Dorsal Surface Of Body Research Articles

Life-history features and oceanography drive phylogeographic patterns of the chiton Acanthochitona cf. rubrolineata (Lischke, 1873) in the northwestern Pacific.

Chitons are a group of marine mollusks (class Polyplacophora) characterized by having eight articulating shell plates on their dorsal body surface. They represent suitable materials for studying the spatiotemporal processes that underlie population differentiation and speciation in ocean environments. Here we performed population genetic analyses on the northwestern Pacific chiton Acanthochitona cf. rubrolineata (Lischke, 1873) using two mitochondrial gene fragments (COI and 16S) from 180 individuals sampled from 11 populations among the coastal waters of Korea, Japan, and China. The phylogenetic network uncovered a reticulated relationship with several sub-haplogroups for all A. cf. rubrolineata haplotypes. SAMOVA analyses suggested the best grouping occurred at three groups (ΦCT = 0.151, P < 0.0001), which geographically corresponds to hydrographic discontinuity among the coastal regions of Korea, Japan, and China. The assumed limited dispersal ability of A. cf. rubrolineata, coupled with northeasterly flowing, trifurcate warm currents, might have contributed to the genetic differentiation among the three groups. Meanwhile, a high level of within-group genetic homogeneity was detected, indicating extensive coastal currents might facilitate gene flow among the populations within each group. Bayesian skyline plots demonstrated significant population expansion after the Last Glacial Period (110-25 thousand years ago) for all studied populations except the Japan group. Together these results suggest that the present-day phylogeographic patterns of A. cf. rubrolineata are strongly affected by the interplay of historical and/or contemporary oceanography and species-specific life-history features.

A New Species of Triumphalisnema (Nematoda: Coronostomatoidea) Parasite of Proculejus hirtus (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Mexico, and the Position of the Family in the Oxyuridomorpha

A new species of the nematode Triumphalisnema Kloss, 1962 (Oxyuridomorpha), is described from the wood beetle Proculejus hirtus Truqui from the mountain mesophilic forest in Hidalgo State, Mexico. Triumphalisnema zuuei n. sp. is distinguished from the other 4 congeners species by the presence of an expanded cervical ring, well-developed lateral alae, an obtuse cauda with a short and bifurcated caudal appendage, series of cuticular folds at ventral and dorsal body surface from excretory pore level to anal region, and ellipsoidal eggs ornamented with numerous small mushroom-like structures over the surface. The phylogenetic position of the new species is inferred based on a Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analysis of partial sequences of 18S SSU rRNA. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Triumphalisnema zuuei n. sp., the only representative of the Traklosiidae in our study, is closely related to Coynema poeyi and species of Longior, Hystrignathus, and Lepidonema, all of them members of Hystrignathidae. These relationships are supported by high support values. The present study increases to 5 the number of species assigned to Triumphalisnema, all of them parasites of Passalidae. Additionally, a taxonomic key to the species of the genus is provided.

Guanine crystals regulated by chitin-based honeycomb frameworks for tunable structural colors of sapphirinid copepod, Sapphirina nigromaculata

Sapphirinid copepods, which are marine zooplankton, exhibit tunable structural colors originating from a layered structure of guanine crystal plates. In the present study, the coloring portion of adult male of a sapphirinid copepod, Sapphirina nigromaculata, under the dorsal body surface was characterized to clarify the regulation and actuation mechanism of the layered guanine crystals for spectral control. The coloring portions are separated into small domains 70–100 µm wide consisting of an ordered array of stacked hexagonal plates ~1.5 µm wide and ~80 nm thick. We found the presence of chitin-based honeycomb frameworks that are composed of flat compartments regulating the guanine crystal plates. The structural color is deduced to be tuned from blue to achromatic via yellow and purple by changing the interplate distance according to vital observation and optical simulation using a photonic array model. The framework structures are essential for the organization and actuation of the particular photonic arrays for the exhibition of the tunable structural color.

