Actinosphaerium eichhornii

Actinosphaerium (act-in-o-sphere-ee-um) (=Echinosphaerium), one of the largest freshwater heliozoa, may measure up to 500 microns, often with outer layer being very vacuolated. Arms taper from base to tip. Multiple nuclei and nucleating sites for the arms line at the interface between the inner and outer regions of cytoplasm. Brown inclusions are food vacuoles. Phase contrast illumination.

Actinosphaerium (act-in-o-sphere-ee-um) (=Echinosphaerium), one of the largest freshwater heliozoa, may measure up to 500 microns, often with outer layer being very vacuolated. Multiple nuclei and nucleating sites for the arms line at the interface between the inner and outer regions of cytoplasm. This micrograph shows an axoneme and a nucleus - which has a round nucleolus at its centre. Differential interference contrast.

Actinosphaerium (act-in-o-sphere-ee-um) (=Echinosphaerium), one of the largest freshwater heliozoa, may measure up to 500 microns, often with outer layer being very vacuolated. Multiple nuclei and nucleating sites for the arms line at the interface between the inner and outer regions of cytoplasm. This micrograph shows an axoneme ending adjacent to a nucleus. Differential interference contrast.

Actinosphaerium (act-in-o-sphere-ee-um) (=Echinosphaerium), one of the largest freshwater heliozoa, may measure up to 500 microns, often with outer layer being very vacuolated. This group photograph shows some of the variation in size. Multiple nuclei and nucleating sites for the arms line at the interface between the inner and outer regions of cytoplasm. Yellowy zones in the centre is some food being digested - these heliozoa can consume small metazoa. Dark ground illumination.

One of the largest freshwater heliozoa, may measure up to 500 microns, often with outer layer being very vacuolated. Dark ground.

Actinosphaerium (ack-tin-o-sphere-ee-um). In contrast to the normal form of Actinosphaerium eichhorni, this (sub)species has symbiotic algae in the cytoplasm and appear green. The body of Actinosphaerium eichhorni var. viride is smaller than Actinosphaerium eichhorni. This specimen has a diameter of 173 microns.

Actinosphaerium (ack-tin-o-sphere-ee-um). In contrast to the normal form of Actinosphaerium eichhorni, this (sub)species has symbiotic algae in the cytoplasm and appear green. The symbiotic algae are arranged around the centre of the cell and are absent from the cortex. The symbiotic algae is Chlamydomonas actinosphaerii. They are able to live out of the host and can be cultivated. This specimen has a diameter of 173 microns.

Scanning electron micrographs of whole cyst of and of siliceous elements that make up the cyst wall.

Place name: Pond situated in the vicinity of Lake Constance (Germany)   Latitude: 47.734945     Longitude: 9.091097Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. DOF image.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page

Sampling date 10/2016. Scale bars indicate 100 µm (1, 2), 50 µm (3).Three frames. Cell tries to feed on a pennate diatom, but fails.Please click on < or > on the image edges or on the dots at the bottom edge of the images to browse through the slides!Place name: Pond near the Bodden Bay Schwarzer Peter, Hiddensee (German Baltic Sea)   Latitude: 54.514946     Longitude: 13.082471Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. DOF images.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page

A very small specimen is shown (appr. 100 µm in diameter) with very delicate axopodia and numerous clearly visible nuclei (see also inset in the upper right corner)Place name: Bog Dosenmoor near Neumuenster (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)   Latitude: 54.136219     Longitude: 10.026433Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus C7070WZ. DOF image.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page

Please note the curves spin near position 7 o’clock.Sampling date 5/2019.Place name: Creek in Oder valley 100 km north east of Berlin (Germany)   Latitude: 53.135032     Longitude: 14.348738Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus C7070WZ. DOF image.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page

Scale bars indicate 50 µm (1), 100 µm (2).The green type of A. eichhornii with symbiontic green algae was described by Ehrenberg as Actinophrys viridis and later on (1904) transfered to genus Actinosphaerium by Penard as  A. eichhornii var. viride.Please click on < or > on the image edges or on the dots at the bottom edge of the images to browse through the slides!First image:Sampling date 11/2007.Place name: Bog Dosenmoor near Neumuenster (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)Latitude: 54.136219     Longitude: 54.136219Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus C7070WZ.Second image:Sampling date 07/2011.Place name: Wetland at the Pillersee (Tyrol, Austria)Latitude: 47.531785     Longitude: 12.573095Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus C7070WZ.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page

Sampling date 10/2016. Scale bars indicate 100 µm (1, 2), 50 µm (3).Three frames. Cell tries to feed on a pennate diatom, but fails.Please click on < or > on the image edges or on the dots at the bottom edge of the images to browse through the slides!Place name: Pond near the Bodden Bay Schwarzer Peter, Hiddensee (German Baltic Sea)   Latitude: 54.514946     Longitude: 13.082471Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. DOF images.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page

Scale bars indicate 50 µm (1), 100 µm (2).The green type of A. eichhornii with symbiontic green algae was described by Ehrenberg as Actinophrys viridis and later on (1904) transfered to genus Actinosphaerium by Penard as  A. eichhornii var. viride.Please click on < or > on the image edges or on the dots at the bottom edge of the images to browse through the slides!First image:Sampling date 11/2007.Place name: Bog Dosenmoor near Neumuenster (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)Latitude: 54.136219     Longitude: 54.136219Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus C7070WZ.Second image:Sampling date 07/2011.Place name: Wetland at the Pillersee (Tyrol, Austria)Latitude: 47.531785     Longitude: 12.573095Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus C7070WZ.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page

Sampling date 10/2016. Scale bars indicate 100 µm (1, 2), 50 µm (3).Three frames. Cell tries to feed on a pennate diatom, but fails.Please click on < or > on the image edges or on the dots at the bottom edge of the images to browse through the slides!Place name: Pond near the Bodden Bay Schwarzer Peter, Hiddensee (German Baltic Sea)   Latitude: 54.514946     Longitude: 13.082471Microscope Zeiss Universal, camera Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. DOF images.© Wolfgang Bettighofer,images under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).For permission to use of (high resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.For further information about the image, please click here: Link to protisten.de page