Imbricatea

Detail of a small section of a colony showing the numerous individual cells within the mucus matrix. Phase contrast optics.

Thaumatomastix salina (Birch-Andersen) Beech and Moestrup, 1986. Cells are ovoid (7-12 microns x 8-15 microns), slightly compressed dorso-ventrally, and have a long flagellum 3/4-5/4 of the cell length. A short flagellum, which is rarely visible, emerges together with the long flagellum from what appears to be a very slight groove or depression located latero-anteriorly. A furrow-like structure is often noted running from the flagellar bases to the cell midline. Cells are solitary, and are most often observed attached to pieces of detritus. Cells occasionally move in a creeping motion, with the long flagellum trailing and gliding over the coverslip. In some cases cells swim freely with the long flagellum making irregular, arhythmical flicking motions. The cell cytoplasm has a granular appearance and is devoid of any kind of chloroplast, a diffuse area of a pale orange colour can often be noticed in the central part of the cell when phase contrast oil immersion optics are used. One cell was noted in an early stage of division where both flagella had replicated. Spine scales, varying in length, radiate from the entire cell surface. Flattened cells slough off their scales and scales of a second type, spineless body scales, can then be seen to be elliptical in outline.

Thaumatomastix setifera Lauterborn, 1899. Gliding heterotrophic flagellate. Cells are oval, about 14 - 17 microns long and slightly dorso-ventrally flattened. The cells have a layer of visible scales and delicate spines. A ventral groove extends from the anterior depression to the posterior end of the cell. Two flagella insert to the widely opened anterior depression on the ventral face of the cell. The anterior flagellum is about 0.6 - 1 times the cell length and beats from side to side. The posterior flagellum is about 1.2 - 1.6 times the cell length and trails. The nucleus is anteriorly located. The cells move slowly by gliding.

Thaumatomastix thomseni Tong, 1997. Oval cell, measuring 10-12.5 x 7-10microns, with one flagellum visible by light microscopy (about 1.5 times cell length) inserting into a pocket at the apex of the cell. A thin furrow arises from the flagellar pocket and runs about half way down the cell. Flagellar scales are oval, 250-310 x 165-195nm, with a ring of perforations just inside the rim. Body scales are oval (800-900 x 500-600nm) and formed from two partially fused plates with a slightly thickened central longitudinal stripe, and a oval thickening where the two plates join.

Thaumatomastix tripus (Takahashi and Hara, 1984) Beech and Moestrup, 1986. Cells are ovoid (8-15 microns x 12-21 microns) with slight dorso-ventral flattening. A long flagellum, which is slightly longer than the cell, is directed forwards and then curves back towards the posterior end. This flagellum and the shorter one emerge from a latero-anteriorly located "mouth" or flask-shaped invagination, both flagella are anchored at the base of the mouth. The cells have often a creeping motion with the long flagellum trailing and gliding over the coverslip. The cells sometimes move freely with the long flagellum flicking in an arhythmical manner. Rarely a specimen may be attached at its anterior end to pieces of detritus. A furrow can be seen in cells as a slit, bordered by trichocyst-like bodies. It originates at the mouth and continues over the ventral cell surface towards the posterior. Often the furrow appears merely as a pair of parallel lines. A nucleus with sometimes distinct nucleolus is situated just proximal to the mouth and the basal bodies. The bulk of the cytoplasm has a granular appearance and contains numerous refractile bodies (often bright red in colour) and globules of unknown composition. There are no chloroplasts. Cell cleavage is anterior to posterior.

ATCC culture 50636.

Paulinella (paul-in-ella) is a testate amoeba but this species is distinguished by the presence of (usually two) curved endosymbiotic blue green algae. The small aperture of the lorica is to the top of the image. Differential interference contrast.