A DESCRIPTION OF ISOSPORA-AMPHIBOLURI (APICOMPLEXA, EIMERIIDAE) FROM THE INLAND BEARDED DRAGON, POGONA-VITTICEPS (SAURIA, AGAMIDAE)

Fecal samples from 50 captive inland bearded dragons, Pogona vitticeps (Ahl, 1926), bred in California, were examined for coccidian parasite s. Sixteen (32%) of the lizards were found to be passing oocysts of Is ospora amphiboluri Cannon, 1967, previously described from bearded dra gons Pogona barbata (Cuvier, 1829) from Australia. Sporulated oocysts were spherical to subspherical, 25.3 x 25.1 (23-26 x 23-26) mu m, with a shape index (length/width) of 1.0 (1.0-1.1). A micropyle, oocyst re siduum, and polar granule were absent. Sporocysts were ovoidal, 17.0 x 11.4 (16-18 x 11-12) mu m, with a shape index of 1.5 (1.4-1.7). A spo rocyst residuum, Stieda, and substieda bodies were present, but parast ieda bodies were absent. Sporozoites were elongated, 13.9 x 3.5 (12-15 x 3-4) mu m in situ, containing spherical anterior and posterior refr actile bodies. The occurrence of I. amphiboluri in P. vitticeps is a n ew host and geographic record for the parasite. Photomicrographs of th e oocysts and endogenous life cycle stages of I. amphiboluri are prese nted for the first time.