Holomastigotoididae

Pseudo-rostrum absent, or when present, lacks a columella; no anterior cap; however, the genus Rostronympha develops a proboscis. All the flagellar rows do not arise from the apex and do not reach the posterior end. Basal bodies of a row are interconnected by a thin fibrillar bundle. A parabasal striated fibre and an axostylar fibre underlie each flagellar row, and dictyosomes are subjacent. At division, flagellar rows are equally separated. Chromosomes apparent during the interphase. Xylophagous, occurring in Psammotermitidae, Hodotermitidae, and Rhinotermitidae (GrassÚ, 1952b; Cleveland, 1949b; Hollande and Carruette-Valentin, 1971).

The species M. grassei lives in Postelectrotermes (formerly Kalotermes) praecox of the island of Madeira. Flagellates vary in size (10-30 µm long) and may have a pseudo-rostrum. They have 1 to 6 spiraled flagellar rows which do not reach the posterior end, and large subjacent dictyosomes. Flagella are associated with the plasma membrane in their proximal portion (hemi-desmosome). It has similar features to other spirotrichonymphines: Spirotrichonympha, Holomastigotoides, and particularly to Holomastigotes, but has a stout axostylar trunk projecting at the posterior. Ultrastructural study shows that the pelta-axostyle microtubular rows form an anterior cape; the flagellar rows are organized as in Holomastigotoides except for the absence of the microfibrillar bundle lining each row of basal bodies. Axostylar ribbons originating anteriorly enclose the nucleus to form the axostylar trunk. These features could correspond to Spironympha (=Microspironympha (Koidzumi, 1921). Light and EM by Hollande and Carruette-Valentin (1971). Type species: Micromastigotes grassei Hollande and Carruette-Valentin, 1971.

Large (135-180 µm) spirotrichonymphid very similar in structure to Holomastigotoides except for the retractile proboscis which attaches the flagellate to the host's gut wall. The flagellar rows do not reach the posterior end, which is covered by spirochetes. Monospecific. Light microscopic study by Duboscq and GrassÚ (1943), GrassÚ (1952b), and GrassÚ and Hollande (1963). No EM study. Type species: Rostronympha magna Duboscq. GrassÚ, & Rose, 1937.

Flagellates vary in size (10-20 µm) with flagellar rows spiraled (1 turn) and originating from an apical disc or from two parallel small rods. Nucleus attached to the apex; no axostyle. Light microscopy by Duboscq and GrassÚ (1943) and reported in GrassÚ (1952b). No EM study. Type species: Spiromastigotes rosei.

Flagellates with a spindle-shaped body and spiraled flagellar rows which do not reach the posterior end. Tubular axostyle posterior to the nucleus. Koidzumi (1921) created another genus, Microspironympha, which is a synonym of Spironympha, for similar flagellates occurring in Reticulitermes speratus from Japan, (GrassÚ, 1952b). These flagellates are difficult to distinguish from young Spirotrichonympha present in the same host and need more investigation.

Comprises genera with a pseudo-rostrum containing a central columella. Parabasal striated lamina sandwiches the proximal part of the basal bodies, which are slightly interconnected by microfibrils and underlain by dictyosomes. At division, flagellar rows separate equally, or not (Cleveland, 1938b). Xylophagous flagellates, living in the termite genera: Reticulitermes, Anacanthotermes, Hodotermes, Heterotermes, Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes, Paraneotermes, Prorhinotermes, Psammotermes, Postelectro-termes, and Porotermes. Comprises 3-4 genera Spirotrichonympha, Spirotrichonymphella, Spironympha, and Micromastigotes.