A new tintinnid ciliate, Salpingella subarctica Zhang, Li & Li, sp. nov. was discovered in waters from the subarctic north Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean during six research cruises conducted between July and September over the past decade. Distinct lorica characteristics justify the establishment of this new species, distinguishing it from previously known species: an average lorica opening diameter (12.6 μm), an average posterior lorica opening diameter (3.6 μm), a smaller lorica length (41.8–69.5 μm), a prominent posterior opening, and 8–10 longitudinal fins extending parallelly from the opening to the posterior end. It occurred in water with temperature of -1.6–20.5°C and salinity of 25.3–34.4, and preferred to salinity of 32, temperature of 11°C in open ocean in Pacific Ocean, and 0°C in Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea.