portrait

Description:

Polymastix is an oxymonad flagellate with and almond or spindle-shaped body with four free anterior flagella arranged in two pairs. Flagella deflected backwards but not adherent to the cell body. Nucleus pointed anteriorly, reduced anterior pelta and slender axostyle generally not protruding posteriorly. Several species occurring in xylophagous insects such as Polymastix melolonthae from coleopterid larvae. Polymastix sp. from the cockroach Parasphaeria boleiriana from Brazil with epibiontic Fusiformis bacteria (interference contrast).