The morphology of Spironympha, with a description of a new species from reticulitermes hesperus Banks

✍ Scribed by George V. E. Brown

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1931
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 667 KB
• Volume: 51
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0362-2525
• DOI: 10.1002/jmor.1050510108

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Spironympha is discussed as valid genus. It was described by Koidzumi ('16); later it was redescribed by the same author as Microspironympha ('21). Therefore, according to the rules of nomenclature, it is Spironympha.

The genus is compared with the related genera: Spirotrichonympha, Holomastigotes, and Microjoenia.

Spironympha is characterized by four flagellar bands which are spirally wound around the anterior part of the body; these bands occur only in the anterior end, whereas in Spirotrichonympha they extend almost to the posterior end. The parabasals are few in number, and they are attached to the basal granules of the flagellar bands; the anterior end is clear and almost free from cytoplasmic granules; and there are twenty to thirty anterior flagella which are attached to the base of the centroblepharoplast or to the basal granules of the flagellar bands. An axostyle is present.

No centrosome occurs within the nucleus, but the centroblepharoplast has this kinetic function.

Spironympha ovalis is described as a new species. It is ovoid; the average size is 38 μ to 44 μ. An axostyle is present. The host is Reticulitermes hesperus Banks.