flagella
Cryothecomonas (cry-oh-theek-oh-moan-ass) is a medium-sized heterotrophic flagellate with two similar flagella emerging from a point just behind the apex of the cell. The ventral surface is grooved (and this causes a slight indentation at the front of the cell). Pseudopodia may arise from the ventral groove. They consume diatoms and other detritus. Phase contrast microscopy. This image was taken by Dawn Moran and David Patterson from cultures and samples collected from the Ross Sea in Antarctica by Rebecca Gast. Image copyright: Dawn Moran and D. J. Patterson, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).
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Cryothecomonas
From the collection
Ross Sea, Antarctica
| Description of Cryothecomonas: Circumscription: Biflagellated heterotrophic flagellate moving by swimming or gliding, with one anteriorly directed and one posteriorly directed flagellum, body surface coated in delicate theca except at site of emergence of flagella and in area of food ingestion. Theca not visible by light microscopy. Feeding by ingestion by ventral face of body often involving pseudopodia. Ultrastructural identity: Mitochondria with tubular cristate, two flagella inserting as inclined basal bodies interconnected by a striated band, giving rise to several microtubular arrays, one of which links basal bodies to nucleus, transition zone with constriction, cell with dictyosomes and osmiophilic bodies. Cell surface with thin organic coating. During mitosis, the nuclear envelope disintegrates, spindle microtubules arise from basal bodies. Synapomorphy: Not specified-this is a tubulocristate flagellate with body enclosed by delicate mucoid theca and a large ventral groove, but neither feature is unique to this taxon. Composition: One genus, several species. |
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