portrait

Description:

Cells rounded square to oblong from the ventral side, dorso-ventrally flattened. Length 16 - 25 microns, width 13 - 26 microns, length to width ratio 0.8 - 1.8. During ingestion, cell shape distorted, becoming broader and rounder. Epicone cone shaped, with a pointed apex. Cingulum wide, approximately 2 microns, completely encircling the cell. Sulcus narrow, a straight line down the middle of the cell, becoming wider at the antapex, where it forms a notch. Short sulcal extension present on the epicone. Apical groove present, continuing from the sulcal extension to the left of the apex and then in an anticlockwise spiral around the apex. Nucleus in the centre or to the left of the hypocone, rounded. Chloroplasts not present. Different coloured food bodies/kleptochloroplasts present, including bright pale green, brown and blue-green cells. Generally very fast swimming. Non-motile cells rarely observed, round, approximately 22 microns diameter, surrounded by a hyaline layer, cingulum often still recognisable.