam. Briotopidae Jankowski, 1980
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera: Bryometopus, with two species, and Thylakidium, with 3 species. Both ofthem are typical pedobionts. Bryometopus pseudochilodon, found in the soils ofAzerbaijan, was observed in meadow and
forest soils of mountain forests of Talish and Great Caucasus forests. The second species, B. sphagni was observed several times, only in small number of specimens, in the soil litter of the broad-leaved forests of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan, near the state border with Russia.
The second genus, Thylakidium is also an inhabitant of most deciduous forest soils in the North-Eastern Azerbaijan, where two observed species (T. truncatum and T. macrostomum) occur mainly in wet forest litter and mosses. In addition, T. truncatum and T. macrostomum were also found in water accumulated in tree hollows, in the SouthEastern Azerbaijan mountain forest.
Fam. Colepidae Nitzsch, 1827
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented only by the genus Coleps with 13 species. C. hirtus, C. bicuspis, C. elongatus and C. lacustris were found in fresh waters. These species are common in all fresh water reservoirs of Azerbaijan, increasing their density on a large scale at certain times. These ciliates are among the most famous histophages, actively participating in the processes of dead organic matter decomposition.
Such species as C. remanei, C. trichotus, C. spiralis, C. arenicolus and C. spinosus were found on the littoral ofthe South and Middle Caspian, mainly in marine baths with decaying organic residues.
Two species, C. spinosus and C. nolandi, were observed in the salted Davachi firth and Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea, and in the freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron. C. hirtus and C. bicuspis occasionally were observed in soils of agrocenoses (North-Eastern Azerbaijan), especially in soils having high content of organic compounds.
Coleps pulcher was found only a few times in the psammon of the Astara coast of the Caspian Sea. It was observed twice in the periphyton of coastal rocks among red algae.
Fam. Holophryidae Perty, 1852
The family is represented by a single genus Holophrya with 8 species, mainly inhabitants offresh water bodies. Such species as H. gracilis, H. saginata and H. nigricans are widespread in freshwater reservoirs of the Nakhichevan AR, preferring the biotopes of silty bottom.
Two species, H. vorax and H. salinarum, were found in the salt lakes of the Absheron Peninsula
and in the desalted bays of the Caspian Sea. H. carchesii, H. africana and H. spirogyrophaga were observed in the coastal thickets of the aquatic plants of fresh water bodies of the Kura River basin and the Absheron reservoirs, and also in the late autumn in forest soils of the broad-leaved forests of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan.
It should be noted that the presence of these species in soils is explained by its high humidity which makes it possible for freshwater ciliates to be present as elective pedobiont species communities during certain periods of time.
Fam. Placidae Small et Lynn, 1985
Only the genus Placus with two species represents this family in Azerbaijan. Of these, P. striatus is widespread and occurrs in psammon and sea baths on the littoral of the Absheron coast of the Caspian Sea, as well as in a few salty lakes of the Absheron.
The second species, P. longinucleatus, originally described from fresh water bodies in Germany (Song and Wilbert, 1989), was observed in Azerbaijan in psammon of the Absheron South coast and later — in brackish bays of the Caspian Sea — Davachi frith and Gizil-Agach Bay.
It should be noted that both representatives of this genus can be considered the rare species, since they always occur during a very short period of time and in most cases — in small number of specimens.
Fam. Plagiocampidae Kahl, 1926
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by only one genus — Plagiocampa with 11 species. Ciliates of this genus are mainly inhabitants of freshwater benthos.
Of these, P. mutabile and P. atra were found in fresh water reservoirs of the Kura River basin on silty bottoms, as well as in coastal phytociliocenoses. Only P. acuminata was observed in the fresh water reservoirs of Nakhichevan; however, this is largely due to the fact that ciliatofauna of this region is rather poorly studied.
P. binucleata, P. multiseta and P. bitricha, all living on algal and black silt, were found in the fresh water reservoirs of the Great Caucasus, but P. ovata and P. rouxi preferred the coastal thickets of algae.
P. difficilis and P. caudata were observed in the soil biotopes, they were first found in meadow and forest soils of broad-leaved forests of the NorthEastern Azerbaijan and tugai forests along the Kura River.
The rarest species, P. kurensis, was found in the Kura River shallow bays overgrown with algae, near the state border with Georgia (North-Western Azerbaijan). Interestingly, this species was not observed in similar conditions downstream the Kura River.
Fam. Prorodontidae Ehrenberg, 1834
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by only one genus Prorodon, taxonomy of which at present time is in the process of strong changes. That is why we present the species composition of this genus according to the traditional scheme.
In Azerbaijan, the genus Prorodon is represented by 10 species. Two species (P. nucleolatus, P. ovalis) were observed only in the marine biotopes — in sea baths on the splash zone of the North coast rocks of the Absheron Peninsula, while P. platyodon and P. niveus were often found in the phytociliocenoses of the desalted Davachi frith and the Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea in spring. However, they were also observed in the fresh water reservoirs of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan.
The most common ciliates from this genus are the typical freshwater species: P. mimeticus, P. laurenti, P. lucens and P. pluvialis; they are observed in fresh waters of the North-Western and SouthEastern Azerbaijan as well as in the reservoirs of the Great Caucasus and the Kura River basin. The two rarest species (P. ellipticus and P. africanus) were found only in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.
Fam. Urotrichidae Small et Lynn, 1985
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by three genera — Rhagadostoma (2 species), Urotricha (14 species) and Longifragma (2 species).
Two species of Rhagadostoma — R completum and R. nudicaudatum are rare, the first one was found only a few times in the freshwater benthos, only in autumn, in reservoirs of the Kura River basin, and the second one was recorded in the Jeyranbatan reservoir in the Absheron only in the late autumn and always in low number of specimens. These species were not observed in the other seasons.
Two species of Urotricha — U. atypica and U. turanica were first described in the soils of St. Petersburg parks (Alekperov, 1993) and the second one — in the psammon ofthe brackish Isyk-Kul Lake (Alekperov, 1997). Much later, both those species were also found on silty bottoms in the fresh waters
of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
U. farcta, U. macrostoma and U. apsheronica prefer freshwater plankton. They were observed in fresh waters of the Great Caucasus reservoirs, in plankton of Terterchay reservoir (Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan), as well as in the reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula.
The most common species are U. sphaerica, U. armata, U. discolor, U. baltica and U. pelagica inhabiting plankton communities of fresh water reservoirs of the Kura River basin and reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula.
Such species as U. valida, U. globosa and U. corlissiana were significantly less common and were observed in plankton and phytociliocenoses of eutrophic water bodies in the South-Eastern Azerbaijan. Additionally to water reservoirs, two species, U. atypica and U. terricola, were observed also in soils of Talish mountain forests and citrus plants plantations of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Two representatives of the last genus, Longi-fragma (L. obligua and L. gracilis) are rare. These species are also found mainly in plankton of fresh waters. They were observed in the mountain lakes of the Great Caucasus, and in fresh waters of the Absheron Peninsula.
Fam. Plagiopylidae Schewiakoff, 1896
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera — Sonderia with 4 species and Plagiopyla with 5 species. Two species of Sonderia (S. macrochilus and S. megalabiata) were found on the littoral of the South and Middle Caspian Sea. S. megalabiata was first described in the contaminated zone of the marine littoral on the South coast of the Absheron (Alekperov, Asadullaeva, 1996). Later it was also found among the rotting algae of the sea baths of the South Caspian.
The second species, S. macrochilus prefers clean biotopes and is much more common on silty bottoms, in periphyton communities among red algae and in coastal phytociliocenoses along the shoreline of the South and Middle Caspian Sea.
The last two species ofthis genus (S. sinuata and S. paralabiata) are extremely rare and observed in the freshened zones of the Caspian Sea (Davachi frith, Gizil-Agach Bay and the Kura River delta).