FIRST RECORD OF EUCLINOSTOMUM HETEROSTOMUM FROM THE NATURALLY-INFECTED HERON “ARDEOLA RALLOIDES” IN EGYPT: A LIGHT & SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY STUDY

Four adult specimens of clinostomatid parasites were recovered from the buccal cavity and oesophagus of a naturally-infected male squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides (Aves: Ardeidae), collected in July 2019 from Giza Province, Egypt. The rate of natural infection was recorded as 10% (1/10). The parasite has the typical body plan organization of Euclinostomum heterostomum Rudolphi, 1809 (Digenea: Clinostomatidae) with minor differences in certain organs measurements. The body dimensions measure 5.57-6.71 × 2.29-2.97 mm (length × maximum body width). The oral sucker locates in the centre of the oral collar and measures 0.36-0.44 × 0.53-0.64 mm, while the ventral sucker locates in the anterior third of body and measures 0.65-1.10 × 0.63-1.27 mm. The right intestinal caecum gives rise to 11-14 diverticula, while the left intestinal caecum gives rise to 12-15 diverticula. The testes are tandem and lie in the posterior third of the body. The anterior testis is U-shaped and measures 0.61-0.70 × 0.85-1.26 mm, while the posterior testis is tripartite and measures 0.60-0.67 × 0.66-0.69 mm. The ovary is intertesticular, dextral to median body plan, and measures 0.22-0.25 × 0.33-0.37 mm. The uterus is pretesticular, intercaecal, filled with hundreds of eggs, and measures 1.54-2.13 × 0.59-1.32 mm. The uterine eggs are ellipsoidal; each measures 0.11-0.12 × 0.06-0.08 mm. The excretory pore is subterminal, intercaecal, and measures 0.12-0.14 × 0.12-0.14 mm. In addition, the surface topographies of the ventral and the dorsal surfaces of body were described.

A deletion spanning the promoter and first exon of the hair cycle-specific ASIP transcript isoform in black and tan rabbits.

Black and tan animals have tan-coloured ventral body surfaces separated by sharp boundaries from black-coloured dorsal body surfaces. In the at mouse mutant, a retroviral 6kb insertion located in the hair cycle-specific promoter of the murine Asip gene encoding agouti signalling protein causes the black and tan phenotype. In rabbits, three ASIP alleles are thought to exist, including an at allele causing a black and tan coat colour that closely resembles the mouse black and tan phenotype. The goal of our study was to identify the functional genetic variant causing the rabbit at allele. We performed a WGS-based comparative analysis of the ASIP gene in one black and tan and three wt agouti-coloured rabbits. The analysis identified 75 at -associated variants including an 11kb deletion. The deletion is located in the region of the hair cycle-specific ASIP promoter and thus in a region homologous to the site of the retroviral insertion causing the at allele in mice. We observed perfect association of the genotypes at this deletion with the coat colour phenotype in 49 rabbits. The comparative analysis and the previous knowledge about the regulation of ASIP expression suggest that the 11kb deletion is the most likely causative variant for the black and tan phenotype in rabbits.

Age-related ultrastructural features of the tongue of the rock pigeon Columba livia dakhlae in different three age stages (young, mature, and adult) captured from Egypt.

This study represents the first attempt to describe the ultra-structural and histological features of different three age-stages (young, mature, and adult) of rock pigeon Columba livia dakhlae captured from Egypt. The elongated tongue with round lingual apex carried a lingual nail rostrally on lingual tip. The current work gave a first record of numerous descriptions as in young and mature, small lingual nail formed from aggregation of lingual scales, but in adult, the nail formed from lingual membrane without any lingual scales. The current work gave full descriptive methods of shape, directions, and distribution of filiform-like papillae with lingual scales among three age-stages on dorsal surface and lateral border of apex and body. The taste buds present only on the tongue of mature and adult pigeon. The only one transverse row in young took the wide V-shape but, wide U-shape in mature and adult. The papillae on the papillary crest took triangular spoonful-like shape in young and mature, but in adult take the shape of blunt tubercles. The current work was the first record of the presence of the openings of lingual glands on concave dorsal lingual surface of giant papillae and papillae of papillary crest in adult stage. The lingual membrane was thin one membrane in young and three to four layers in mature but, in adult it is well-developed and formed from 10-11 layers. The supportive entoglossum cartilaginous was extended rostrally till the apical part.

