micro*scope - version 6.0

Hexamita (hex-a-mite-a), a free living diplomonad flagellate. With two sets of four flagella (in each set) inserting near the front of the cell. Three of the flagella are visible on the right side, and bits of all four on the right. Normally associated with anoxic habitats. Phase contrast. This picture was taken by David Patterson of material from Limulus-ridden sediments at Plum Island (Massachusetts USA) in spring and summer, 2001. Image copyright: D. J. Patterson, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).

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Hexamita

From the collection Plum Island, Massachusetts coast, USA

Description of Hexamita: Hexamatine diplomonad flagellates, oval or pyriform cell body (6-35µm), truncated or tapered posteriorly, bearing 6 anterior locomotory flagella and 2 posterior trailing ones; 2 rounded nuclei closely apposed each other at the anterior end; recurrent flagella traverse the cell to emerge posteriorly as trailing flagella and lie in longitudinal canals which open posteriorly forming 2 apertures which are the cytostomes of the cell; many species live in freshwater and saltwater rich in organic matter and bacteria, preferring low oxygen sites; form cysts; parasitic species occur in insects, in oysters, in salmonid fishes, in the cloaca of reptiles, in the coecum of rodents, in monkeys H. pitheci etc. but parasitic Hexamita species and Spironucleus species are difficult to distinguish.

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Hexamita in other collections

Hexamita inflata, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Hexamita inflata, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Hexamita inflata, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	Hexamita pusillus, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	Hexamita inflata, from Drawings of flagellates
Hexamita, from Drawings by Guy Brugerolle	Hexamita, from Protsville drawings of freshwater protists	Hexamita, from Little Sippewissett salt marsh, Massachusetts, USA	Hexamita inflata, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Hexamita, from Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts
Hexamita, from Little Sippewissett salt marsh, Massachusetts, USA	Hexamita inflata, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Hexamita inflata, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Hexamita, from Little Sippewissett salt marsh, Massachusetts, USA	Hexamita inflata, from Heterotrophic flagellates of Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia

micro*scope - version 6.0 - March, 2006
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