Peranemidae

Urceolus, a colorless phagotrophic euglenid flagellate. The cell is flask-shaped and flexible with visible pellicular striations (obscured in some species by adhering particles). There is a flared collar anteriorly surrounding the cytostome. There is a long thick emergent flagellum which is most active at the tip as seen in Peranema. An ingestion apparatus composed of two rods is present although not visible in these images. The posteriorly located nucleus is visible. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Oblique illumination.

Urceolus, a colorless phagotrophic euglenid flagellate. The cell is flask-shaped and flexible with visible pellicular striations (obscured in some species by adhering particles). There is a flared collar anteriorly surrounding the cytostome. There is a long thick emergent flagellum, which is most active at the tip as seen in Peranema. An ingestion apparatus composed of two rods is present although not visible in these images. The posteriorly located nucleus is visible. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Oblique illumination.

Urceolus cyclostomus (Stein, 1878) Mereschkowsky, 1878. Cells bottle or wide spindle-form, 26-50 x 17-30 microns Diaphragm spiral touched. Flagellum somewhat longer than the cell.

Urceolus pascheri Skvorzow, 1924. Cells oval, 11.1-18.5 x 5-14.8 microns, numerous grains of sand adhere to body. Flagellum about cell length or somewhat longer.

Urceolus costatus (Stein, 1878) Lemmermann, 1910. Cells are ovate, about 40 - 48 microns long, flexible and with an ingestion organelle with two well developed rods. The collar on the anterior part of the cell is less than 10 microns diameter. The posterior end of the cell is rounded. The cells have strong widely spaced striations. There is one emergent flagellum, which is about the cell length. A lot of food materials and diatoms about 20 microns are present. The position of the nucleus is variable. The cells move by squirming and gliding.

Dinema (die-knee-ma) platysomum (Skuja, 1939) Lee and Patterson, 2000. Cells are elliptical, 20 to 32 microns long, flattened and flexible. There are about 20 pellicular striations on ventral and dorsal faces of the cell. The ventral striations are more distinct than the dorsal ones. The two flagella are unequal in length. The anterior flagellum is slightly thickened, is about 1.2 times the length of the cell and sweeps from side to side. The trailing posterior flagellum is thicker and is most strongly developed proximally. It lies in a ventral groove and is about 2 to 2.5 times the length of the cell. The flagellar pocket is located in the left side of the cell and the large elliptical nucleus is located on the right half in the middle of the cell. The chisel-shaped ingestion apparatus may be easily seen. The cells occasionally stop and jerk when changing direction and then move again. The cells contained diatoms as food. Rarely observed.

Dinema platysomum (Skuja, 1939) Lee and Patterson, 2000. Cells are elliptical, 20 to 32 microns long, flattened and flexible. There are about 20 pellicular striations on ventral and dorsal faces of the cell. The ventral striations are more distinct than the dorsal ones. The two flagella are unequal in length. The anterior flagellum is slightly thickened, is about 1.2 times the length of the cell and sweeps from side to side. The trailing posterior flagellum is thicker and is most strongly developed proximally. It lies in a ventral groove and is about 2 to 2.5 times the length of the cell. The flagellar pocket is located in the left side of the cell and the large elliptical nucleus is located on the right half in the middle of the cell. The wedge-shaped ingestion apparatus may be easily seen. The cells occasionally stop and jerk when changing direction and then move again. The cells contained diatoms as food.

Dinema platysomum. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Dinema platysomum. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Dinema griseolum Perty Cells elongated, with rounded ends, 76-80 microns long, 30-40 microns Anterior flagellum about cell length and posterior flagellum about 1.5 times cell length.