portrait

Description:

Clathrulina, one of the desmothoracid protists. Traditionally classified as the heliozoa because of the star-shaped appearance of the cell, but the heliozoa have always been a rag-bag of unrelated organisms. Desmothoracids may adopt one of several forms. A ‘mature’ trophont (feeding form) is an amoeboid organism with stiffened arms. It lives in an spherical (ish) organic lorica which has large openings. The stiffened pseudopodia extend out of the openings to capture food. The central nucleus is also evident. Differential interference contrast.