ABSTRACT

As a part of an ongoing biodiversity survey of aseptate gregarine fauna of oligochaete hosts of West Bengal, an expedition was carried out in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal and most of the earthworms collected were found to be infested with a species of Monocystis Stein, 1848. The monocystid species was collected from the seminal vesicles of the earthworm and was identified as a new species, Monocystis amynthae sp. nov. The gamont of the new species is characterized by having an elongated body with broad anterior end, separated from the narrow posterior end by a prominent constriction measuring 49.0-77.0 (66.0±1.3) μm x 32.0-41.0 (37.0±2.8) μm. The gametocysts are oval-shaped, measuring 40.0-65.0 (58.0±2.1) μm. The oocysts are navicular, measuring 8.0-12.0 (10.5±1.1) μm x 4.0-6.0 (5.5±1.1) μm.

Keywords: Monocystis amynthae sp. nov., endoparasite, earthworm, seminal vesicle, India