Protistology 4 (4) 357-360 (2006/7)
Nematocystis indica sp. n. (Protozoa, Apicomplexa, Eugregarinida), an endoparasitic monocystid gregarine
from the seminal vesicles of an Indian earthworm Amynthas diffringens Baird (Annelida, Oligochaeta)
Probir K. Bandyopadhyay, Partha Mallik and Amlan Kumar Mitra
Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, India
Summary
During an ongoing biotic survey of the gregarine parasites of the earthworms of West Bengal, India, a new species
of the genus Nematocystis Hesse, 1909 was obtained from the seminal vesicles of the earthworm Amynthas
diffringens Baird. The new species is a perfect nematode-like organism, solitary with several bulges and
constrictions, especially in mature forms. Its average size is 2773.3 × 30.6 µm. Nucleus elongated, measuring on
the average 46.2 × 14.8 µm. Extreme ends rounded. Gametocysts rounded to ovoid, measuring on the average
88.2 µm in diameter. Oocysts navicular, average size 17.9 × 11.7 µm.
Key words: gregarines, parasite, Nematocystis indica sp. n., seminal vesicles, earthworm,
Amynthas diffringens, India
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