Representatives of the genus Plagiopyla are mainly observed in marine benthos. For example, P. frontata and P. stenostoma are found on the black silt and in sea baths among the rotting algae
of the Southern coast of the Absheron Peninsula. P. ovata is also observed in the sea where it prefers phytociliocenoses of the pure coastal thickets of the Gizil-Agach Reserve. Although P. nasuta is considered a freshwater species, in addition to the fresh waters of the eutrophic water bodies of the Kura River mouth, where it is common in black silt or sapropel, it was also observed in the contaminated sea areas on the South coast ofthe Absheron, as well as in the desalinated Davachi firth where it is quite common; the same can be said also about another species of this genus — P. vestita.
Fam. Frontoniidae Kahl, 1926
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by 4 genera — Frontonia with 10 species, Disematostoma with 2 species, Wenrichia with 1 species and Stokesia with 2 species.
Representatives of the genus Frontonia were observed in both marine and fresh waters. In addition, some species were recorded in wet mosses and soils.
On the littoral of the South Caspian (the coasts of Lankaran and Astara), the species F. arenaria, F. salmastra, F. marina and F. macrostoma were found in sea baths among red algae. In addition, F. salmastra and F. macrostoma were also discovered on the coast of North-Eastern Azerbaijan, near the state border with Russia.
Most of the other species were found in fresh waters. For example, F. azerbaijanica, first described in Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1983), prefers eutrophic reservoirs of the Kura River basin, where it occurs in silty bottom communities and in phytociliocenoses. Two other species, F. leucas and F. obtuse, prefer more pure and colder water bodies of the Great Caucasus; however, in the early spring they are periodically recorded in freshwater reservoirs of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan and in reservoirs of the North-Western Azerbaijan.
The species F. roqui was observed in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic; however, this species is also common in soils of the Talish mountain forests, where it is found in wet tree hollows and among mosses near forest springs. Finally, the species F. elliptica and F. algivora are likewise more characteristic for biotopes of wet mosses and swamps (North-Western Azerbaijan), though they were also observed in the eutrophic forest ponds of Lerik and Talish (South-Eastern Azerbaijan).
Two representatives of the genus Disematostoma occur in fresh waters of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan. Among these, D. butschliiis also widespread in fresh waters of the Kura River basin, and D. invallatum during the whole time span of our research was observed only few times on the silty sand of the Khanbulanchay reservoir (SouthEastern Azerbaijan).
The single species of the genus Wenrichia — W. lakhurica was first described in a salt lake near Lahur village, the environs of Yavan town, Tajikistan (Alekperov, 1998). In Azerbaijan, it was found in 2009, in the salt lakes ofthe Absheron; it has not been observed yet in the other regions of the Republic.
The last genus of the family Frontoniidae — Stokesia, is represented by the species S. vernalis. Despite the fact that it occurs quite often in faunistic studies, it is extremely rare in Azerbaijan.
During the entire research period, the ciliates S. vernalis were observed only several times in the Kura River between Mingechaur and Varvara reservoirs, where the water comes from a 35 m depth, which even in summer leads to a decrease in water temperature down to 10-12 °С. Besides, S. vernalis was observed in plankton of the reservoirs of the Great Caucasus. In the other regions of Azerbaijan it was not observed.
Fam. Lembadionidae Jankowski in Corliss, 1977
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the genus Lembadion which includes three species. Being very characteristic ciliates, they can not be confused with representatives of any other family.
The species L. bullinum and L. magnum are typical benthic representatives offresh waters, found on different bottoms and are frequently met in the communities of all coastal phytociliocenoses. L. bullinum is observed in all fresh water bodies of the Kura River basin — from the state border with Georgia to the Kura River delta. Besides, it is common in fresh waters of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
L. magnum often occurs together with the previously mentioned species, but it prefers eutrophic fresh waters.
Unlike the previous two, the third species, L. lucens, is the smallest; it is often met in freshwater plankton, but is also found in phytociliocenoses of fresh waters in the Kura River basin as well as in the waters of the Great Caucasus.
All representatives of this genus are active predators and always occur in the communities
together with the other, small-size hydrobionts, including ciliates representing their food objects.
Fam. Urocentridae Claparede et Lachmann, 1859
This family consists of a single monotypic genus Urocentrum with a single species, U. turbo. These ciliates are common in alpha-mesosaprobic reservoirs of the Kura River basin, where they are found in the bottom layers and among the thickets of algae. U. turbo is widely spread in all eutrophied water reservoirs of Azerbaijan where it is common during the warm seasons, being observed from spring to autumn.
Fam. Parameciidae Dujardin, 1840
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the genus Paramecium with five species. Of these, three species were observed mainly in freshwater (P. caudatum, P. woodruffi, P. putrinum). All freshwater species of Paramecium prefer reservoirs characterized by rather high degree of eutrophication and are widespread in all regions of Azerbaijan. It should be noted that P. caudatum is often found in marine samples, especially in sea baths of the splash zone, and it is also frequently met in soil biotopes, occurring in both natural and cultivated soils.
Two other species, P. calkinsi and P. multimic-ronucleatum, are observed on the littoral of the Lankaran and Astara coasts of the South Caspian, as well as in the Davachi frith. In addition, P. multimicronucleatum several times was found in the polluted soils of the old oil fields of the Absheron Peninsula polluted with stratal water.
The species P. bursaria, bright green in color due to a variety of endosymbionts, is a common component of the freshwater benthic ciliate community. It prefers silty bottoms, especially algal and black silt. It is often met in coastal communities of freshwater phytociliocenoses in the Kura River basin, North-Western Azerbaijan and fresh waters of the Great Caucasus as well as the reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula.
Fam. Tetrahymenidae Corliss, 1952
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by a single genus Tetrahymena with two species. Ofthese, T. pyriformis (now a complex of species) is broadly known and widely spread. It is observed both in the fresh eutrophic reservoirs of the Absheron, in the Kura River basin, in the South-Eastern, North
and North-Western Azerbaijan, and in the soils of these regions, especially those having high organic content.
The second species, T. edaphoni, is found in cultivated soils of the Absheron household plots, as well as in meadow and mountain forest soils of broad-leaved forests of the Great Caucasus.
Fam. Turaniellidae Didier, 1971
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by a single genus Colpidium with three species. All representatives of this genus are inhabitants of fresh waters with a high degree of saprobity.
C. colpoda is the most common species found in eutrophic lower flow waters of the Kura River, in reservoirs, abandoned fisheries ponds and salsu-ginous Davachi firth areas overgrown with higher aquatic vegetation.
The other two species, C. singulare and C. striatum prefer water bodies with more pure water. They are commonly found in fresh beta-mesosaprobic waters of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, North-Western, North-Eastern and South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Fam. Spirozonidae Kahl, 1926
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the only genus Stegochilum with two species (S.fusiforme and S. smalli). The first one is a typical saprobiont, observed usually with the other representatives of ciliate communities of freshwater black and sapropelic silts in reservoirs of the Kura River basin, Davachi firth, Absheron and fresh waters of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Being described at first in the soils of Peterhof, S. smalli (Alekperov, 1993) was later found in Azerbaijan in soils heavily fertilized with manure of household plots in the South-Eastern Azerbaijan and in citrus plantations. So far, this species has not been observed in aquatic biotopes.
Fam. Glaucomidae Corliss, 1971
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera — Epenardia with one species and Glaucoma with two species. E. myriophylii is a big, mobile ciliate, prefering fresh waters of the mesosaprobic zone. This species was found in early spring in the reservoirs of the Kura River basin, several times it was observed in the waters of the Great Caucasus
mountain lakes, as well as forest springs in the Northern Azerbaijan.
Two species — Glaucoma scintillans and G. chattoni are typical bacteriophages, occurring both in fresh waters, especially in waters enriched with decomposing organic matter, and in soils with active processes of organic matter destruction. Both species are widely spread throughout the Republic.
Fam. Ophryoglenidae Kent, 1881
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the genus Ophryoglenawith 11 species. Ofthese, O. atra, O. acuminata, O. flava and O. catenula were recorded in the reservoirs of the North-Western Azerbaijan in benthos and near-bottom plankton, as well as in the communities of coastal phytociliocenoses of the Davachi firth and the Absheron Lake. All these species are extremely mobile, swim very fast with rotational movements of the anterior end of body.
