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Rumen Ciliate Fauna of Alaskan Moose ( Alces americana ), Musk‐Ox (Ovibos moschatus) and Dall Mountain Sheep (Ovis dalli) *
Author(s) -
DEHORITY B. A.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1974.tb03612.x
Subject(s) - ovis , fauna , biology , ecology , equus , ciliate , rumen , zoology , food science , fermentation
SYNOPSIS Total numbers, generic distribution and percentage species distribution were determined for the ciliate protozoa in rumen contents obtained from Alaskan moose ( Alces americana ), musk‐ox (Ovibos moschatus) and Dall mountain sheep (Ovis dalli) . The musk‐ox has a fauna somewhat similar to that previously observed in reindeer and caribou. In contrast, only protozoa in the genus Entodinium were observed in moose, while Dall mountain sheep have a fauna unique among Alaskan ruminants studied to date. Other than Entodinium exiguum which was common to all animals, only 2 additional species of Entodinium , observed in the moose and musk‐ox, occurred in more than one animal species. Four new species of protozoa are described, Entodinium dalli sp.n., Entodinium constrictum sp.n. and Polyplastron alaskum sp.n. from the Dall mountain sheep and Entodinium alces sp.n. from moose.