A NEW FAMILY OF ENTODINIOMORPH PROTOZOA FROM THE MARSUPIAL FORESTOMACH, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF A NEW GENUS AND 5 NEW SPECIES

A unique group of entodiniomorph protozoa was found in forestomach con tents from quokka (Setonix brachyurus), western grey kangaroo (Macropu s fuliginosus), red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and euro (Macropus robus tus erubescens). A new genus, Macropodinium n.g., containing five new species, is described. Three species are described from forestomach co ntents of the quokka: Macropodinium baldense n. sp., Macropodinium moi ri n. sp. and Macropodinium setonixum n. sp. A single species, Macropo dinium ennuensis n. sp., is described from the red kangaroo and euro. The last species, Macropodinium yalanbense n. sp., is described in for estomach contents from the western grey kangaroo. At least three disti nct features in the new genus are incompatible with any of the describ ed families in the order Entodiniomorphida. On this basis, the new fam ily Macropodiniidae has been created.