The morphology, infraciliature, and silverline system ofMalacophrys viridissp.n., a green‐yellow coloured ciliate with symbiotic blue‐green algae is described. Dying animals discharge a substance with a dark red autofluorescence. This curious ciliate shares features of the classes Kinetofragminophora (basket) and Oligohymenophora (true buccal cavity with two adoral membranelles and a paroral membrane). Its infraciliature and silverline system shows criteria of the orders Prostomatida, Nassulida‐, Parahymenostomatida, Hymenostomatida, and Scuticociliatida. This unique combination allows us to create the new family Malacophryidae whose systematic position remains uncertain. Perhaps they are primitive Nassulida or Parahymenostom