Oph·ry·o·sco·lec·i·dae

(of'rē-ō-skō-les'i-dē),

A family of ciliate protozoa occurring in the rumen and reticulum of ruminant animals, characterized by having cilia arranged in spiral membranelles around the mouth (adoral) and in some genera also in a dorsal (metoral) position. The most important genera are Entodinium, Diplodinium, Epidinium, and Ophryoscolex, which are thought to contribute to ruminant nutrition by converting cellulose in plant material ingested by the ruminant into readily digestible animal protein of their own bodies.

[G. ophrys, eyebrow, + skōlēx, a worm]

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References in periodicals archive

ciliate species and its morphotypes belonging to family Ophryoscolecidae from cattle in the vicinity of Kastamonu and in addition, to clarify their relationship with those species already known.

Fourteen morphotypes of Entodinium ovumrajae (Ophryoscolecidae, Entodiniomorphida) found in the dromedary camel of Egypt.

New Rumen Ciliate, Entodinium kastamonicum, New Species (Ophryoscolecidae: Entodiniomorphida) from Turkish Domestic Cattle, Bos taurus Taurus

The aim of this study was to describe a new ciliate species and its morphotypes belonging to family Ophryoscolecidae from cattle in the vicinity of Kastamonu and in addition, to clarify their relationship with those species already known.

New Rumen Ciliate, Entodinium kastamonicum, New Species (Ophryoscolecidae: Entodiniomorphida) from Turkish Domestic Cattle, Bos taurus Taurus

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