unidentified arachhnulid

Description:

Vampyrellid filose amoeba. Unidentified, but because it has fine pseudopodia, granular cytoplasm and a tinge of yellow or orange colour it is identified as a vampyrellid amoeba - amoebae which are associated with feeding on fungi and algae in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems respectively. The terrestrial fungivorous taxa are usually assigned to Arachnula, and the freshwater algivorous species to Vampyrella. Both genera are reported to attach to the outside of their prey, to cut little trap doors in the surrounding walls, and they then throw away the trapdoors before consuming the cytoplasm that then flows out. They have been argued to have potential in controlling some plant pathogenic fungal disorders. Phase contrast.