Nest Architecture, Immature Stages, and Ethnoentomology of a New Species of Trigonisca from Northern Colombia (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Stingless bees (Apinae: Corbiculata: Meliponini) are biologically and culturally important pollinators within the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. However, limited information is available for the majority of the species. Biological and systematic data are presented for a new species of Trigonisca Moure, from the arid region of La Guajira, Colombia. The genus is part of the distinctive Trigonisca genus group, noteworthy for its position as the earliest diverging extant lineage of neotropical stingless bees. We briefly diagnose the genus group and provide a key to the genera and subgenera of the Trigonisca genus group, along with the description of Exochotrigona Engel, new subgenus. We also outline the species occurring in Colombia and present a description for Trigonisca (Trigonisca) mepecheu Engel and Gonzalez, new species, including accounts of all three castes. A single, poorly preserved egg is noteworthy because of its extremely small size. Its chorion is extensively covered by a surface pattern of elevated geometric figures, as seems to be characteristic of the Meliponini. The robust mature larva, though remarkably small, exhibits extensive spiculation of dorsal body surfaces and most body segments with small, paired dorsolateral tubercles. In addition, the labral apex exhibits an apical patch of recently discovered multipronged spicules intermixed with various sensory sensilla. These morphological features of immature stages, where known, are similar to those previously reported for other Meliponini. We document the internal architecture of nests of T. mepecheu, which we found in trunks of Stenocereus griseus (Haw.) Buxb. (Cactaceae) and more commonly in Libidibia coriaria (Jacq.) Schltdl. (Fabaceae), along with nests of the only other stingless bee from La Guajira, Melipona favosa (Fabricius). Nests were also found in the sides of manufactured structures. The indigenous Wayuu harvest stingless-bee honey and have specific names in Wayuunaiki for the two species occurring in the region, although there is apparently an oral tradition in which the honey of T. mepecheu causes blindness. Trigonisca (Trigonisca) ameliae Penney from Colombian copal is a new junior synonym of T. (T.) schulthessi (Friese).

A new frog of the Leptodactylus fuscus species group (Anura: Leptodactylidae), endemic from the South American Gran Chaco.

A new species of Leptodactylus frog (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from the South American Gran Chaco, morphologically similar and previously confused with the widespread Leptodactylus mystacinus, is described through the use of multiple sources of evidence (molecular, external morphology, coloration, osteology, bioacoustics, and behavior). The phylogenetic analysis with partial sequences of mitochondrial rDNA genes (12S and 16S) recovered the new species within the L. fuscus group, being highly divergent (>3% genetic distance in 16S). The new species was recovered as sister taxa of L. mystacinus, from which it is distinguished by tympanum coloration, cephalic index, dorsum and legs coloration, and some osteological differences in nasals and prevomers. This new frog is characterized by a moderate body size (SVL 46.80–66.21 mm), distinctive color pattern (reddish dorsal surfaces of body with noticeable black stripes in the dorsolateral folds), a circular and dark tympanum with dark tympanic annuli, and behavior of males that call on top of fallen logs and tree branches close to the ground.

A new species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes, Colubridae) from northern Vietnam.

A new species of the genus Lycodon is described from Cao Bang Province, Vietnam, based on three individuals with distinct differences in morphology and molecular data. The new species is differentiated from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: dorsal scales in 17-17-15 rows, smooth throughout; supralabials usually eight (rarely nine); infralabials ten; one elongated loreal on each side, in contact with the eye; precloacal plate single; ventral scales 212–218 (plus one or two preventral scales); subcaudals 90 or 91; maxillary teeth 13 or 14; dorsal surface of body with 28 or 29 light body bands; dorsal surface of tail with 13 cream bands, forming a distinct blotch in the vertebral region. Based on phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence data, the new species is recovered as the sister species to a clade containing L. multizonatus and L. liuchengchaoi with strong support from the Bayesian analysis. The new species is at least 7.5% divergent from other species within this clade in uncorrected pairwise distance calculated using a fragment of more than 1000 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b. This discovery increases the number of Lycodon species known from Vietnam to 16.

The discovery of Lepeophtheirus lichiae Barnard, 1948 (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on leerfish, Lichia amia (Linnaeus) in the Mediterranean Sea

Lepeophtheirus lichiae Barnard, 1948 (Copepoda: Caligidae), a very rare and poorly known sea louse, is redescribed based on a single newly collected female. The specimen was collected from the dorsal body surface of the leerfish, Lichia amia (Linnaeus) caught in north-eastern Mediterranean waters off the Turkish coast. The original and only available description of L. lichiae was incomplete and with only three illustrations: the dorsal view of the female habitus, the sternal furca, and the postantennal process. Here, we present a full re-description of female of L. lichiae and report it from the Mediterranean Sea for the first time.

