micro*scope - version 6.0

Hexamita (hex-a-mite-a), a free living diplomonad flagellate. Diplomonads are so-called because most members of the group have two nuclei, and have clusters of up to 4 flagella emerging from opposing sides of the cell. They arise in grooves, which are believed to correspond to the ventral grooves of the excavate flagellates. Normally associated with anoxic habitats. Diplomonads are probably best known because one their members, Giardia, is significant as a parasite of the intestinal system, and because it is prominent in studies on the evolution of eukaryotic cells - "clinging resolutely" to the base of the eukaryotic tree as our best candidate for the most primitive eukaryote. They occur in organically enriched habitats and habitats with low levels of oxygen. They eat bacteria and may be able feed osmotrophically. Phase contrast. This picture was taken by David Patterson, Linda Amaral Zettler and Virginia Edgcomb of materials from sediments of the marine site, Eel Pond in Austumn 2000, spring and summer 2001. Image copyright: D. J. Patterson, L. Amaral-Zettler and V. Edgcomb, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).

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Hexamita

From the collection Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

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, from Plum Island, Massachusetts coast, USA	Hexamita inflata, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere
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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