Cercozoans

Clautriavia (claw-tree-ave-ee-a) cavus Lee and Patterson, 2000. Cell outline is oval to oblong. Cells are 7.5 to 10 microns long, flattened and rigid. One flagellum directed posteriorly emerges from a ventral subapical depression, is about 1.5 to 2 times the length of the cell and makes close contact with the substrate when the cell is gliding. The cells have a shallow, wide ventral groove, which is easy to overlook. The ventral face of the cell appears to be slightly concave. The cell surface may be rather warty and food particles are seen in the posterior part of the cell. The cells glide slowly and smoothly with the posterior part slightly raised above the substrate. Often observed, but not in large numbers. Rarely observed.

Clautriavia cavus Lee and Patterson, 2000. Cell outline is oval to oblong. Cells are 7.5 to 10 microns long, flattened and rigid. One flagellum directed posteriorly emerges from a ventral subapical depression, is about 1.5 to 2 times the length of the cell and makes close contact with the substrate when the cell is gliding. The cells have a shallow, wide ventral groove, which is easy to overlook. The ventral face of the cell appears to be slightly concave. The cell surface may be rather warty and food particles are seen in the posterior part of the cell. The cells glide slowly and smoothly with the posterior part slightly raised above the substrate. Often observed, but not in large numbers.

Allantion (a-lant-ee-on) rarely reported gliding flagellate from soils. With one long flagellum and one very short flagellum. Body elliptical. Phase contrast.

Allantion tachyploon Sandon, 1924. Cells are 7-8.5x3.5 microns, cylindrical with rounded ends. A single trailing flagellum inserts sub-apically in a small depression. Cells glide swiftly with the whole of the flagellum in contact with the substrate, but with most of the posterior part of the cell raised above the surface. Gliding is sometimes interspersed by periods of a waggling movement. Cells may swim short distances, with rotation about the longitudinal axis, and the flagellum trailing behind

Allas (a-lass) rarely reported gliding flagellate from soils, rounded body, two flagella. Nuclear region is the light area in the centre of the cell. Contractile vacuole (usually there are two) near the point of flagellar insertion. Phase contrast.

Allas (a-lass), rarely reported gliding flagellate from soils, dividing. Division in most flagellates begins with a doubling of the n umber of flagella, and then a division furrow splits the cell longitudinally. Contractile vacuoles (usually there are two per cell) are the clear inclusions near the point of flagellar insertion. Phase contrast.

Allas (a-lass), rarely reported gliding flagellate from soils, rounded body, two flagella. Group of cells. Phase contrast.

Bodomorpha (bow-dough-more-fa) is a small cercomonad flagellate, virtually indistinguishable from Heteromita, although said to ingest food with pseudopodia formed posteriorly. With two flagella inserting subapically. Mostly from freshwater and soil. Phase contrast micrograph.

Bodomorpha minima Hollande, 1942. Cells are oval or globular in shape, 4-5 microns long, 3-4 microns wide. Not metabolic. As in Bodo, it has a small rostrum in the anterior end, behind which two flagella insert. The posterior flagellum trails posteriorly, while the active flagellum bends slightly ventrally.

Cryothecomonas (cry-oh-theek-oh-moan-ass) is a medium-sized heterotrophic flagellate with two similar flagella emerging from a point just behind the apex of the cell. The ventral surface is grooved (and this causes a slight indentation at the front of the cell). Pseudopodia may arise from the ventral groove. They consume diatoms and other detritus. DIfferential interference microscopy.

Cryothecomonas (cry-oh-theek-oh-moan-ass) is a medium-sized heterotrophic flagellate with two similar flagella emerging from a point just behind the apex of the cell. The ventral surface is grooved (and this causes a slight indentation at the front of the cell). Pseudopodia may arise from the ventral groove. They consume diatoms and other detritus. Phase contrast microscopy.

Cryothecomonas (cry-oh-theek-oh-moan-ass) is a medium-sized heterotrophic flagellate with two similar flagella emerging from a point just behind the apex of the cell. The ventral surface is grooved (and this causes a slight indentation at the front of the cell). Pseudopodia may arise from the ventral groove. They consume diatoms and other detritus. Phase contrast microscopy.

Cryothecomonas aestivalis Drebes et al., 1996. Colourless flagellates, in the free, motile stage, oblong to oval, 9-12 microns long and 4-5 microns wide, two apically inserted flagella, anteriorly directed flagellum 15 microns long, posteriorly directed flagellum up to 25 microns Feeds on the marine planktonic diatom Guinardia delicatula. Flagellate penetrates the diatom frustule. Trophonts gradually phagocytize the host cytoplasm by means of a pseudopodium, which emerges posteriorly through a gap in the theca. Theca delicate, consisting of two layers, occasionally lacking. Trophonts and division stages with shortened, in part basally thickened flagella. Mature trophonts give rise to 8-32 new flagellates (swarmers). Defecation before the last division.

Discocelis (disco-see-liss) saleuta V+rs, 1988. Cells are about 3.5 - 6.5 microns long, disc-shaped, flattened, anteriorly concave and posteriorly convex. Two flagella emerge from a depression on the anterior margin of the cell. The recurrent flagellum trails behind the gliding cell and is slightly longer than the cell. The shorter flagellum is less than 1 microns long, is hard to see and is inactive. The nucleus is located anteriorly in the right half of the cell. There is a line of bodies around the margin of the cell. The cells glide smoothly in closely contact with the substrate.

Discocelis saleuta Voers, 1988. Cells are about 3.5 - 6.5 microns long, disc-shaped, flattened, anteriorly concave and posteriorly convex. Two flagella emerge from a depression on the anterior margin of the cell. The recurrent flagellum trails behind the gliding cell and is slightly longer than the cell. The shorter flagellum is less than 1 microns long, is hard to see and is inactive. The nucleus is located anteriorly in the right half of the cell. The cells glide smoothly in closely contact with the substrate.

Small gliding flagellate with one long trailing flagellum and one short one. Phase contrast microscopy.

Kiitoksia kaloista Tong et al., 1997. Small spherical gliding cells with a near spherical body measuring 2- 4 microns in diameter. Two flagella insert about a third of the way up the cell and are directed backwards during gliding. One flagellum is about twice the cell length. The other is about half the cell length or shorter. The short flagellum is difficult to see using light microscopy and could possibly be overlooked. Gliding is smooth, with the cell and long flagellum applied to the substratum. Cells sometimes waggle slightly from side to side.

Kiitoksia (kee-tox-ee-a) is a very small gliding flagellate with a rounded cell body and a single long flagellum which trails behind the gliding cell. From marine habitats. Two species - Kiitoksia ystava and K. kaloista (which in Finnish means, - Thank you my old friend, and - Thank you for the fish. Phase contrast.

Kiitoksia ystava V+rs, 1992. Cell circular or slightly reniform, 2-3 microns A single flagellum, about twice cell length, inserts into a small dent to one side of the posterior surface. A fine hair-like portion is sometimes seen at the distal end of the flagellum. Cells glide rapidly and jerkily, with the cell nodding up and down from the surface. Seen occasionally in cultures, associated with detrital flocs.