unclassified Rotosphaerida

Pompholyxophrys is a filose amoeba. Its cell surface is covered by a layer of delicate siliceous (glass-like) spheres. It has thin, delicate pseudopodia that it uses for movement. The structure to the right in the cell is its nucleus.

Portrait of Pompholyxophrys, one of the heliozoon-like amoebae previously assigned to the order Rotosphaerida. Pompholyxophrys has a periplast composed of endogenously formed siliceous elements of a single type within a species. These are spherical in the type species P. punicea but may be ovoid (see images of P. ovuligera), discoid or bone-shaped. Radiating spicules are absent. What appear at first glance to be axopodia are, in fact, filopods that lack axonemes and extrusomes. Contracted filopodia may appear granular leading to confusion but close examination of the extended filopodia shows extrusomes are absent. From standing freshwater Typha latifolia marsh near Boise, Idaho. Differential interference contrast

Pompholyxophrys (pom-folly-zoff-riss) punicea. The cytoplasm of the spherical body is colorless or reddish, often interspersed with colored granules and green or brown food particles. The outer periplast is built up from conspicuous minute colourless spherical granules (perles) arranged in concentric layers. The granules are glass like hollow spheres and arranged in concentric layers to form a compact envelope. The large nucleus is located eccentricly. The straight and pointed pseudopodia are tenuous and indistinct. Individuals are found occasionally in ponds and swamps. This specimen was collected in a bog pond near Konstanz, Germany. The outer sphere of colourless spherical perles can be seen to be lying in concentric layers. Differential interference contrast.

Pompholyxophrys (pom-folly-zoff-riss) punicea. The cytoplasm of the spherical body is colorless or reddish, often interspersed with colored granules and green or brown food particles. The outer periplast is built up from conspicuous minute colourless spherical granules (perles) arranged in concentric layers. The granules are glass like hollow spheres and arranged in concentric layers to form a compact envelope. The large nucleus is located eccentricly. The straight and pointed pseudopodia are tenuous and indistinct. Individuals are found occasionally in ponds and swamps. This specimen was collected in a bog pond near Konstanz, Germany. The focal plane on the surface of the sphere of spherical granules. Each perle measures 3-4 microns in diameter. Differential interference contrast.

Portrait of Pompholyxophrys, one of the heliozoon-like amoebae previously assigned to the Rotosphaerida. Pompholyxophrys has a periplast composed of endogenously formed siliceous elements of a single type within a species. These are spherical in the type species P. punicea but may be ovoid (see images of P. ovuligera), discoid or bone-shaped. Radiating spicules are absent. What appear at first glance to be axopodia are, in fact, filopods which lack axonemes and extrusomes. Contracted filopodia may appear granular leading to confusion but close examination of the extended filopodia shows extrusomes are absent. From standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. Differential interference contrast.

Detail of Pompholyxophrys, one of the heliozoon-like amoebae previously assigned to the order Rotosphaerida. Pompholyxophrys has a periplast composed of endogenously formed siliceous elements of a single type within a species. These are spherical in the type species P. punicea but may be ovoid (see images of P. ovuligera), discoid or bone-shaped. Radiating spicules are absent. This individual has completely retracted its filopodia. From standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. Differential interference contrast

Portrait of Pompholyxophrys, one of the heliozoon-like amoebae previously assigned to the order Rotosphaerida. Pompholyxophrys has a periplast composed of endogenously formed siliceous elements of a single type within a species. These are spherical in the type species P. punicea but may be ovoid (see images of P. ovuligera), discoid or bone-shaped. Radiating spicules are absent. What appear at first glance to be axopodia are, in fact, filopods that lack axonemes and extrusomes. Contracted filopodia may appear granular leading to confusion but close examination of the extended filopodia shows extrusomes are absent. This image shows the eccentric nucleus at approximately 12 o clock in the upper half of the cell. From standing freshwater Typha latifolia marsh near Boise, Idaho. Differential interference contrast.

Pompholyxophrys punicea is a filose amoeba, the cell body of which is surrounded by silceous perles, hollow beads with performated siliceous walls. The amoebae tend to eat detritus and algae. Has been subject of a talk-radio quiz - spell Pompholyxophrys punicea and win the glorious prize of an ICOP-X t-shirt. No-one won.

Transmission electron micrograph of a whole mount of a siliceous perle from the surface of the filose amoeba.

Scale bar indicates 25 µm. Sample from a wetland at the Pillersee (Tyrol, Austria). The image was built up using several photomicrographic frames with manual stacking technique. Images were taken using Zeiss Universal with Olympus C7070 CCD camera.Image under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA).

Pinaciophora (pin-ass-ee-off-or-a). The cytoplasm of the spherical body is colorless or reddish, often interspersed with colored granules and green or brown food particles. The outer periplast is built up from minute colourless spherical plates. The large nucleus is located eccentricly. The straight and pointed pseudopodia are tenuous and indistinct. Individuals are found occasionally in ponds and swamps. This specimen was collected in a bog pond near Konstanz, Germany. Differential interference contrast. T

Portrait of Pompholyxophrys ovuligera, one of the heliozoon-like amoebae previously assigned to the order Rotosphaerida. Pompholyxophrys has a periplast composed of endogenously formed siliceous elements of a single type within a species. These are spherical in the type species P. punicea but may be ovoid (as seen here), discoid or bone-shaped. Radiating spicules are absent. A detached (American) football-shaped scale is seen on your right in this image. What appear at first glance to be axopodia are, in fact, filopods protruding between the periplast scales. The filopods lack axonemes and extrusomes. Contracted filopodia may appear granular leading to confusion but close examination of the extended filopodia shows extrusomes are absent. This individual has been feeding on algae and diatoms. From standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho

Portrait of Pompholyxophrys ovuligera, one of the heliozoon-like amoebae. Pompholyxophrys has a periplast composed of endogenously formed siliceous elements of a single type within a species. These are spherical in the type species P. punicea but may be ovoid (as seen here), discoid or bone-shaped. Radiating spicules are absent. What appear at first glance to be axopodia are, in fact, filopods protruding between the periplast scales. The filopods lack axonemes and extrusomes. Contracted filopodia may appear granular leading to confusion but close examination of the extended filopodia shows extrusomes are absent. This individual has been feeding on algae and diatoms. From standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho.

