POLYMASTIGINA 385 



Genus Bullanympha Kirby. Flagella and cresta similar to those in 

 Pseudodevescovina; axostyle similar to that in Caduceia; proximal 

 part of parabasal body bent in U-form around the nucleus and at- 

 tached voluminous distal portion coiled around the axostyle; in 

 termite gut (Kirby, 1938, 1949). 



B. silvestrii K. (Fig. 163, c). 50-138/* by 35-100/*; cresta about 5.8m 

 long; distal portion of parabasal body coils around axostyle about 

 twice; in Neotermes erythraeus. 



Genus Gigantomonas Dogiel (Myxomoiias D.). Medium large; 3 

 anterior flagella; a long and stout trailing flagellum; cresta conspicu- 

 ously large; large axostyle; in termite gut. According to Kirby (1946), 

 the so-called undulating membrane is a large cresta; in aflagellate 

 phase (Myxomonas) the nuclear division takes place. 



G. herculea D. (M. polymorpha D.) (Fig. 163, d, e). 60-75/* by 

 30-35/z; in the intestine of Hodotermes mossambicus (Kirby, 1946). 



Family 10 Trichomonadidae Wenyon 



Kirby (1947) considers that Trichomonas and allied genera should 

 be grouped in a new order Trichomonadina. He proposes four fami- 

 lies: Monocercomonadidae, Devescovinidae, Calonymphidae and 

 Trichomonadidae to be placed under it. Morphology and taxonomy 

 (Grasse, 1952a}. 



Genus Trichomonas Donne. Pyriform ; typically with four free an- 

 terior flagella; fifth flagellum along the outer margin of the undulat- 

 ing membrane; costa at the base of the membrane; axostyle de- 

 veloped, often protruding beyond the posterior end of the body; en- 

 cystment has not been definitely observed; all parasitic. Numerous 

 species (Wenrich, 1944). Cytology and morphogenesis (Kirby, 1944) ; 

 division process (Kuczynski, 1918). 



T. hominis (Davaine) (Fig. 164, a). Active flagellate, undergoing a 

 jerky or spinning movement; highly plastic, but usually ovoid or 

 pyriform; 5-20/t long; cytostome near anterior end; 4 anterior 

 flagella equally lpng; fifth flagellum borders undulating membrane 

 which is seen in life ; in degenerating individuals the membrane may 

 undulate, even after loss of flagella, simulating amoeboid movement; 

 axostyle straight along the median line; vacuolated cytoplasm with 

 bacteria; commensal in the colon and ileum of man; found in diarr- 

 hoeic stools. Wenrich (1944) states that in all 20 cases which he 

 studied, some or most of the individuals showed five anterior flagella 

 and two unequal blepharoplasts. 



Since encysted forms have not yet been found, transmission is as- 

 sumed to be carried on by trophozoites. According to Dobell (1934), 



