portrait

Description:

Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) A very common but little studied genus of gliding flagellates, two flagella inserted one in front of the other in a shallow ventral depression near the front of the cell. One flagellum trails behind the cell, one sweeps in front of the cell. There are caps (dictyosomes?) over the nucleus and these can be seen as two lines leading away from the site of flagellar insertion. Protaspis can produce pseudopodia and may eat diatoms. This individual has starchy inclusions. Phase contrast.