Opalinidae (Slopalinida) in Madagascan Anura: Zelleriella Metcalf, 1920 and Protoopalina Metcalf, 1918

Between January and April, 1995, 142 Madagascan anurans collected at nine sites and comprising 61 species in three families were checked for opalinids in the cloaca. Zelleriella madagascariensis n. sp. was found in two of three Dyscophus insularis (Microhylidae) from Morondava; Protoopalina devinckae n. sp. in one Ptychadena mascareniensis (Ranidae) from Morondava; P. primordialis (Awerinzew, 1913) in two Ptychadena mascareniensis from Antananarivo; P. drachi Tuzet & Knoepffler, 1968 in three of seven Ptychadena mascareniensis from Antananarivo and Andasibe; P. legeardi n. sp. in one Mantidactylus lugubris (Ranidae) and one of two M. grandidieri both from Andasibe; P. grolleaui n. sp. in one Scaphiophryne marmorata (Microhylidae) from Andasibe; P. charvisi n. sp. in two S. calcarata from Morondava; and P. perantonii n. sp. in three Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis (Ranidae) from Andasibe. The biogeographical significance of these findings is discussed.     

Opalinidae (Sarcomastigophora) in North American Amphibia. GenusProtoopalina Metcalf, 1918

During 1992, 83 specimens of North American Amphibia from Algonquin Park and Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and from El Paso County, Texas USA, comprising 14 species in seven families, were checked for opalinids in the cloaca.Protoopalina allisteri n. sp. is described from oneGastrophryne carolinensis (Microhylidae) from Arkansas andP. mitotica was found in one of fourScaphiopus multiplicatus (Pelobatidae) from Texas. The North American species ofProtoopalina are reviewed.Zelleriella ovoidea (Metcalf, 1923) is proposed as a new combination forP. ovoidea.     

Opalinidae (Slopalinida) in South American Amphibia. Genus Zelleriella Metcalf, 1920 in Colombia

In September and October 1992, 97 Colombian amphibians collected at eight sites and comprising 25 species in eight families were checked for opalines in the cloaca. Zelleriella falcata Carini, 1933 was found in one Elachistocleis ovalis (Microhylidae); Z. microcarya Metcalf, 1923 in three of six Rana vaillanti (Ranidae); Z. stewarti n. sp. in four of seven Colostethus subpunctatus (Dendrobatidae); Z. dendrobatidis Metcalf, 1923 in one juvenile of C. palmatus; Z. antilliensis (Metcalf, 1914) in three of eight Bufo marinus (Bufonidae), one of 14 juveniles of Leptodactylus sp. (Leptodactylidae), four of five L. fuscus and one of three L. ventrimarmoratus; and Z. opisthocarya Metcalf, 1923 in one of eight B. marinus; Z. paludicolae Metcalf, 1923 in one of three L. ventrimarmoratus; Zelleriella sp. in one of six B. granulosus. Z. xyster is proposed as a new combination for Protoopalina xyster Metcalf, 1923. The occurrence, evolution and biogeography of Neotropical Zelleriella are discussed.