The species O. kahli, O. minima, O. mugardi and O. oblonga are also inhabitants of fresh waters of the Kura River basin, while O. mugardi and O. ovata were also observed on the sand and silty soils of the desalinated Davachi firth and in the sea baths of the Caspian littoral of the North Absheron.
O. pectans and O. viridis should be considered as rare species. They were observed in low number of specimens during the whole period of the research in the reservoirs of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan, only in the early spring. These species were neither observed in the other seasons nor in the other regions of the country.
Fam. Loxocephalidae Jankowski, 1964
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by 5 genera: Dexiotricha with 5 species, Loxocephalus with 2 species, Platynematum with 4 species, Sath-rophilus with 3 species and Cinetochilum with 3 species.
All representatives of the genus Dexiotricha are inhabitants of fresh and brackishwater reservoirs characterized by alpha-mesosaprobic or polysapro-bic degree of organic pollution. Dexiotricha occurs mostly on silty bottoms enriched with decomposing organic residues.
D. simplex, D. polystyla and D. kahli were observed in the thickets ofrotting reeds in the freshened Davachi firth of the Caspian Sea, as well as in many fresh reservoirs of the Kura River basin with high saprobity.
The species D. lucida and D. raikoviare rare; they were observed several times in the polluted water bodies ofthe South-Eastern Azerbaijan, as well as in the abandoned fishponds of the Kura Experimental Sturgeon Fishery (Lower Kura).
The genus Loxocephalus is represented by two species — L. luridus and L. intermedius. Unlike Dexiotricha, representatives ofthis genus prefer clean water reservoirs of the beta-mesosaprobic zone, where they inhabit silty bottoms. Being a big size species, L. luridus is widely spread in fresh waters of the Kura River basin, as well as in the eutrophic fresh waters of the North-Western Azerbaijan, near the border with Georgia.
The second species of this genus, L. intermedius, is of smaller size; it was first described as an inhabitant of brackish waters (Kahl, 1928). In Azerbaijan, this species was observed in sea baths on the littoral along the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, as well as in the salt lakes of the Absheron.
Representatives of the genus Platynematum occur both in freshwater (P. sociale, P. hyalinum), and in the sea waters (P. marinium, P. denticulatum). They all are the extremely rare species, usually found in water bodies having rotting aquatic vegetation.
P. hyalinum was observed both in freshwater reservoirs of the Kura River basin, and in the desalinated Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea. P. marinum and P. denticulatum are found in the marine psammon of the Lankaran and Astara coasts of the Caspian Sea.
The taxonomy of the genus Sathrophilus is being actively revised now. Some species were transferred to the newly established genus Kariphilus (Jankowski, 2007). However, the species we mention here are still presented as the Sathrophilus-species.
Totally, three species of this genus were found, of which S. muscorum and S. granulatus were observed in the Talish mountain forest soils and in Lerik (South-Eastern Azerbaijan). Moreover, S. granulatus was observed several times in the abandoned fish ponds in the Lower Kura region. Finally, S. putrinus was observed in polysaprobic waters on sapropel silt in fresh waters of the NorthEastern Azerbaijan.
The last representative of the family Loxoce-phalidae — the genus Cinetochilum includes three species. The most common species, C. margarita-ceum, was found mainly in the soils of the broad-leaved forests of the Great Caucasus, but later it was observed several times in cultivated soils of agrocenoses in the North and North-Western
Azerbaijan, as well as in the soils of citrus plants plantations in the South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
A rarer species C. impatens, occurring on algal silt, was observed in fresh waters of the reservoirs of the Kura River basin. The marine species C. marinum was observed on the Northern coast of Absheron in sea baths on the littoral, as well as on silty bottoms and thickets of algae in the Davachi frith.
Fam. Cyclidiidae Ehrenberg, 1838
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by 4 genera — a monotypic Caspionella, as well as Cristigera (5 species), Cyclidium (4 species) and Protocyclidium (1 species).
The ciliates Caspionella bergeri (Agamaliev, 1972), found and described in the Caspian Sea, were observed only in the periphyton of coastal rocks on the Northern coast of Absheron and in the phytociliocenoses of the Davachi firth.
Species of the genus Cristigera — C. vestita, C. phoenix and C. media are frequently found in the eutrophied fresh waters of the Absheron, NorthWestern Azerbaijan, and in the freshened parts of the Caspian Sea — the Davachi firth, Gizil-Agach Bay and the Kura River mouth. The last species, C. constricta was found only in contaminated soils of the Absheron oil fields.
The genus Cyclidium is represented by four species, of them C. glaucoma and C. citrullus are widely occurring eurybionts that were observed in fresh waters throughout Azerbaijan and along the coast of the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. Two other species, C. marinum and C. borrori, were observed only on the Astara and Lankaran coasts of the Southern Caspian.
Protocyclidium with the single species P. terre-num was first discovered and described in the soils of St. Petersburg parks (Alekperov, 1993). Later on, the other species were included into the genus Protocyclidium (Foissner et al., 2002). However, in Azerbaijan ciliates from the typical species P. terrenum were found only much later (Alekperov, 2005), and so far they are known only from forest soils of the Ismayilli State Reserve, located in the Great Caucasus Mountains.
Fam. Uronematidae Thompson, 1964
The family Uronematidae is represented by two genera — Uronema and Homalogastra (the latter is monotypic).
In Azerbaijan, the genus Uronema is represented by five species (U. marinum, U. nigricans, U. elegans, U. acuta and U. parduczi). Of these, the first four species are eurybionts; they were observed in the sea, predominantly in benthos, on silty bottom with decomposing organic matters, and in fresh waters of eutrophicated stagnant water bodies, almost in all regions of the Republic. They are also present (although rarely) in soils, especially in rhizosphere plants, where they are localized near the dead roots, feeding on both bacteria and decomposing organics.
Unlike the others, U. parduczi is a much rarer species. It was observed on algal silt in the freshened Davachi firth and the Gizil-Agach Bay of the Caspian Sea. In addition, a low number of specimens ofthis species were found several times in periphyton of the North Absheron marine rocks.
Homalogastra setosa is mainly a pedobiont; it is a common species in the forest litter ciliate communities of broad-leaved forests of the NorthEastern Azerbaijan, mountain meadow and forest soils of the Great Caucasus and South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Fam. Pseudocohnilembidae Evans et Thompson, 1964
One genus of this family, Pseudocohnilembus, with one species — P. veisovi (Alekperov, Musayev, 1988) was found in Azerbaijan. It should be noted that this species was found only once, during parasitological studies ofnutria excrement collected on the ground, in the vivarium of the Institute of Zoology. It was not possible to determine more precisely whether this was a parasitic species or a species that had fallen out of the soil. Discovery of this species was the first and so far the last.
It should be also noted that the genus Pseudoco-hnilembus comprises some endoparasitic species of sea urchins; however, its parasitism in mammalian hosts is unknown.
Fam. Azeridae Alekperov, 1985
This family with the monotypic genus Azerella was first found and described in fresh waters of the South-Eastern Azerbaijan (Alekperov, 1985).
The single species, A. calva is extremely rare and after the first description it was observed only a few times in periphyton of the hydraulic structures and in benthos on algal silt of the Khanbulanchay reservoir (South-Eastern Azerbaijan).
It was not observed in the other regions.
Fam. Gymnocyclidiidae Alekperov, 2009
During the investigation of fresh waters in the North-Eastern Azerbaijan, a new ciliate family with the monotypic genus Gymnocyclidium was found and described (Alekperov, 2009). The single species G. nabranicum was found in fresh waters near the settlement Nabran (North-Western Azerbaijan).
It should be noted that these ciliates are extremely rare, they are usually found in early spring in periphyton and in phytocyliocenoses of small freshwater reservoirs overgrown with aquatic vegetation. In the other regions ofthe republic it has not been observed yet.
Fam. Pleuronematidae Kent, 1881
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by the single genus Pleuronema with 5 species. Two of these species (P. crassum and P. coronatum), being freshwater inhabitants, are observed in the mesosaprobic reservoirs of the Absheron, the Kura River basin, and reservoirs of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and South-Eastern Azerbaijan.
The other three species (P. marinium, P. oculata, P. nana) were observed on the Caspian littoral — in the psammon and periphyton of the Absheron coastal rocks.
