Myxidium lesminteri n. sp. (Myxosporea: Myxidiidae) from the gall-bladder of three southern African Anura

During 1988 and 1989 409 specimens, representing 50 species in 9 families of southern African Anura from 26 localities throughout the Republic of South Africa and from Swaziland, were examined for gallbladder myxozoans. Myxidium lesminteri n. sp. was the only myxozoan found and was observed in one tomopterna krugerensis (Ranidae), one Bufo garmani (Bufonidae) and one Heleophryne natalensis (Heleophrynidae), all from Transvaal. The spore of Myxidium lesminteri (9.5–15.0 × 5.0–8.0 m) is characterised by a smooth shell devoid of striations but has one longitudinal ridge.