micro*scope - version 6.0

Paraphysomonas (para-fie-sew-moan-ass) a heterotrophic stramenopile (related to Ochromonas and organisms traditionally referred to as chrysophytes). It is distinguished because the body surface is coated with a fine layer of scales, although in most species (this one is an exception) the scales cannot be seen with the light microscope. There are two flagella, a long one with hairs (the hair are not visible with the light microscope) but which beats with an undulating motion and draws fluid and suspended food particles to the surface of the cell. They are voracious. Phase contrast. This picture was taken by David Patterson and Laura Katz from material maintained in culture by Laura Katz. Copyright, contact microscope@mbl.edu

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Paraphysomonas

From the collection Katz laboratory, cultures and isolates

Description of Paraphysomonas: Chrysophytes, colourless, single-celled, flagellates, either free-swimming or attached to various substrates by a thin fibrous stalk extending from cell posterior; cells Spumella-like, but characterized by the presence of siliceous scales on cell surface; structural details of scales used for species identification (resolved only by electron microscopy); scales variously shaped, e.g. plate-shaped, of a three-dimensional open meshwork structure or extended into a spine (as in P. vestita); majority of species with a single scale type per cell (species with 2 or 3 different scale types also occurring); flagella 2, unequal; no chloroplast, but presence of an internal leucoplast demonstrated for several species; at least one species (P. caelifrica Preisig et Hibberd 1982) with a peripheral eyespot-containing leucoplast in close contact with a swelling on the short flagellum; cells also containing 1-2 contractile vacuoles, food vacuoles and vacuoles with storage product (probably chrysolaminaran); feeding via phagocytosis, with bacteria and other particles engulfed near the base of the flagella; asexual reproduction by division; sexual reproduction unknown; stomatocysts observed in some species; many species in freshwater, some in brackish and marine waters. Type species: Paraphysomonas vestita (Stokes 1885) de Saedeleer 1929.

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Paraphysomonas in this collection

Paraphysomonas
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Paraphysomonas in other collections

Paraphysomonas butcheri, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Paraphysomonas corbidifera, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Paraphysomonas foraminifera, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Paraphysomonas vestita, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Paraphysomonas sp., from Protsville
Paraphysomonas butcheri, from Protsville	Paraphysomonas butcheri, from Protsville	Paraphysomonas butcheri, from Protsville	Paraphysomonas, from Micrographs of Paraphysomonas	Paraphysomonas, from Protsville drawings of freshwater protists
Paraphysomonas vestita, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Paraphysomonas vestita, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Paraphysomonas, from Athens, Georgia, USA	Paraphysomonas, from Mr Remsens barrel	Paraphysomonas, from Mr Remsens barrel
Paraphysomonas, from Athens, Georgia, USA	Paraphysomonas, from Lake Donghu, China

micro*scope - version 6.0 - March, 2006
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