The latter species (P. nana) was found in the freshened parts of the sea — Davachi firth, Gizil-Agach Bay, and in the Kura River delta. All species of this genus are eurybionts and are usually present in ciliate communities from spring to autumn.
Fam. Epistylidae Kahl, 1933
This family is represented by the genus Epistylis, with 8 species. These colonial ciliates are common in almost all fresh water reservoirs.
In Azerbaijan, it is frequently met in standing water reservoirs of fish-pond farms in the Kura River basin, in the reservoirs of the South-Eastern and North-Western Azerbaijan, and the Great Caucasus area. Very often they attach to underwater objects, constituting a significant proportion of the ciliate communities of freshwater periphyton.
The exception is E. procumbens, which is usually living in freshwater plankton not attaching neither to the periphyton nor to the hydrobionts. The other species in the warm season are always present in the ciliate communities ofthe periphyton, often forming a continuous cover on the surface of different objects
immersed in water. In addition, such species as E. rotatorium, E. anastatica and E. dafniae attach to the surfaces of the small-sized hydrobionts — rotifers, cyclopoids, daphnia and many others, covering them sometimes so tightly that the contours of the host's body are not visible.
Fam. Vorticellidae Ehrenberg, 1838
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by two genera: Vorticella, with 7 species, and Carchesium, with 6 species. Moreover, like the previously described genus Epistylis, the representatives of Vorticella and Carchesium are basically freshwater ciliates with the attached life mode. They are common components of periphyton; especially many of them are present in the aeration tanks of the water treatment plants.
Alternatively, Vorticella and Carchesium are often attached to representatives of the other groups of small multicellular hydrobionts (crustaceans, mollusks, etc.).
All of them are widely spread in fresh waters of various regions of Azerbaijan. They are observed in the reservoirs of the Kura River basin, in fresh waters of the Great Caucasus, the South-Eastern, the North-Eastern, and North Azerbaijan. In the Caspian Sea, they are most common in the freshened Davachi firth and Gizil-Agach Bay.
Fam. Zoothamniidae Sommer, 1951
This family is represented by the genus Zootham -nium, with 15 species of big colonial ciliates occurring in the marine waterbodies (Z. arbuscula, Z. balticum, Z. marinum and others), mainly in plankton, and also in the periphyton communities of fresh water bodies.
Some species were observed both in fresh and also in sea waters (Z. plumosum, Z. kenti, Z. adamsi and Z. carcini). Interestingly, some species were found mainly in the freshened zones of the Caspian Sea (Z. carcini, Z. triophilum, Z. vermicola).
Like all other sessile groups of ciliates, Zootham-nium willingly settle on the covers of multicellular hydrobionts.
Fam. Telotrochidiidae Foissner, 1978
In Azerbaijan, this family is represented by a single genus, Tetrochidium, with three species. The most common species, T. crateriforme was observed in fresh waters of the Absheron and in reservoirs of the North-Eastern, South-Eastern and North-Western Azerbaijan. Two other species (T. johanninae and T. cylindricum) occur less frequently; they were first recorded in the Absheron reservoirs and later — in fresh waters of the North-Eastern Azerbaijan.
Fig. 2. Some free-living ciliates of Azerbaijan (impregnation with silver nitrate and proteinate). 1 - Loxodes striatus (Engelmann, 1862); 2 - Condylostoma kasymovi Alekperov, 1984; 3 - Stentor coeruleus Ehrenberg, 1830; 4 - Amphisiella annulata (Kahl, 1928); 5 - Pseudokeronopsis rubra (Ehrenberg, 1838); 6 - Bakuella imbricata Alekperov, 1982; 7 - Diophrys multicirratus Alekperov, 1984; 8 - Rimostrombidium sp.; 9 - Metopus fuscoides Alekperov, 1984; 10 - Obertrumia regina Alekperov, 1984; 11 - Brachonella mitriformis Alekperov, 1984; 12 - Cyclotrichium inflatum Alekperov, 1984; 13 - Trithigmostoma steini (Blochmann, 1895); 14 - Zosterodasys mirabilis Alekperov, 1984; 15 - Furgasonia blochmani Fauré-Fremiet, 1967; 16 - Gymnocyclidium nabranicum Alekperov, 2009; 17 - Colpoda aspera Kahl, 1926; 18 - Sonderia megalabiata Alekperov et Asadullayeva, 1996; 19 - Frontonia azerbaijanica Alekperov, 1983; 20 - Wenrichia lachurica Alekperov, 1996.
The testate amoebae
At present, totally 265 species oftestate amoebae are known from fresh waters and soils ofAzerbaijan. Although the history of studies of these protists in Azerbaijan is rather long, the investigations oftestate amoebae have been intensified only during the recent 15 years; therefore, the total species number of testate amoebae in Azerbaijan known to date is far from the complete biodiversity knowledge about these protists in our region.
Moreover, it should be taken into account that this group of Protozoa has not been studied in the Caspian Sea. Thus, in the future one can expect a substantial replenishment of the testate amoebae species diversity of our region, due to the undoubtedly existing marine species of these protists. The taxonomic composition oftestate amoebae in Azerbaijan according to the data published by different authors is presented in Table 2.
The taxonomy of testate amoebae is given in accordance with the system of eukaryotes proposed by the international team of specialist (Adl et al., 2005).
Notes on distribution of testate amoebae in different biotopes and regions of Azerbaijan
Amoebozoa Lühe, 1913, emend. Cavalier-Smith, 1998
Order Arcellinida Kent, 1880
Suborder Arcellina Haeckel, 1894
Fam. Microcoryciidae de Saedeleer, 1934
Cochliopodium digitatum (Greeff, 1866) Penard,
1902
Distribution: the rice fields of Lankaran (Veysig, 1939).
Amphizonella violacea Greeff, 1886
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
Fam. Arcellidae Ehrenberg, 1843 Arcella arenaria Greeff, 1866
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b, 2015b), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2001).
A. arenaria v. compressa Chardez, 1963
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. arenaria v. sphagnicola Def., 1928
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. polypora Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b, 2015b), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
A. conica Playfair, 1918
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b, 2015b)), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. vulgaris Deflandre, 1928
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1939; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015b), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. vulgaris v. undulata Deflandre, 1928
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
A. gibbosa Penard, 1890
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
A. gibbosa v. laevis Deflandre, 1928
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
Table 2. Species composition of testate amoebae of Azerbaijan according to different authors.
