micro*scope - version 6.0

Mastigamoeba (massed-ig-a-me-ba) One of about 5 genera of pelobionts. These organisms are unusual in lacking mitochondria, dictyosomes and were for some time regarded as the most primitive of all eukaryotes. Most species which have been studied can adopt a variety of morphologies - including flagellates, amoebae, and cysts. The flagellates typically have one very long flagellum which beats in a fairly ineffectual fashion - and mostly progress by gliding. Body of cell most usually adopts an amoeboid form - such as that illustrated here. Typically found in habitats with little or no oxygen. Phase contrast. This picture was taken by David Patterson and Mark Farmer of material from freshwater sites in the vicinity of the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, USA) in April, 2001 and from collections of organisms maintained at the University. Image copyright: D. J. Patterson and Mark Farmer, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).

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Mastigamoeba

From the collection Athens, Georgia, USA

Description of Mastigamoeba: Amoeboid cells with a flagellated basal body located immediately adjacent to the anterior nucleus. The nucleus may be pulled out anteriorly to have a conical appearance. The connection may be seen with the light microscope. The flagellum is long and directed forward, the pseudopodia are simple, branched, or absent. The cells may swim or glide. Life cycles may include amoeboid organisms, multinucleated cells, or cysts. Electron-microscopical studies have shown that a cone of microtubules connects the short basal body to the nucleus and that there is a ribbon of microtubules extending from the basal body into the cytoplasm. The flagellum has the conventional 9+2 arrangement of microtubules within the axoneme, but variations on the normal organization of the basal body have been reported. The monotypic genus Phreatamoeba was erected by Chavez et al. (1986) for organisms with a complex life cycle. Phreatamoeba cannot be distinguished from Mastigamoeba and thus is a synonym of Mastigamoeba. Dinamoeba mirabilis Leidy, 1874, the type species of that genus, also appears to be an incomplete description of Mastigamoeba aspera (Simpson et al., 1997). With about 40 nominal species, many of which will prove to be incomplete descriptions of other species. Type species: Mastigamoeba aspera Schulze, 1875.

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Mastigamoeba in this collection

Mastigamoeba
portrait, long flagellum

Mastigamoeba in other collections

Dimastigamoeba vorax, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba aspera, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba constans, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba invertens, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba limax, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats
Mastigamoeba longifilum, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba psammobia, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba punctachora, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba schizophrenia, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba simplex, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats
Mastigamoeba socialis, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Mastigamoeba aspera, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	Mastigamoeba invertans, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	Mastigamoeba limax, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	Mastigamoeba ramulosa, from Protozoan biomonitors in China
Mastigamoeba reptans, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	mastigamoebae, from Microbes of Convict Lake	Mastigamoeba, from Microbes of Convict Lake	Mastigamoeba, from Microbes of Mammoth Lake	Trimastigamoeba, from Drawings of heterolobosea
Mastigamoeba psammobia, from Drawings of flagellates	Mastigamoeba simplex, from Drawings of flagellates	Mastigamoeba, from Drawings by Guy Brugerolle	Mastigamoeba aspera, from Freshwater protists of ponds and sphagnum near Frankfurt, Germany	Mastigamoeba balamuthi, from Eutree - voucher materials
Mastigamoeba balamuthi, from Eutree - voucher materials	Mastigamoeba, from Protsville drawings of freshwater protists	Mastigamoeba, from Eel Pond, Woods Hole, Massachusetts	Mastigamoeba invertens, from American Type Culture Collection	Mastigamoeba psammobia, from Heterotrophic flagellates of Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia
Mastigamoeba simplex, from Heterotrophic flagellates of Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia

micro*scope - version 6.0 - March, 2006
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