Anatomy, histology, and nerve density of clitoris and associated structures: clinical applications to vulvar surgery

A precise understanding of structures comprising the female external genitalia is essential in obstetric and gynecologic practice. To further characterize the anatomy, histology, and nerve density of the clitoris and associated structures, and to provide clinical correlations to vulvar surgery. Unembalmed female cadavers were examined. The length and width of the body, glans, and crura of the clitoris were measured. Distances from the glans to the urethra and from the dorsal surface of the clitoral body to the mid pubic arch were recorded. The path of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris was examined, and the nerve width was measured as it emerged from the lateral surface of crura and at the distal clitoral body. Distances from where the dorsal nerve emerged from the perineal membrane to the posterior surface of the membrane and to mid pubic arch were measured. Connective tissue layers associated with the clitoris were examined. Tissue was harvested from additional unembalmed cadavers, and nerve density of the labia minora, glans, and clitoral body were analyzed. Histological examination was performed on vulvar structures to clarify tissue composition. Descriptive statistics were used for data analyses. A total of 27 cadavers (aged 48-96 years) were examined, 22 grossly and 5 histologically. The median length and width of clitoral body were 29 mm (range, 13-59 mm) and 9 mm (range, 5-14 mm), respectively. The glans was 8 mm (range, 5-12 mm) long and 4 mm (range, 3-10 mm) wide. The length of the crura was 50 mm (range, 25-68 mm), and the width at the anterior portion was 9 mm (range, 2-13 mm). The closest distance from the glans to the urethra was 25 mm (range, 14-37 mm) and from the clitoral body to the mid pubic arch was 29 mm (range, 14-46 mm). The widths of the dorsal nerve at the lateral crura and at the distal clitoral body were 3 mm (range, 2-4 mm) and 1 mm (range, 1-2 mm), respectively. The distance from the dorsal nerve as it emerged from the perineal membrane to the mid pubic arch was 34 mm (range, 20-48 mm) and to the posterior surface of the membrane was 20 mm (range, 8-31 mm). The dorsal nerve and artery of the clitoris coursed adjacent to the medial surface of the inferior pubic ramus surrounded by a dense fibrous capsule adherent to the periosteum. The nerve and artery then coursed deep to dense connective tissue layers, which were contiguous with the suspensory ligament and fascia of the clitoris. Histologic examination revealed the presence of erectile tissue in the clitoral body, crura, and vestibular bulbs, but such tissue was absent in the glans and labia minora. Nerve density analysis revealed statistically significant greater density in the dorsal compared with ventral half of the clitoral body. Although not statistically significant, there was increased nerve density in the distal compared to the proximal half of the labia minora. Precise knowledge of clitoral anatomy and associated neurovascular structures is essential to safely complete partial vulvectomies, clitoral and vulvar reconstructive procedures, anti-incontinence surgeries, and repair of obstetric lacerations. Understanding the range of anatomic variations and awareness of the areas of increased nerve density is important during counseling and surgical planning. Although the dorsal nerve of the clitoris courses deep to dense connective tissue layers, inadvertent injury may occur in the setting of deep dissection or suture placement. The dorsal nerve seems most vulnerable with surgical entry or lacerations that extend from the midline of the prepuce to the inferior pubic rami.

A new species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam.

We describe a new species of the genus Lycodon based on an adult male specimen from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Lycodon namdongensis sp. nov. is differentiated from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: dorsal scales in 17-17-15 rows, all smooth; supralabials 8; infralabials 10; one large loreal on each side, separated from the eye; cloacal single; ventral scales 218 (plus two preventral scales); subcaudals 85, paired; a total length of 723 mm; tail / total length ratio 0.205; dorsal head pattern whitish grey; dorsal surface of body with 23 narrow greyish cream bands; dorsal surface of tail with 14 cream bands; ventral surface of body mostly cream with a few small dark spots posteriorly; ventral surface of tail dark grey. Based on molecular comparisons, Lycodon namdongensis sp. nov. is recovered as a sister species to L. futsingensis with strong support values from all three analyses. The new species is at least 6.5% genetically divergent from other species within this clade as shown by a fragment of more than 1000 pbs of the mitochondrial cytochrome b. This discovery increases the number of Lycodon species known from Vietnam to 15.