Taxonomic composition After publications by Snegovaya, Alekperov and Tahirova (2GGG-2G16) After Zaidov (1995) After Alizade (1934, 1933, 1939, 1942); Veysig (193G, 1931, 1939, 194G)
Fam. Microcoryciidae De Saedeleer, 1934
1 Cochliopodium digitatum (Greeff, 1866) Penard, 1902 +
2 Amphizonella violacea Greeff, 1886 +
Fam. Arcellidae Ehrenberg, 133G
3 Arcella arenaria Greeff, 1866 + + +
4 A. arenaria v. compressa Chardez, 1963 +
5 A. arenaria v. sphagnicola Def., 1928 +
6 A. polypora Penard, 1902 +
7 A. conica (Playfair, 1918) + +
8 A. vulgaris Deflandre, 1928 + + +
9 A. vulgaris v. undulata Deflandre, 1928 + +
10 A. gibbosa Penard, 1890 +
11 A. gibbosa laevis Deflandre, 1928 +
12 A. artocrea Leidy, 1876 + +
13 A. stellaris Perty, 1849 +
14 A. megastoma Penard, 1926 +
15 A. megastoma arcuata Deflandre, 1928 +
16 A. dentata Ehrenberg, 1832 +
17 A. excavata Cunningham, 1919 + +
18 A. discoides Ehrenberg, 1872 +
19 A. hemispherica Perty, 1852 + + +
20 A. bathystoma Deflandre, 1928 +
21 A. catinus Penard, 1890 +
22 A. crenulata Deflandre, 1928 +
23 A. atava Collin, 1914 + +
24 A. rotundata Playfair, 1918 +
25 A. rotundata v. aplanata Def., 1928 +
26 A. brasiliensis Cunha, 1913 +
27 A. mitrata Leidy, 1876 +
28 A. costata Ehrenberg, 1847 +
29 Pyxidicula operculata (Agardh, 1827) Ehrenberg, 1838 +
Fam. Cyclopyxidae Schonborn, 1939
30 Cyclopyxis kahli Deflandre, 1929 + +
31 C. kahli v. cyclostoma Bonn., Thom., 1959 +
32 C. kahli v. grandis Chibisova, 1967 +
33 C. putens Thomas, 1960 +
34 C. intermedia Kufferath, 1932 +
35 C. euristoma Deflandre, 1929 + +
36 C. penardi Deflandre, 1929 +
37 C. arcelloides Penard, 1902 +
38 C. ambigua Bonnet et Thomas, 1960 + +
39 Trigonopyxis arcula (Leidy, 1879) +
Fam. Centropyxidae Deflandre, 1953
40 Centropyxis aculeata Ehrenberg, 1838 + + +
41 C. hirsuta v. oblonga Deflandre, 1929 +
42 Centropyxis spinosa Cash, 1905 +
Table 2. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition After publications by Snegovaya, Alekperov and Tahirova (2GGG-2G16) After Zaidov (1995) After Alizade (1934, 1933, 1939, 1942); Veysig (193G, 1931, 1939, 194G)
43 C. deliculata Penard, 1902 +
44 C. aerophila Deflandre, 1929 + +
45 C. aerophila v. sphagnicola Def., 1929 +
46 C. plagiostoma Bonnet et Thomas, 1956 + +
47 C. plagiostoma v. terricola Bonnet et Thomas, 1955 +
48 C. pseudodeflandriana Bonnet et Comez-Sanchez, 1984 +
49 C. elongata (Penard, 1890) + +
50 C. orbicularis Def., 1929 +
51 C. ecornis Ehrenberg, 1838 + +
52 C. gibba Deflandre, 1929 +
53 C. platystoma Penard, 1890 +
54 C. hirsuta Deflandre, 1929 +
55 C. discoides (Penard, 1890) + +
56 C. kurakchayensis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
57 C. marsupiformis (Wall, 1864; +
58 C. cassis (Wallich, 1864) + +
59 C. constricta (Ehrenberg, 1838) Deflandre, 1929 + +
60 C. hemisphaerica (Bernard, 1879) +
61 C. minuta Deflandre, 1929 + +
62 C. sylvatica (Deflandre, 1929) + +
63 C. sylvatica v. minor Bonn. et Thom, 1955 +
64 C. mirabilis Bartos 1940 +
65 C. compressa van Oye 1948 +
66 C. percolabiensis Dekhtyar 1994 +
67 Centropyxis pileformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
68 C. trigonostoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
69 C. pectinata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
70 C. laevigata Penard, 1890 + +
71 Oopyxis lenkoranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
72 P. minuta Bonn., 1959 +
73 Plagiopyxis minuta phanerostoma Bonnet, 1959 +
74 P. declivis Thomas, 1958 + +
75 P. intermedia Bonn., 1959 +
76 P. penardi Thomas, 1958 +
77 P. penardi v. oblonga Bonn., 1959 +
78 Planhoogenraadia gracilis Bonn. et Comez-Sanchez, 1984 +
79 Ellipsopyxis lamottei Bonnet, 1974 +
80 Bullinularia indica Def., 1952 +
81 Geopyxella sylvicola Bonn. et Thom., 1955 +
82 Hoogenraadia cryptostoma Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958 +
Fam. Difflugiidae Awerintzew, 19G6
83 Difflugia acuminata Ehrenberg, 1838 + + +
84 D. acuminata v. curvata Cash, 1909 +
85 Difflugia acuminata v. inflata Penard, 1899 +
86 D. acuminata v. magna Deflandre, 1926 +
Taxonomic composition After publications by Snegovaya, Alekperov and Tahirova (2000-2016) After Zaidov (1995) After Alizade (1934, 1938, 1939, 1942); Veysig (1930, 1931, 1939, 1940)
87 D. ampullula Playfair, 1918 +
88 D. claviformis Penard, 1899 +
89 D. microclaviformes (Kourova, 1925) +
90 D. corona Wallich, 1864 + +
91 D. corona v. ecornis Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958 +
92 D. corona v. tuberculata Vuchetich, 1973 +
93 D. difficilis Thomas, 1972 +
94 D. rubescens Penard, 1902 +
95 D. distenda Ogden, 1983 +
96 D. elegans Penard, 1890 + +
97 D. elegans teres Penard, 1899 +
98 D. capreolata Penard, 1902 + +
99 D. viscidula Penard, 1902 +
100 D. giganteacuminata Chardez, 1958 +
101 D. globulosa Dujardin, 1837 + +
102 D. globularis Wallich, 1864 +
103 D. pressula Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
104 D. girkanica Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010 +
105 D. mamillaris Penard, 1893 + +
106 D. gramen Penard, 1902 + + +
107 D. tuberculata Wallich, 1864 +
108 D. scalpellum Penard, 1899 +
109 D. sarissa Li Sun Tai, 1931 +
110 D. limnetica Penard, 1902 + +
111 D. linearis (Penard, 1890) Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958 +
112 D. lithoplites Penard, 1902 +
113 D. bipartis Godeanu, 1972 +
114 D. decloitrei Godeanu, 1972 +
115 D. litophila Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958 +
116 D. muriformis Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958 +
117 D. oviformis Cash, 1909 +
118 D. penardi Hopkinson, 1909 +
119 D. pyriformis Perty, 1849 + +
120 D. urceolata Carter, 1864 + +
121 D. pristis Penard, 1902 + +
122 D. hydrostatica Zacharias, 1897 +
123 D. bidens Penard, 1902 +
124 D. oblonga Ehrenberg, 1838 + +
125 D. oblonga v. angusticollis Stepanek, 1952 +
126 D. oblonga v. nodosa Leidy, 1879 +
127 D. lanceolata Penard, 1890 + + +
128 D. lobostoma Leidy, 1879 + +
129 D. lobostoma multilobata Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958 +
130 D. sapnakeranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
131 D. cratera Leidy, 1877 +
Table 2. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition After publications by Snegovaya, Alekperov and Tahirova (2GGG-2G16) After Zaidov (1995) After Alizade (1934, 1933, 1939, 1942); Veysig (193G, 1931, 1939, 194G)
132 D. sarissa Li Sun Tai, 1931 +
133 D. alekperovi Snegovaya et Tahirova, 2015 +
134 D. brevicola Cash et Hopkinson, 1909 +
135 D. lucida Penard, 1890 + +
136 D. avellana Penard, 1890 +
137 D. bacillariarum Perty, 1849 +
138 D. bryophila (Penard, 1902) +
139 D. acutissima Deflandre, 1931 +
140 D. acutisimella Chardez, 1985 +
141 D. smilion Thomas, 1953 +
142 D. longicollis (Gassowsky, 1936) +
143 D. baculosa Schonborn, 1966 +
144 D. pseudoclaviformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
145 D. pysciformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
146 D. ventricolosa Deflandre, 1926 +
147 D. labiosa Wailes, 1919 +
148 D. pulex Penard, 1902 +
149 D. varians Penard, 1902 +
150 D. biconvata Ertl, 1964 +
151 D. echinulata Penard, 1911 +
152 D. constricta Ehrenberg, 1841 +
153 D. guttula Godeanu, 1972 +
154 D. ogdenii Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
155 D. armatostoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
156 D. rotiferoformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
157 D. caucasica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
158 D. vermiformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
159 D. bifurcata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
160 D. azerbaijanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
161 D. crucistoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
162 D. immemorata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
163 D. khachmazica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
164 D. elongata Penard, 1905 +
165 D. lenkoranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
166 D. hanaki Stepanek, 1967 +
167 D. talyshica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
168 Pentagonia azerbaijanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
169 Pontigulasia compressoidea Jung, 1942 +
170 P. bigibbosa Penard, 1902 +
171 P. compressa (Carter 1864) + +
172 P. breviottis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
173 P. spectabilis Penard, 1902 +
174 P. elisa (Penard, 1893) +
175 P. incisa Rhumblier, 1896 + +
