346 SPOEOZOA. 



II. Order ACTINOMYXIDIA Stole, 

 1899. 



The organisms included in this order are characterized by 

 spores of comphcated structure. Each spore has its membrane 

 or shell composed of three valves, which may be drawn out 

 into simple or bifurcated processes. It has three polar 

 capsules, and the polar filaments are visible in vivo. Several 

 sporoplasms occur in each spore. 



They are parasitic in the body-cavity or the gut-epithelium 

 of freshwater or salt-water Annelids, but have not been 

 studied in India. 



Identification Table of Families. 



1 (2). Spore with a double membrane ; 



outer trivalve and the inner a 



single piece. A single binueleate [ = TetractinomyxidaB. 



sarcoplasm Haploactinomyxidse* Granata 



2 (1). Spore-membrane a single trivalve 



shell. A single eight-nucleate or [ = Triactinomyxidae. 



eight-uninucleate sporoplasm . . . EuactinomyxldaB* Granata 



III. Order MICROSPORIDIA 

 Balbiani, 1882. 



Intracellular parasites typically of Arthropods and Fishes. 

 Pseudopodia and amoeboid movements have rarely been 

 observed. Multiphcation takes place by schizogony, and the 

 resulting agametes are small, uninucleate bodies with indefinite 

 outlines. Successive nuclear divisions, not accompanied 

 by cell-division, lead to chain formation. These ultimately 

 give rise to sporulating individuals or sporonts. Sporont 

 develops into one to numerous spores. The spores are 

 relatively small and less complex than those of Myxospobidia. 

 They are ovoidal or bean-shaped. The spore-membrane is 

 usually of a single piece and envelops the sporoplasm, and 

 the polar filament is very long and fine. The filament may 

 be contained in a polar capsuJe or lie coiled in the spore. 

 In rare cases there may be two capsules and filaments in 

 a spore. Owing to their small size, the polar capsules and 

 filaments are invisible or obscure in the living spore, but 

 can be rendered visible upon treatment with alkahes. Inter- 

 mediate hosts are unknoA^Ti. 