Lithocolla globosa a filose amoeba of uncertain affinity. Stiff filopods radiate uniformly from the spherical cell, which is covered with exogenous siliceous particles. The filopods lack axonemes and extrusomes unlike heliozoa with which Lithocolla may be confused. The cytoplasm of all individuals from this sample contains numerous dark red droplets or granules, possibly lipid. Movement is accomplished by extension and withdrawal of the filopods. The genus is monospecific. From temporary rainwater pool near Boise, Idaho. Phase contrast..

Lithocolla globosa a filose amoeba of uncertain affinity. Stiff filopods radiate uniformly from the spherical cell, which is covered with exogenous siliceous particles. The filopods lack axonemes and extrusomes unlike heliozoa with which Lithocolla may be confused. The cytoplasm of all individuals from this sample contains numerous dark red droplets or granules, possibly lipid (better seen in this image). Movement is accomplished by extension and withdrawal of the filopods. From temporary rainwater pool near Boise, Idaho. Oblique illumination

Pompholyxophrys punicea Scale bar indicates 25 µm. Sample from Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil, Tyrol, Austria. Sampling date 10/2019. The image was built up using several photomicrographic frames with manual stacking technique. Images were taken using Zeiss Axioplan with Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Image under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). Place name: Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil (Tyrol, Austria) Latitude: 47.30234117 Longitude: 12.41751194 Multiebenen-Abbildung, manuell gestapelt. Der Messbalken markiert eine Länge von 25 µm. Probe aus dem Waasenmoos bei Pass Thurn Nähe Mittersil, Tirol. Datum der Aufsammlung: 10/2019. Mikrotechnik: Zeiss Axioplan, Kamera: Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). For permission to use of (high-resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.

Pompholyxophrys punicea Scale bar indicates 25 µm. Sample from Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil, Tyrol, Austria. Sampling date 10/2019. The image was built up using several photomicrographic frames with manual stacking technique. Images were taken using Zeiss Axioplan with Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Image under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). Place name: Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil (Tyrol, Austria) Latitude: 47.30234117 Longitude: 12.41751194 Multiebenen-Abbildung, manuell gestapelt. Der Messbalken markiert eine Länge von 25 µm. Probe aus dem Waasenmoos bei Pass Thurn Nähe Mittersil, Tirol. Datum der Aufsammlung: 10/2019. Mikrotechnik: Zeiss Axioplan, Kamera: Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). For permission to use of (high-resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.

Pompholyxophrys punicea Scale bar indicates 25 µm. Sample from Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil, Tyrol, Austria. Sampling date 10/2019. The image was built up using several photomicrographic frames with manual stacking technique. Images were taken using Zeiss Axioplan with Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Image under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). Place name: Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil (Tyrol, Austria) Latitude: 47.30234117 Longitude: 12.41751194 Multiebenen-Abbildung, manuell gestapelt. Der Messbalken markiert eine Länge von 25 µm. Probe aus dem Waasenmoos bei Pass Thurn Nähe Mittersil, Tirol. Datum der Aufsammlung: 10/2019. Mikrotechnik: Zeiss Axioplan, Kamera: Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). For permission to use of (high-resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.

Pompholyxophrys punicea Scale bar indicates 25 µm. Sample from Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil, Tyrol, Austria. Sampling date 10/2019. The image was built up using several photomicrographic frames with manual stacking technique. Images were taken using Zeiss Axioplan with Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Image under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). Place name: Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil (Tyrol, Austria) Latitude: 47.30234117 Longitude: 12.41751194 Multiebenen-Abbildung, manuell gestapelt. Der Messbalken markiert eine Länge von 25 µm. Probe aus dem Waasenmoos bei Pass Thurn Nähe Mittersil, Tirol. Datum der Aufsammlung: 10/2019. Mikrotechnik: Zeiss Axioplan, Kamera: Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). For permission to use of (high-resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.

Pompholyxophrys punicea Scale bar indicates 25 µm. Sample from Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil, Tyrol, Austria. Sampling date 10/2019. The image was built up using several photomicrographic frames with manual stacking technique. Images were taken using Zeiss Axioplan with Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Image under Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). Place name: Bog Waasenmoos Pass Thurn near Mittersil (Tyrol, Austria) Latitude: 47.30234117 Longitude: 12.41751194 Multiebenen-Abbildung, manuell gestapelt. Der Messbalken markiert eine Länge von 25 µm. Probe aus dem Waasenmoos bei Pass Thurn Nähe Mittersil, Tirol. Datum der Aufsammlung: 10/2019. Mikrotechnik: Zeiss Axioplan, Kamera: Olympus OM-D M5 MKII. Creative Commons License V 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA). For permission to use of (high-resolution) images please contact postmaster@protisten.de.