Two new terricolous spathidiids (Protozoa, Ciliophora) from tropical Africa: Arcuospathidium vlassaki and Arcuospathidium bulli

Abstract

 Soil protozoa of the tropics are poorly known. However, the few data available indicate that tropical soils are inhabited by a highly diverse protozoan community. In the present paper, some of the many new ciliate species (about 300) that I discovered in African soils are described. Descriptions are based on standard methods, i.e. living and silver-impregnated specimens. Arcuospathidium vlassaki was discovered in a highly saline soil from the margin of the Etosha Pan in Namibia, Southwest Africa. It differs from congeneric species mainly by its rod-shaped macronucleus, fusiform micronuclei, and oblanceolate extrusomes. Arcuospathidium bulli was discovered in a savanna soil of Rwanda, East Africa. It is similar to Arcuospathidium cultriforme Penard in most features, but has a second contractile vacuole in the anterior body half.