V 



THE MYXOSPORIDIA OF THE BEAUFORT REGION. 23I 



Family SPH^ROSPORID^, new family. 

 Genus Myxoproteus Doflein. 



Myxoproteus cordifonnis, n. sp. (PI. xx, fig. 73; pi. x.xi, fig. 74-80.) 



Trophozoite. — Vegetative trophozoites colorless, transparent, rounded; very slowly amoeboid, usu- 

 ally forming a single, short, lobose pseudopodiura (fig. 74-76). Ectoplasm not distinct. Entire tropho- 

 zoite finely granular, with a few fat globules. In rare cases may show an indistinct vacuolar structure, 

 and occasionally small individuals are found with a single large, central vacuole (fig. 76). 



Diameter of rounded sporulating trophozoites about 18;;. 



Disporous. 



Spore. — Heart-shaped when seen from above, with peculiar winglike expansions on each side which 

 contain remains of parietal cells (fig. 78-80). Sutural plane oblique to longitudinal axis (fig. 80). Cap- 

 sules opening at some distance from capsular margin. Capsulogenous cells distinct. Sporoplasm finely 

 granular, entirely filling cavity of sporocyst not occupied by capsulogenous cells. 



Length of spore I2fi, width io-iim, thickness 6m; diameter of capsules 3-4m- 



Habitat. — Common in the urinary bladder of Chcetodipterus fabcr; usually attached to the epithelial 

 lining (fig. 77). The parasites were found in all 12 fishes examined during Jime and July. 



v/ Myxoproteus comutus, n. sp. (PI. xxi, fig. 81-85.) 



Trophozoite. — Vegetative trophozoites, usually somewhat elongated or irregular in shape, with short 

 lobose pseudopodia (fig. 81-83); slowly amoeboid, quickly becoming contracted and motionless (fig. 

 84) after being placed on the slide. Ectoplasm well developed, hyaline; in rounded individuals form- 

 ing a distinct layer around entire trophozoite (fig. 83, 84). When moving, entire ectoplasm may flow 

 into pseudopodia (fig. 81). Endoplasm opaque, crowded with coarse, refringent granules varying in 

 shape, and with usually a few fat globules. In contracted resting condition endoplasm becomes more 

 opaque, with granules crowded more closely togetlier, while the ectoplasm is more abundant (fig. 84). 

 This is apparently due to the granules becoming more concentrated into a central mass, the surrounding 

 hyaline portion being squeezed out to form the very conspicuous ectoplasmic layer. 



Diameter of rounded trophozoites up to 27^. 



Disporous. 



Spore. — Heart-shaped, with two very characteristic processes projecting from the capsular side 

 (fig. 85). Sporocyst relatively thick. Capsules large and conspicuous, opening some distance apart. 

 Coiled filaments distinct. Sporoplasm finely granuhu', with a few small fat globules; entirely filling 

 cavity of sporocyst not occupied by capsules and capsulogenotis cells. 



Length of spore 12^; width exclusive of capsular processes 9/1; length of capsular processes about 5^; 

 diameter of capsules 3/;. 



Habitat. — Common in the urinary bladder of Bairdiella chrysura. Vegetative trophozoites abundant 

 during June and July, but only a few sporulating trophozoites and free spores observed. 



Genus Sphaerospora Thelohan. 



^ Sphserospora polymorpha, n. sp. (PI. xxi, fig. 86-92; pi. xxii, fig. 93, 94.) 



Trophozoite. — Color less, usually some what elongate (fig. 90), butnever very irreguar in shape; slowly 

 amoeboid. After being on the slide for a short time become rounded and motionless (fig. 86-89). Ecto- 

 plasm distinct around younger trophozoites, hyaline, forming one to several large lobate pseudopodia, 

 which in turn extrude several short, conical pseudopodia (fig. 88). In larger trophozoitesectoplasm often 

 not distinguishable except at endsof pseudopodia, which in such cases are composed chiefly of endoplasm. 

 Endoplasm distinctly granular, sometimes vacuolated in smaller trophozoites (fig. 88), but in larger 

 individuals vacuoles are indistinct or absent; small fat globules usually abundant, especially in larger 

 individuals; numbers of rounded sporoblast cells can be distinctly seen. 



Dimensions of large vegetative trophozoites about 35 by som- 



Disporous and polysporous. Polysporous trophozoites rarely contain many spores at the same time. 



Spore. — Spherical, sometimes slightly compressed parallel to longitudinal plane. Sutural line form- 

 ing a distinct ridge around spore in the plane of the capsules (fig. gi, 92;; on each side are a number of 

 concentric striations extending around each valve parallel to the sutural line. Capsules large, distinctly 

 pyriform. Coiled filaments indistinct. Sporoplasm distinct, finely granular. 