Extension in distribution of Raorchestes parvulus (Boulenger, 1893) (Anura: Rhacophoridae) to China.

We record Raorchestes parvulus (Boulenger, 1893) for the first time from China based on six specimens collected from southern Yunnan. Phylogenetically these individuals were placed in a clade with R. parvulus from Southeast Asia and pairwise genetic distances in DNA sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene ranged from 0 to 3.1% within the clade. Morphologically these specimens agree with R. parvulus in a series of characters including body size small, a large external vocal sac, vomerine teeth absent, snout slightly shorter than the diameter of the orbit, canthus rostralis indistinct, interorbital space broader than the upper eyelid, tympanum indistinct, fingers free, toes webbed at the base, an inner metatarsal tubercle, tibio-tarsal articulation reaches eye, small warts on the dorsal surfaces of body and limbs, throat smooth, belly granular, a dark triangular blotch between the eyes, a butterfly-like dark band on the back, a dark blotch on each side of lumbar region, and more or less distinct dark bars across limbs. Obvious intraspecific variation in the color pattern occurs within the population. It is possible that previous records of Raorchestes longchuanensis (Yang and Li, 1979) from southern Yunnan might be misidentification of R. parvulus.

Description of two novel Echinochasmus species (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) from the squacco heron Ardeola ralloides (Aves: Ardeidae) in Egypt: A light and scanning electron microscopic study

Adult forms of two new echinostomatids were recovered from small intestine of six out of ten squacco herons, Ardeola ralloides collected from March to July 2019 from Giza governorate, Egypt. These small-sized parasites had a single row of collar spines with middle dorsal interruption, vitellaria reaching the level of ventral sucker and attributed to genus Echinochasmus, namely, E. ralloides n. sp. (prevalence 40%) and E. rawashi n. sp. (prevalence 20%). The morphometric features and differential indices of two species were measured, compared and described using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The body of E. ralloides n. sp. measured 959.2-1090.6 × 264.3-311.1 μm (L × MW). It was provided with 26 collar spines (9 dorsal, 2 lateral and 2 angle on each side of the dorsal collar interruption), lacked of tegumental spines except for small areas in lower left and lateral right margins of ventral sucker, and characterized by presence of many minute pores of 3.1-3.8 μm on dorsal surface of hindbody. The body of E. rawashi n. sp. measured 638.8-1173.5 × 138.8-207.7 μm (L × MW), provided with 24 collar spines (7 dorsal, 2 lateral and 2 angle on each side of the dorsal collar interruption) and had scale-like tegumental spines distributed on whole ventral surface and anterior 1/4 of dorsal surface of body, ended by up to 13 digit-like structures and measured 2.1-2.5 × 4.4-4.8 μm.

Not that hot after all: no limits to heat dissipation in lactating mice selected for high or low BMR.

Heat dissipation has been suggested as a limit to sustained metabolic effort, e.g. during lactation, when overheating is a possible risk. We tested this hypothesis using mice artificially selected for either high or low BMR that also differed with respect to parental effort. We used fixed size cross-fostered families and recorded litter mass daily until the 14th day of lactation. Midway through the experiment (day 8) half of the mothers from each group had fur from the dorsal body surface removed to increase their thermal conductance and facilitate heat dissipation. Our results showed that neither high nor low BMR mouse lines benefited from increasing their thermal conductance at peak lactation. On the contrary, growth of the litters reared by the low BMR females was compromised. Thus, our results do not support the heat dissipation limitation hypothesis.

A new species of Lycodon Boie, 1826 (Serpentes: Colubridae) from central Laos

We describe a new species of the genus Lycodon Boie based on an adult male specimen from Khammouane Province, central Laos. Lycodon banksisp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: (1) dorsal scales in 17-17-15 rows, dorsal scales on the anterior 2/3 of the body length smooth, the six central dorsal scale rows of the posterior 1/3 of the body length feebly keeled; (2) supralabials 8; (3) infralabials 10; (4) loreal in contact with the eye; (5) cloacal single; (6) ventral scales 241; (7) dorsal surface of body with 87 greyish yellow blotches; (8) ventral surface of body and tail uniformly grey cream. Based on the molecular comparison, Lycodon banksisp. nov. is placed in a clade with other species previously considered to be members of the genus Dinodon. The new species is at least 9% genetically divergent from other species within this clade as shown by a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b. This discovery increases the number of Lycodon species known from Laos to eleven.

