Rumen Ophryoscolecid Protozoa in the Hindgut of the Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)1

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Abstract
Rumen ophryoscolecid protozoa were observed in feces obtained from two capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) housed at the Columbus Zoo, Columbus, Ohio [USA]. Total numbers were 58.1 .times. 104 and 19.0 .times. 104 per gram of wet feces in a male and female capybara, respectively. Four common rumen species of Entodinium were observed in the feces from both animals, with low numbers of Eudiplodinium maggii and Elytroplastron bubali also occurring in the male. Establishment of rumen ophryoscolecid ciliates in the intestinal tract of non-ruminant herbivores has not been reported previously.