ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON TILE SYMBIOSIS OF TER ITOMYCES ...

Wood 19709 mid four-fifths of all known Nigerian species (Johnson
et ale 198O)e The lower termites havo symbiotic protozoa In the
hind gut which digest cellulose., The hLgher termites lack these
protozoa.
The Temitidae is the most advanced and diverse family
exhibiting a wide range of social specializations
(Krishna 1969)9
It has 4 sub-f=ilies of which one, the Macrotemitinaev has a
symbiotic relationship with Basidiomyceto fungi of the genu3
t
TemitMcen, which lives on fungus combz composed of the termites
faccal pellets within the nest systems One of the general
Sphaerotermess builds fungus combs which do not have Termitemces
associated with them. In this subfamily all the faecal material
goes Lnto the fungus combg and so the nest structure and covered
runways are made only from soLle Another distinguLahLng characterLstLc
of the Macrotermitinne In thaLr prImLtLve gut anatomy, The 13 genera
of the HacrotermitLnae are CLven belows
GENMIA OF ZOOGMGMUMICAL NUMUM OF SPECIES
MACIZOTEMITINAE REGION FOUND IN NIGERIA(l)
Acanthotermas Ethiopian I
AllodonteMes,. Ethiopian 0
Ancistrotermes Ethiopian, Oriental 3
Euscaiotermex Oriental
Hypotermes Oriental
Macrotemes Ethiopian, Oriental 5
HegaLrotemes Ethiopian I
111crotermes Ethiopian, Malagasyl Oriental >9(2)
Cdontotemes Ethiopian, Oriental >3
Protermes Ethiopian 3
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21.