portrait
Trigonomonas (try-go-know-moan-0ass) diplomonad flagellate, a group best known because it includes Giardia, an organism relevant to public health (it causes diarrhoea) and because of its relevance to early cell evolution. Trepomonas is less common than Hexamita, and differs because there are only three flagella in each group - one of each group is long, the others are short and none trail behind the cell. Tends to move in a series of sudden turns interspersed by slow rotations. Differential interference contrast. This picture was taken by David Patterson, Linda Amaral Zettler and Virginia Edgcomb of material from the salt marsh at Little Sippewissett (Massachusetts, USA) in Autumn, 2000 and in 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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Trigonomonas
From the collection
Little Sippewissett salt marsh, Massachusetts, USA
| Description of Trigonomonas: Hexamatine diplomonads, triangular or spindle-shaped (8-30µm), often twisted spirally, with the posterior end of the body flattened; only 3 flagella are inserted at the base of each nuclei; one flagellum is longer than others and used for locomotion; cytostomal grooves extend from the flagella emergence to the posterior of the cell; moving contractile vacuole; while swimming, the cell rotates about the longitudinal axis; cysts smouth; feed osmotrophically and several species live in freshwater rich in organic matter. |
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