Holotrich Ciliates from the Stomach of<i>Hippopotamus amphibius</i>, with Descriptions of Two New Genera and Four New Species

Abstract

SYNOPSIS. Holotrich ciliates from the stomach contents of Hippopotamus amphibius are described, including details of their infraciliature. They are placed in 4 families: subclass Holotrichia, order Gymnostomatida, suborder Rhabdophorina, family Buetschliidae: Blepharozoum binucleatum n.sp., Cucurbella vivax n.g., n.sp.; order Trichostomatida, family Plagiopylidae: Paraplagiopyla kiboko n.g., n.sp.; family Paraisotrichidae: Paraisotricha minuta Hsiung, 1930; family Blepharocorythidae: Charonina hippopotami n.sp. Paraisotricha minuta appears identical to the form found in the cecum and colon of the horse; Blepharozoum binucleatum, Cucurbella vivax and Charonina hippopotami also approach species found in the digestive tract of Equidae. By contrast, Paraplagiopyla kiboko resembles species that are free‐living or are commensal in the digestive tract of Echinodermata.