Histomorphological investigation of tongue of Porcupine Hystrix cristate

Anatomical and histological explorations of the tongue in ten adult male Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) collected from AL-Diwanyha city by the hunter, after porcupine prepared the tongue illustrious after that the position, shape dimensions were enrolled. The square-shape of body, thicken less steadily toward caudal part of tongue. Root was tends caudally in the direction of the epiglottis. Torus linguae found on the caudal part of the dorsal surface of the tongue. In the end of lateral surface of tongue have foliate papilla osculate the premolar teeth. The length, apex, body and root of the tongue were (7.6±0.66, 1.25±0.23, 4.95±0.2, and 1.4±0.26 cm), respectively. The width, apex, body, and root of the tongue were (1.80±0.77, 0.35±0.49, 1±0.22 and 0.45±0.14, respectively. In the dorsal and lateral surface have muscle fibers from skeletal type and loose connective tissue bounded by keratinized stratified squamous epithelium while in the ventral lingual surface were non-keratinized. In the dorsal surface of body there were filiform papillae, but less at the lateral surface of the body. While the shape of circumvallate papillae was similar to furrow, and there was taste buds on the both dorsal and lateral sides of the tongue. Fungiform papillae had wide curved keratinized surface, with taste buds on the dorsal surface. Lamina propria and submucosa was loose connective tissue with more of collagen fiber.

Case Study: Mitigation of heat stress in feedlot cattle by applying reflective pigments to the dorsal body surface

ABSTRACT Heat stress in feedlot cattle has serious animal welfare and economic implications. The objective of this experiment was to determine whether a titanium dioxide coating applied to the dorsal midline of cattle would reflect solar radiation and mitigate heat stress. Feedlot heifers (n = 30; 269 ± 27.6 kg) were randomly assigned to a noncoated (control) or titanium dioxide–coated treatment. Coating was applied to the dorsal midline except for a control area over the dorsal anterior midline. Reflectance was measured with a suspended modified digital camera in a blue band, a green band, and a near-infrared band. Skin surface temperature was measured with a suspended infrared thermal imaging sensor. Vaginal thermometers recorded the internal body temperature of heifers. Reflectance in the blue, green, and red edge to near infrared bands were found to be 5.7, 8.8, and 10.3 times greater (P

A new species of Heptapterus Bleeker 1858 (Siluriformes, Heptapteridae) from the Uruguay River Basin in Misiones, Northeastern Argentina

In this paper we describe Heptapterus mandimbusu sp. n., a new species of heptapterid catfish from a small tributary of the Uruguay River Basin in Misiones-Argentina. This new species is distinguished from all other congeners by the unique coloration pattern with aggregated melanophores scattered on dorsal and lateral surface of body, forming conspicuous size-variable blotches, and the combination of a long interdorsal distance (13.8–18.9 % SL), 14–18 anal-fin rays, short maxillary barbels (52.2–74.5 % HL), and the adipose fin confluent with caudal fin.

Gorilloflasca africana n.g., n.sp., (Entodiniomorphida) from wild habituated Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda

A new entodiniomorphid ciliate species, Gorilloflasca africana n. g., n. sp. was described from the Virunga mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, in Rwanda. It is characterized by a flask-shaped body, a long tubular vestibulum, a round frontal lobe, a large posterior cavity, an ellipsoidal or peanut-shaped macronucleus and a single contractile vacuole. G. africana has the adoral and the vestibular ciliary zones in the buccal area. The adoral ciliary zone is non-retractable, encircling the vestibular opening. The vestibular ciliary zone extends posteriorly in the vestibulum. The somatic ciliary zones are the cavity ciliary zone in the posterior cavity along the ventral side of its opening and two longitudinal ciliary zones on the dorsal body surface. The buccal infraciliary bands of G. africana are a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a stick-shaped vestibular kinety band, and paralabial kineties. The anterior region of the vestibular kinety band is composed of short kineties whereas, kineties in the remaining region are longitudinal. The somatic infraciliary bands are a cavity polybrachykinety and two longitudinal polybrachykineties. Gorilloflasca is a member of the family Blepharocorythidae based on the non-retractable adoral ciliary zone, the frontal lobe, the large posterior cavity and the vestibular longitudinal kineties.