Sauroplasma
Encyclopedia
Sauroplasma is a genus
of parasitic protozoa
of the phylum
Apicomplexia.
Species in this genus have two hosts (a vertebrate
and an invertebrate
) in their life cycle: for species in this genus the vertebrate
host are lizard
s. The vectors are not known but tick
s have been suggested as possible hosts.
The type species is Sauroplasma thomasi.
The parasites are amoeboid but frequently adopt a ring shape.
A vacuole is present and occasionally one or more pigment granules.
Schizogony is absent.
Binary fission or budding into two daughter cells occurs.
Unknown species
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of parasitic protozoa
Protozoa
Protozoa are a diverse group of single-cells eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Throughout history, protozoa have been defined as single-cell protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement...
of the phylum
Phylum
In biology, a phylum The term was coined by Georges Cuvier from Greek φῦλον phylon, "race, stock," related to φυλή phyle, "tribe, clan." is a taxonomic rank below kingdom and above class. "Phylum" is equivalent to the botanical term division....
Apicomplexia.
Species in this genus have two hosts (a vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
and an invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
) in their life cycle: for species in this genus the vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
host are lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
s. The vectors are not known but tick
Tick
Ticks are small arachnids in the order Ixodida, along with mites, constitute the subclass Acarina. Ticks are ectoparasites , living by hematophagy on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians...
s have been suggested as possible hosts.
The type species is Sauroplasma thomasi.
Description
To date this species has been described from erythrocytes only.The parasites are amoeboid but frequently adopt a ring shape.
A vacuole is present and occasionally one or more pigment granules.
Schizogony is absent.
Binary fission or budding into two daughter cells occurs.
Host records
- S. boreale - sand lizard (Lacerta agilis)
- S. thomasi - great girdled lizard (Zonurus giganteus)
Unknown species
- JamaicaJamaicaJamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
n iguana (Cyclura collei)
- Grand CaymanGrand CaymanGrand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
iguana (Cyclura lewisi)
- CubaCubaThe Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n rock iguana (Cyclura nubilaCyclura nubilaCyclura nubila, also known as the Cuban rock iguana, Cuban ground iguana, or Cuban iguana, is a species of lizard of the iguana family. It is the largest of the West Indian rock iguanas , one of the most endangered groups of lizards...
)
- leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus fimbriatusUroplatus fimbriatusUroplatus fimbriatus is a gecko which is found in eastern Madagascar and on the islands Nosy Bohara and Nosy Mangabe. These geckos live in tropical rain forests. They reach a total length of 330 mm....
)