The Monocystidae are a family of parasitic alveolates in the phylum
Apicomplexa
The Apicomplexa (also called Apicomplexia; single: apicomplexan) are organisms of a large phylum of mainly parasitic alveolates. Most possess a unique form of organelle structure that comprises a type of non-photosynthetic plastid called an ap ...
.
Taxonomy
There are five subfamilies in this family:
Monocystinae,
Oligochaetocystinae,
Rhynchocystinae,
Stomatophorinae and
Zygocystinae.
History
This family was created by Bütschli in 1882.
[Bütschli O, Schwager C (1882) Protozoa. Abt. 1, Sarkodina und Sporozoa. Leipzig: F. C. Wintersche Verlagshandlung]
Description
The hosts of the species in this family are usually
oligochaete
Oligochaeta () is a subclass of soft-bodied animals in the phylum Annelida, which is made up of many types of aquatic and terrestrial worms, including all of the various earthworms. Specifically, oligochaetes comprise the terrestrial megadril ...
s.
The species in this family generally infect the
coelom
The coelom (or celom) is the main body cavity in many animals and is positioned inside the body to surround and contain the digestive tract and other organs. In some animals, it is lined with mesothelium. In other animals, such as molluscs, i ...
of their hosts.
The
gamonts are spherical to cylindrical. The anterior end is little differentiated if at all.
The
oocysts are biconical or boat-shaped.
References
Apicomplexa families
Conoidasida
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