Fauna of the Endobiotic Ciliates from the Rumen of the Red Deer Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758

Fauna of endobiotic ciliates of the red deer Cervus elaphus xanthopygus and of the Altai wapiti Cervus elaphus sibiricus in Asia was studied for the first time. In total, 14 species and five forms of ciliates belonging to five genera of Ophryoscolecidae and Isotrichidae were found. The species composition of endobiotic ciliates in all studied individuals of deer appeared to be rather similar. Most of the samples contained Entodinium wapiti, previously considered specific to the North American wapiti Cervus canadensis. The influence of different factors on the formation of a certain structure of communities of ciliates, endobionts of the rumen of the red deer Cervus elaphus, is discussed.