Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2009
Retortamonas cheloni sp.nov., from the large intestine of the starred tortoise, Testudo elegans Schoepff, 1792, is described. Body oval with a long caudal process; length of body 4·2–11·5μ, 7·9 average; breadth 3·0–6·5μ, average 4·4; length of caudal process 1·0–7·0μ, average 4·0. Nucleus round, situated at the extreme anterior end, with a thin ring of chromatin adjacent to the nuclear membrane and sometimes an endosome. Cytostome deep, extending one-third to one-half of the body-length and bordered by two siderophilic threads. Close to the nucleus are two blepharoplasts from which arise two unequal flagella and the two siderophilic threads. Periplast rigid.