A review of the classification and distribution of five opalinids from Africa and North America

Abstract

Five multinucleate opalinids from Canada and Cameroon, Africa, commensal in anuran amphibians, are redescribed. The relative size of the falx and the presence or absence of a posterior zone of convergence of kineties in silver-impregnated specimens support three new combinations: Cepedea sudafricana (Fantham, 1923), Cepedea virguloidea (Metcalf, 1923), and Cepedea obtrigonoidea (Metcalf, 1923). These new combinations suggest that Cepedea may be a much more common genus in the Nearctic region than was previously realized.

Opalinidae (Sarcomastigophora) in North American Amphibia. Genus Opalina Purkinje & Valentin, 1835

“…It is interesting to note that presence or absence of a posterior sutural line is not yet reported in Zelleriella. Contrary to Lynn & Affa'a (1994), we believe that the genus Cepedea is not common in the Nearctic Region. This observation is also true for the northern part of South America (Delvinquier & Marinkelle, unpublished results).…”

“…Its occurrencein ranids, namelyR, sylvatica (see Hazard, 1937), R. catesbeiana (see Campbell, 1968), R. pipiens (see Earl, 1969) needs confirmation, as no descriptions or illustrations are given by these authors. Affa'a & Lynn (1994) Metcalf, 1923). In the absence of type-material we were not able to confirm the record of O. virguloidea in H. eximia.…”

“…There is no descriptions or illustrations of these Cepedea. Affa'a & Lynn (1994) recently proposed the transfer of two species of North American Opalina to the genus Cepedea. They argued that the length of the falx relative to cell perimeter is one criterion for distinguishing the genera Opalina (ratio >40%) from Cepedea (ratio <25%), along with the absence of a posterior suture system for Cepedea.…”