In the course of examining rumen contents obtained from 30 domestic cattle ( Bos taurus L.) in the vicinity of İzmir, Turkey, somewhat similar but unusual forms of epidinia were observed. These ciliated protozoa were observed in six of the animals with a frequency of 20.00%, and this study is concerned with their classification into a species, Epidinium graini n. sp. All the protozoa identified as belonging to this species were divided into three formae, E. graini f. graini n. f., E. graini f. caudatricoronatum n. f. and E. graini f. caudaquadricoronatum n. f.. These species have 2-4 transversally periplasmic pellicle foldings resembling coronets or skirts in shape and 4-5 longitudinal groovelets extending posteriorly from the mid-level of the body on the left surface. These or similar characteristics had been described not in the genus Epidinium but in the genus Ophryoscolex. This fact may stem from some of the characteristics showing the phylogenetic relationship between these two genera.

In the course of examining rumen contents obtained from 30 domestic cattle ( Bos taurus L.) in the vicinity of İzmir, Turkey, somewhat similar but unusual forms of epidinia were observed. These ciliated protozoa were observed in six of the animals with a frequency of 20.00%, and this study is concerned with their classification into a species, Epidinium graini n. sp. All the protozoa identified as belonging to this species were divided into three formae, E. graini f. graini n. f., E. graini f. caudatricoronatum n. f. and E. graini f. caudaquadricoronatum n. f.. These species have 2-4 transversally periplasmic pellicle foldings resembling coronets or skirts in shape and 4-5 longitudinal groovelets extending posteriorly from the mid-level of the body on the left surface. These or similar characteristics had been described not in the genus Epidinium but in the genus Ophryoscolex. This fact may stem from some of the characteristics showing the phylogenetic relationship between these two genera.