Description of Paraphysomonas foraminifera
provided by BioPedia
Motile cells, ovoid to subovoid 3.8 microns (range 3.1-4.4 microns) in diameter. Two unequal flagella, the longer 3-5 times the body diameter in length and bearing hairs approximately 1.5 microns long, these having terminal filaments 0.3-0.5 microns in length (the hairs are not visible by light microscopy); the shorter smooth and equal in length to the body diameter, coating of scales thin but with numerous scales observable only with the electron microscope, each scale consisting of a disc approximately 1 microns (0.97-1.12 microns) in diameter, perforated by about eight concentric rings of pores and with a central spine 1.5 microns (1.46-1.63 microns) in length. The spine is approximately 0.06 microns in diameter for 1/3 to1/2 of its length and then gradually tapers to a point. Cell uninucleate without a stigma or chloroplasts and containing oil and leucosin as storage materials. Nutrition phagotrophic. Asexual reproduction by simple fission into daughter cells of equal or unequal size.