176 Lagenodifflugia bryophila (Penard, 1902) +
177 Schwabia terrícola Bonnet et Thomas, 1955 +
Taxonomic composition After publications by Snegovaya, Alekperov and Tahirova (2000-2016) After Zaidov (1995) After Alizade (1934, 1938, 1939, 1942); Veysig (1930, 1931, 1939, 1940)
178 S. sphaerica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
179 Cucurbitella mespiliformis v. africana Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1960 +
180 Pelecyamoeba stenostoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
181 Armatodifflugia ceratophora Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
182 A. cuneata Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005 +
183 Protocucurbitella danubialis Zivkovic, 1976 +
184 Zivkovicia compressa (Carter, 1864) Ogden, 1987 +
Fam. Nebelidae Taranek, 1882
185 Nebela collaris (Ehrenberg, 1848) + +
186 N. penardiana Deflandre, 1936 +
187 N. militaris Penard, 1890 + +
188 N. galeata Penard, 1890 + +
189 N. barbata Leidy, 1874 +
190 N. bohemica Taranek, 1882 +
191 N. pulcherrima Awerintzew, 1907 +
192 N. caudata Leidy, 1879 +
193 N. tubulata Brown, 1911 +
194 N. wailesi Deflandre, 1936 +
Fam. Hyalospheniidae Schultze, 1877
195 Hyalosphenia subflava Cash et Hopkinson, 1909 +
196 H. lageniformis Penard, 1902 +
Fam. Lesquereusidae Jung, 1942
197 Lesquereusia spiralis Schlumberger, 1849 +
198 L. modesta Rhumbler, 1895 + +
199 L. gibbosa Thomas et Gauthier-Lièvre, 1959 +
200 L. nabranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
201 L. contorta Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
202 L. azerbaijanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
203 L. macrolabiata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
204 L. epistomium Penard, 1902 +
205 Quadrulella symmetrica (Wallich, 1863) + +
206 Fabalesquereusia graniformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
207 F. compressa Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
208 F. linearis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
Fam. Heleoperidae Jung, 1942
209 Heleopera petricola Leidy, 1879 +
210 H. petricola v. amethestea Penard, 1902 +
211 H. penardi Bonnet et Thomas, 1955 +
212 H. sylvatica Penard, 1890 +
Fam. Phryganellidae Jung, 1942
213 Phryganella nidulus Penard, 1902 +
214 P. acropodia (Hertwig et Lesser, 1874) + +
215 P. paradoxa Penard, 1902 + +
Table 2. (Continuation)
Taxonomic composition After publications by Snegovaya, Alekperov and Tahirova (2000-2016) After Zaidov (1995) After Alizade (1934, 1938, 1939, 1942); Veysig (1930, 1931, 1939, 1940)
Fam. Cryptodifflugiidae Jung, 1942
216 Cryptodifflugia compressa Penard, 1902 + + +
217 C. oviformis Penard, 1890 + +
218 C. apiculata Cash, 1904 + +
219 C. voigti Schmidt, 1926 +
Rhizaria Cavalier-Smith, 2002 Fam. Pseudodifflugiidae de Saedeleer, 1934
220 Pseudodifflugia gracilis Schlumberger, 1849 +
221 P. gracilis v. terricola Bonnet et Thomas, 1960 +
222 P. magna Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010 +
223 Pseudoawerintzevia calcicola Bonnet, 1959 +
224 Lenkorania microstoma (Playfair, 1918) +
Fam. Gromiidae Claparede et Lachman, 1861
225 Gromia fluviatilis Dujardin, 1855 +
Fam. Euglyphidae Wallich, 1864
226 Euglypha acanthophora (Ehrenberg, 1841) + +
227 E. tuberculata Dujardin, 1841 + +
228 E. filifera Penard, 1890 + +
229 E. aspera Penard, 1899 +
230 E. laevis (Ehrenberg, 1832) + + +
231 E. rotunda Wailes, 1911 + +
232 E. ciliata (Ehrenberg, 1848) +
233 E. ciliata f. glabra Wailes, 1915 +
234 E. compressa f. glabra Wailes, 1915 +
235 E. cristata Leidy, 1879 +
236 E. cristata f. decora Jung, 1942 +
237 E. strigosa f. glabra Wailes, 1915 +
238 E. mucronata Leidy, 1878 +
239 E. alveolata Dujardin, 1841 +
240 Assulina muscorum Greeff, 1888 + +
241 A. scandinavica Penard, 1890 +
242 A. minor Penard, 1890 +
243 Placocista spinosa (Carter, 1865) + +
244 Tracheleuglypha dentata (Moniez, 1888) +
245 T. acola Bonnet et Thomas, 1955 +
Fam. Trinematidae Hoogenraad et Groot, 1940
246 Trinema enchelys (Ehrenberg, 1838) + +
247 T. penardi Thomas et Chardez, 1958 + +
248 T. verrucosum France, 1914 +
249 T. complanatum Penard, 1890 + +
250 T. linearis Penard, 1890 +
251 Corythion dubium Taranek, 1881 +
Fam. Cyphoderiidae de Saedeleer, 1934
252 Cyphoderia ampula (Ehrenberg, 1840) + +
253 C. ampula papillata Wailes et Penard, 1911 +
254 C. ventricosa Chardez, 1991 +
255 C. trochus v. amphoralis Penard, 1899 +
Taxonomic composition After publications by Snegovaya, Alekperov and Tahirova (2000-2016) After Zaidov (1995) After Alizade (1934, 1938, 1939, 1942); Veysig (1930, 1931, 1939, 1940)
256 C. laevis Penard, 1902 +
Fam. Shamkiriidae Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
257 Shamkiriella convoluta Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
258 S. reticulata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
259 S. phimatophora Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
260 S. turanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
261 Nabranella brevis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009 +
Fam. Bipseudostomatidae Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
262 Bipseudostomatella bifurcata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
263 B. gracilis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
264 B. cornuta Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
265 Gomocollariella ranaformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 +
A. artocrea Leidy, 1876
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Popov, 1951; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alizade, 1934; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001), the rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), the reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
A. stellaris Perty, 1849
Distribution: the Julbeger Lake, Gazakh, Agdash district reservoirs, reservoirs of the Kura fish-breeding station (Veysig, 1940; Alizade, 1942).
A. megastoma Penard, 1926
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
A. megastoma arcuata Deflandre, 1928
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
A. dentata Ehrenberg, 1832
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snego-vaya, 2000).
A. excavata Cunningham, 1919
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2G1G; Tahirova, 2G14a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2GG1; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2GGG), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. discoides Ehrenberg, 1872
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2G1G; Tahirova, 2G16), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2GG1; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2GGG).
A. hemispherica Perty, 1852
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1939; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2G1G; Tahirova, 2G16), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2GG1; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2GGG), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2GG5), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2GG9), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. bathystoma Deflandre, 1928
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2G1G).
A. catinus Penard, 1890
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran
Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015a), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
A. crenulata Deflandre, 1928
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
A. atava Collin, 1914
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), soils of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. rotundata Playfair, 1918
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absh-eron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
A. rotundata v. aplanata Def., 1928
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. brasiliensis Cunha, 1913
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
A. mitrata Leidy, 1876
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
A. costata Ehrenberg, 1847
Distribution: water reservoir in Lankaran (Veysig, 1939), lake on the bank of the river Gyrdyman-chay, Lakes Pirgadir, Alagelyar (Lachin district), Jilligel Lake, Bichineg reservoirs (Nakhichevan) (Alizade, 1940), water reservoirs in the Evlakh district (Veysig, 1940).
Pyxidicula operculata (Agardh, 1827) Ehrenberg, 1838
Distribution: rice fields of Lankaran (Veysig, 1940).
