A NEW SPECIES OF EIMERIA (APICOMPLEXA) FROM THE ORANGE-FRONTED CONURE, ARATINGA-CANICULARIS (PSITTACIFORMES), IN COSTA-RICA

A new species of coccidian (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) is described from the faeces of the Orange-Fronted Conure, Aratinga canicularis (Psitta ciformes, Psittacidae), from Costa Rica. Oocysts of Eimeria aratinga s p. n. were found in 3/21 (14%) birds and are ellipsoidal, 35.0 x 25.9 (32.4-37.6 x 23.8-28.0) mum, with a smooth, bilayered wall and a shape index (length/width) of 1.35 (1.22-1.50). A micropyle and oocyst resi duum are absent but a fragmented polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 19.2 x 9.8 (17.6-20.8 x 9.0-10.4) mum, and possess Stieda and substieda bodies; shape index 1.97 (1.76-2.22). Each sporozoite h as spherical anterior and subspherical to ellipsoidal posterior refrac tile bodies.