Drawing

Description:

Paraphysomonas foraminifera Lucas, 1967. Motile cells, ovoid to subovoid 3.8 microns (range 3.1-4.4 microns) in diameter. Two unequal flagella, the longer 3-5 times the body diameter in length and bearing hairs approximately 1.5 microns long, these having terminal filaments 0.3-0.5 microns in length (the hairs are not visible by light microscopy), the shorter smooth and equal in length to the body diameter, coating of scales thin but with numerous scales observable only with the electron microscope, each scale consisting of a disc approximately 1 microns (0.97-1.12 microns) in diameter, perforated by about eight concentric rings of pores and with a central spine 1.5 microns (1.46-1.63 microns) in length. The spine is approximately 0.06 microns in diameter for 1/3 to1/2 of its length and then gradually tapers to a point. Cell uninucleate without a stigma or chloroplasts and containing oil and leucosin as storage materials. Nutrition phagotrophic. Asexual reproduction by simple fission into daughter cells of equal or unequal size.