Suborder Difflugiina Bovee, 1985 Fam. Cyclopyxidae Schonborn, 1989 Cyclopyxis kahli Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran
Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a ,b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. kahli v. cyclostoma Bonnet et Thomas, 1959
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. kahli v. grandis Chibisova, 1967
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. putens Thomas, 1960
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. intermedia Kufferath, 1932
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
C. euristoma Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. penardi Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
C. arcelloides Penard, 1902
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
C. ambigua Bonnet et Thomas, 1960
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014b), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Trigonopyxis arcula (Leidy, 1879)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
Fam. Centropyxidae Deflandre, 1953 Centropyxis aculeata Ehrenberg, 1838
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1939, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), mountain water bodies (Alizade, 1940), water reservoirs in Nakhichevan (Alizade, 1938), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Western Azerbaijan (Veysig, 1931; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. aculeata v. oblonga Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
C. spinosa Cash, 1905
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), fresh water bodies ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. deliculata Penard, 1902
Distribution: the rice fields of Lankaran (Veysig, 1939).
C. aerophila Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers ofthe Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. aerophila v. sphagnicola Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. plagiostoma Bonnet et Thomas, 1956
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
C. plagiostoma v. terricola Bonnet et Thomas, 1955
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. pseudodeflandriana Bonnet et Comez-Sanchez, 1984
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. elongata (Penard, 1890)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. orbicularis Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. ecornis Ehrenberg, 1838
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. gibba Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Tahirova, 2016).
C. platystoma Penard, 1890
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Sne-
govaya, 2000), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. hirsuta Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Sne-govaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. discoides (Penard, 1890)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Sne-govaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. kurakchayensis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in 2005 from the Kyurekchay River (Western Azerbaijan).
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
C. marsupiformis (Wallich, 1864)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2015a), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. cassis (Wallich, 1864)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. constricta (Ehrenberg,1838)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. hemisphaerica (Bernard, 1879)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010) fresh-
water reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. minuta Deflandre, 1929
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. sylvatica (Deflandre, 1929)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. sylvatica v. minor Bonnet et Thomas, 1955
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. mirabilis Bartos, 1940
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
C. compressa van Oye, 1948
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
C. percolabiensis Dekhtyar, 1994
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
C. pileformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described from reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
Distribution: reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. trigonostoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described from reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
Distribution: reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. pectinata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described from reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
Distribution: reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
C. laevigata Penard, 1890
Distribution: the rice field of Lankaran (Veysig, 1940), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
Oopyxis lenkoranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described from the Lankaran Natural Area.
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b).
Plagiopyxis minuta Bonn., 1959
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
P. minuta phanerostoma Bonnet, 1959
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
P. declivis Thomas, 1958
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
P. intermedia Bonn., 1959
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
P. penardi Thomas, 1958
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
P. penardi v. oblonga Bonn., 1959
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Planhoogenraadia gracilis Bonn. et Comez-San-chez, 1984
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Ellipsopyxis lamottei Bonnet, 1974
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
Bullinularia indica Deflandre, 1952
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Geopyxella sylvicola Bonnet et Thomas, 1955
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Hoogenraadia cryptostoma Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
Fam. Difflugiidae Awerintzew, 1906 Difflugia acuminata Ehrenberg, 1838
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b; 2015b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), the Hajikabul Lake (Alizade, 1942), feeding basins of the Kura fish-breeding station (Alizade, 1942), lake near the Girdimanchay River (Alizade, 1942), water reservoirs of the Western Azerbaijan (Veysig, 1931).
D. acuminata v. curvata Cash, 1909
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010) freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alek-perov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
Difflugia acuminata v. inflata Penard, 1899
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Ab-sheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. acuminata v. magna Deflandre, 1926
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Ab-sheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
D. ampullula Playfair, 1918
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b; 2015b).
D. claviformis Penard, 1899
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b; 2015b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. microclaviformis (Kourova, 1925)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Tahirova, 2014a, b).
D. corona Wallich, 1864
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1939; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014a, b; 2015b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), water reservoirs of the Evlakh district, Nakhichevan and Ismailly districts (Veysig, 1940).
D. corona v. ecornis Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014a, b), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers ofthe Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. corona v. tuberculata Vuchetich, 1973
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Tahirova, 2014b).
D. difficilis Thomas, 1972
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. rubescens Penard, 1902
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
D. distenda Ogden, 1983
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2015a, b).
D. elegans Penard, 1890
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014a, b, 2015a, b), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005),
soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. elegans teres Penard, 1899
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. capreolata Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Sne-govaya, Alekperov, 2009), water reservoirs of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005; Veysig, 1931).
D. viscidula Penard, 1902
Distribution: the Lake Goygol (Veysig, 1931).
D. giganteacuminata Chardez, 1958
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b).
D. globulosa Dujardin, 1837
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b, 2015a, b), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. globularis Wallich, 1864
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2016), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers ofthe Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. pressula Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described in 2010 from a forest water body in the Lankaran Natural Area.
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b).
D. girkanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described in 2010 from a forest water reservoir in the Lankaran Natural Area.
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b).
D. mamillaris Penard, 1893
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b; Veysig, 1940).
D. gramen Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014a, b, 2015b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers ofthe Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. tuberculata Wallich, 1864
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b, 2015b).
D. scalpellum Penard, 1899
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahir-ova, 2014b; Veysig, 1940), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. sarissa Li Sun Tai, 1931
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), the Goygol Lake (Western Azerbaijan) (Veysig, 1931).
D. limnetica Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014b, 2015a, b; Veysig, 1939).
D. linearis (Penard, 1890) Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, 2015b).
D. lithoplites Penard, 1902
Distribution: the rice field in Lankaran, the Goygol Lake (Veysig, 1940).
D. bipartis Godeanu, 1972
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Ab-
sheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
D. decloitrei Godeanu, 1972
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
D. litophila Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
D. muriformis Gauthier-Lièvre et Tho-mas, 1958
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015b), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. oviformis Cash, 1909
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015b).
D. penardi Hopkinson, 1909
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. pyriformis Perty, 1849
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahir-ova, 2014a, b), water reservoir in Ismailly district (Alizade, 1939), the Goygol Lake (Veysig, 1931), spring near Khachmaz (Veysig, 1940), soils of the Northwest Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. urceolata Carter, 1864
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014b), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. pristis Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Abshe-
ron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. hydrostatica Zacharias, 1897
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Western Azerbaijan (Alizade, 1940).
D. bidens Penard, 1902
Distribution: the rice fields of the Lankaran (Veysig, 1939).
D. oblonga Ehrenberg, 1838
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahi-rova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. oblonga v. angusticollis Stepanek, 1952
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
D. oblonga v. nodosa Leidy, 1879
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
D. lanceolata Penard, 1890
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1939; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. pyriformis Ehrenberg, 1838
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Tahirova, 2014b), soils of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. lobostoma Leidy, 1879
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the
Northern Azerbaijan (Veysig, 1939; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. lobostoma multilobata Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. sapnakeranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described from water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alek-perov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015a, b). Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2015a, b).
D. cratera Leidy, 1877
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010a, b; Tahirova, 2014a).
D. sarissa Li Sun Tai, 1931
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Veysig, 1939; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. alekperovi Snegovaya et Tahirova, 2015
This species was described from water reservoirs ofthe Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Tahirova, 2015). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
D. brevicola Cash et Hopkinson, 1909
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010a, b; Tahirova, 2014a, b), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Veysig, 1939; Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. lucida Penard, 1890
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
D. avellana Penard, 1890
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Ab-sheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
D. bacillariarum Perty, 1849
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. bryophila (Penard, 1902)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alek-perov, 2009).
D. acutissima Deflandre, 1931
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. acutisimella Chardez, 1985
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010); rivers of Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. smilion Thomas, 1953
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
D. longicollis (Gassowsky, 1936)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alek-perov, 2009).
D. baculosa Schonborn, 1966
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
D. pseudoclaviformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described from water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
D. pysciformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described from water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
D. ventricolosa Deflandre, 1926
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
D. labiosa Wailes, 1919
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2016), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
D. pulex Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
D. varians Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
D. biconvata Ertl, 1964
Distribution: water reservoirs of Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2016).
D. echinulata Penard, 1911
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. constrcta Ehrenberg, 1841
Distribution: the Goygol Lake (Veysig, 1931), water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Popov, 1951).
D. guttula Godeanu, 1972
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
D. ogdenii Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. armatostoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. rotiferoformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. caucasica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. vermiformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. bifurcata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. azerbaijanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
D. crucistoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
D. immemorata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
D. khachmazica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
D. elongata Penard, 1905
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
D. lenkoranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described in reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area. It has not been observed yet in other regions (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b).
