Main Content

The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Peltomonas

Peltomonas Vlk, 1942 (ref. ID; 4656, 4907)

[ref. ID; 4907]
Lattened with one anterior flagellum. (ref. ID; 4907)

[ref. ID; 5694]
Free-living heterotrophic flagellates. (ref. ID; 5694)
  1. Peltomonas haneli Ekelund & Ronn (ref. ID; 4907 original paper)
  2. Peltomonas volitans Vlk, 1942 (ref. ID; 4907)

Peltomonas haneli Ekelund & Ronn (ref. ID; 4907 original paper)

Diagnosis

Peltomonas 2-3.5 um in diameter, flagellum curved, 1-1.3 as long as cell diameter, arises from central depression. Without red stigma-like inclusion. Swimming rapidly in small jerks in zigzag line. (ref. ID; 4907)

Descriptions

Cell shaped like a flattened bowl, 2-3.5 um in diameter, circular to bluntly triangular in outline as seen from below (from bottom of bowl). Height of bowl about one third to one half of diameter, one single flagellum emerges from depression of bowl, depression often very difficult to observe because of small size and rapid movement of cell. Flagellum curved, 1 to 1.3 times cell diameter in length. Nucleus and contractile vacuole located centrally, adjacent to site where flagellum emerges. Some cells with several bodies of same size and shape as bacteria in surrounding in environment. Swims rapidly in zigzag line with small jerks, while it rotates around its anterior-posterior axis. (ref. ID; 4907)

Comments

A very small eukaryotic cell, smaller than many of the bacteria observed in the sample. Very similar to Peltomonas sp. as described by Hanel (1979) in following features: small cell size, movement, and the single flagellum arising from a depression. Although the "rolling up" of the flagellum observed by Hanel was not observed in this study, we are sure that P. haneli is conspecific with Peltomonas sp. observed by Hanel. Peltomonas volitans (Vlk, 1942) measures 5-6 um and was reported to have a red stigma-like inclusion. Peltomonas haneli appeared regularly in the soil samples. (ref. ID; 4907)

Etymology

Named in honour of Klaus Hanel. (ref. ID; 4907)

Type location

Cultivated garden soil; University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. (ref. ID; 4907)