Opalinidae in African Anura. II. Genera Protozelleriella n. g. and Zelleriella

Abstract

During 1988 and 1989, 409 specimens of southern African Anura, comprising 50 species in 9 families, were checked for opalinids in the cloaca. Protozelleriella devilliersi n. g., n. sp. was found in three of four Capensibufo rosei (Bufonidae); Zelleriella africana Sandon, 1938 in two of three Bufo angusticeps and one of 20 B. garmani (Bufonidae) plus three of 12 Phrynobatrachus natalensis, 12 of 19 Tomopterna cryptotis, seven of 14 T. delalandii, three of seven T. krugerensis and one of six T. natalensis (all Ranidae); Z. gambieri n. sp. in one of six T. natalensis; Z. garlandi n. sp. in two of six Kassina maculata (Hyperoliidae); Z. sandoni n. sp. in two of 20 B. garmani, two of six K. maculata, one of seven K. senegalensis and one of four Leptopelis mossambicus (Hyperoliidae) plus one of five Phrynomerus bifasciatus (Microhylidae) and two of 19 T. cryptotis. It is suggested that the Ranidae (in particular the genus Tomopterna) and the Hyperoliidae are among the major carriers of Zelleriella in the Afrotropical Region.

Opalinidae in African Anura. III. Genus Cepedea

“…This variation is possibly attributable to physiological and/or ecological factors (Delvinquier et al, 1991b). Large specimens (trophozoites) were often found mixed with very small ones (presumably newly emerged from cysts) of the same shape.…”

“…Metcalf (1923) 100/xm,Figs 54,55,58,60,63,[65][66][67]70,73,75,76,Figs 56,57,59,61,62,64,68,69,71,72,74,77, did not find any opalinids in one H. concolor from "southeast Africa", one "Rappia vermiculata" (now H. marmoratus, see Gorham, 1974) from Uganda and one "Megalixalus fornasinii" (now Afrixalus fornasinii, see Gorham, 1974;Frost, 1985) from Ukami, Tanzania, which he dissected. The other record of Cepedea, C. magna, is in Kassina and Semnodactylus (formerly included in the genus Kassina, see Delvinquier et al, 1991b). Kassina is also known to harbour Zelleriella (see Boisson, 1966Boisson, , 1967Delvinquier et al 1991b) and both genera were often found to occur together.…”

“…The other record of Cepedea, C. magna, is in Kassina and Semnodactylus (formerly included in the genus Kassina, see Delvinquier et al, 1991b). Kassina is also known to harbour Zelleriella (see Boisson, 1966Boisson, , 1967Delvinquier et al 1991b) and both genera were often found to occur together. In Leptopelis (two species with four specimens each) we did not observe any opalines.…”

“…This genus was already known to harbour a species of Cepedea (see Metcalf, 1923). Delvinquier et al (1991b) found Z. sandoni in P. bifasciatus. This genus is represented by only two species in southern Africa (Passmore & Carruthers, 1979) and Frost (1985) gave only four species for the Afrotropical Region.…”

“…It is also a major carrier of Zelleriella (see Delvinquier et al, 1991b) and the two genera were often found in mixed infections. The other record in this family is in Phrynobatrachus, which also hosts ZellerieUa (Delvinquier et al, 1991b). Other ranids investigated, in particular Ptychadena and Rana were not found infected with Cepedea.…”