D. hanaki Stepanek, 1967
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b).
D. talyshica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described in reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area. It has not been observed yet in other regions (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b).
Pentagonia azerbaijanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described in reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area. It has not been observed yet in other regions (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b).
Pontigulasia compressoidea Jung, 1942
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b, 2015b).
P. bigibbosa Penard, 1902
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b), freshwater reservoirs ofthe Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
P. compressa (Carter 1864)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), water reservoirs ofthe Lankaran Natural Area (Tahirova, 2016).
P. breviottis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the
Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
P. spectabilis Penard, 1902
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
P. elisa (Penard, 1893)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
P. incisa Rhumblier, 1896
Distribution: the rice fields in the Lankaran (Veysig, 1939), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Lagenodifflugia bryophila (Penard, 1902)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010) freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alek-perov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
Schwabia terricola Bonnet et Thomas, 1955
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
S. sphaerica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Cucurbitella mespiliformis v. africana Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas 1960
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
Pelecyamoeba stenostoma Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in the rivers of West Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Armatodifflugia ceratophora Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species is described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
A. cuneata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Protocucurbitella danubialis Zivkovic, 1976
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010; Tahirova, 2014a, b).
Zivkovicia compressa (Carter, 1864)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
Fam. Nebelidae Taranek, 1882 Nebela collaris (Ehrenberg, 1848)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
N. penardiana Deflandre, 1936
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
N. militaris Penard, 1890
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
N. galeata Penard, 1890
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), the rice fields of Lankaran (Veysig, 1939).
N. barbata Leidy, 1874
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
N. bohemica Taranek, 1882
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
N. pulcherrima Awerintzew, 1907
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940).
N. caudata Leidy, 1879
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Veysig, 1940).
N. tubulata Brown, 1911
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
N. wailesi Deflandre, 1936
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Hyalosphenia subflava Cash et Hopkinson, 1909
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
H. lageniformis Penard, 1902
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Fam. Lesquereusidae Jung, 1942 Lesquereusia spiralis Schlumberger, 1849
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Tahirova, 2014a, b).
L. modesta Rhumbler, 1895
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), soils of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
L. gibbosa Thomas et Gauthier-Lièvre 1959
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
L. nabranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
L. contorta Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
L. azerbaijanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
L. macrolabiata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
L. epistomium Penard, 1902
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
Quadrulella symmetrica (Wallich, 1863)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Fabalesquereusia graniformis Snegovaya et Alekpe-rov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
F. compressa Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
F. linearis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Fam. Heleoperidae Jung, 1942 Heleoperapetricola Leidy, 1879
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010b), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
H. petricola v. amethestea Penard, 1902
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
H. penardi Bonnet et Thomas, 1955
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
H. sylvatica Penard, 1890
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Suborder Phryganellina Bovee, 1985 Fam. Phryganellidae Jung, 1942 Phryganella nidulus Penard, 1902
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
P. acropodia (Hertwig et Lesser, 1874)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
P. paradoxa Penard, 1902
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995), rice fields of the Lankaran (Veysig, 1939).
Fam. Cryptodifflugiidae Jung, 1942 Cryptodifflugia compressa Penard, 1902
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. oviformis Penard, 1890
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
C. apiculata Cash, 1904
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. voigti Schmidt, 1926
Distribution: ponds in the hollows in Lenkoran (Popov, 1951).
Rhizaria Cavalier-Smith, 2002
Fam. Pseudodifflugiidae de Saedeleer, 1934
Pseudodifflugia gracilis Schlumberger, 1849
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000; Snegovaya, 2001).
P. gracilis v. terricola Bonnet et Thomas, 1960
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
P. magna Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010
This species was described in water reservoirs of the Lankaran (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Pseudoawerintzevia calcicola Bonnet, 1959
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Lenkorania microstoma (Playfair, 1918)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
Fam. Gromiidae Claparede et Lachman, 1861 Gromia fluviatilis Dujardin, 1855
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
Fam. Euglyphidae Wallich, 1864 Euglypha acanthophora (Ehrenberg, 1841)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. tuberculata Dujardin, 1841
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. filifera Penard, 1890
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs ofthe Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. aspera Penard, 1899
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov et Snegovaya, 2000).
E. laevis (Ehrenberg,1832)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov et Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azer-
baijan (Zaidov, 1995), water reservoirs of Lankaran (Popov, 1951).
E. rotunda Wailes, 1911
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov and Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. ciliata (Ehrenberg, 1848)
Distribution: the rice fields of Lankaran (Veysig, 1939).
E. ciliata f. glabra Wailes, 1915
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. compressa f. glabra Wailes, 1915
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. cristata Leidy, 1879
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. cristata f. decora Jung, 1942
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. strigosa f. glabra Wailes,1915
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
E. mucronata Leidy, 1878
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Altyagach settlement (Veysig, 1940).
E. alveolata Dujardin, 1841
Distribution: the rice fields of the Lankaran (Veysig, 1940).
Assulina muscorum Greeff, 1888
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils ofthe North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. scandinavica Penard, 1890
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
A. minor Penard, 1890
Distribution: ponds in tree hollows, in Lankaran (Popov, 1951).
Placocista spinosa (Carter, 1865)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Tracheleuglypha dentata (Moniez, 1888)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
T. acola Bonnet et Thomas, 1955
Distribution: soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
Fam. Trinematidae Hoogenraad et Groot, 1940 Trinema enchelys (Ehrenberg, 1838)
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), soils of the NorthWestern Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
T. penardi Thomas et Chardez, 1958
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
T. verrucosum France, 1914
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
T. complanatum Penard, 1890
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
T. linearis Penard, 1890
Distribution: the reservoirs of Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009).
Corythion dubium Taranek, 1881
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
Fam. Cyphoderiidae de Saedeleer, 1934 Cyphoderia ampula (Ehrenberg, 1840)
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010, Tahirova, 2015a), freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000), rivers ofthe Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005), reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009), soils of the North-Western Azerbaijan (Zaidov, 1995).
C. ampulapapillata Wailes et Penard, 1911
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
C. ventricosa Chardez, 1991
Distribution: water reservoirs of the Lankaran Natural Area (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2010).
C. trochus v. amphoralis Penard, 1899
Distribution: rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005).
C. laevis Penard, 1902
Distribution: freshwater reservoirs of the Absheron Peninsula (Snegovaya, 2001; Alekperov, Snegovaya, 2000).
Fam. Shamkiriidae Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005 Shamkiriella convoluta Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
S. reticulata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
S. phimatophora Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
S. turanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Nabranella brevis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2009
This species was described in reservoirs of the
Northern Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2009). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Fam. Bipseudostomatidae Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
Bipseudostomatela bifurcata Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
B. gracilis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
B. cornuta Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
Gomocollariella ranaformis Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2005
This species was described in rivers of the Western Azerbaijan (Snegovaya, Alekperov, 2005). It has not been observed yet in other regions.
References
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Fig. 3. Some testate amoebae of Azerbaijan (scanning electron microscopy). 1 - Arcella vulgaris Ehrenberg, 1830; 2 - Difflugia girkanica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010; 3 - Difflugia alekperovi Snegovaya et Tahirova, 2015; 4 - Centropyxis marsupiformis Deflandre, 1929; 5 - Difflugia capreolata Penard, 1902; 6 - D. brevicola Cash et Hopkinson, 1909; 7 - D. sapnakeranica Snegovaya et Alekperov, 2010; 8 - D. litophila Gauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958; 9 - D. mammillaris Penard, 1893; 10 - D. gramen Penard, 1902; 11 - D. tuberculata (Wallich, 1864); 12 - D. urceolata Carter, 1864; 13 - D. elegansGauthier-Lièvre et Thomas, 1958; 14 - Lesquereusiaspiralis Bütschli, 1888; 15 - Cyphoderia ampulla Leidy, 1879; 16 - Euglypha compressa Carter, 1864.
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Address for correspondence: Ilham Kh. Alekperov. Laboratory of Protistology, Institute of Zoology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Baku, 370073; e-mail: [email protected]
