Spiniferomonas
Paraphysomonadaceae (ref. ID; 7657)
- Spiniferomonas abei Takahashi (ref. ID; 4878)
- Spiniferomonas bourrellyi Takahashi (ref. ID; 7657)
- Spiniferomonas coronacircumspina Wujek & Kristiansen (ref. ID; 4822)
Syn; Chrysosphaerella coronacircumspina Wujek & Kristiansen, 1977 (in Wujek et al. 1977) (ref. ID; 4822); Chrysosphaerella solitaria Preisig & Takahashi, 1978 (ref. ID; 4822)
- Spiniferomonas pectinata Stefanova & Kalina, 1992 (ref. ID; 4822 original paper)
- Spiniferomonas trioralis Takahashi (ref. ID; 4822, 7657)
Descriptions
Spiniferomonas abei is a small phototrophic flagellate with spines and plate scales. The spine length varies between 1.5-3.5 um (type material: 1.25-7.1 um; Takahashi 1973). The plate scales of Greenland specimens (1.4-1.7x0.9-1.3 um) fall within the size range (1.25-2.2x0.7-1.5 um) of the Japanese type material (Takahashi 1973, 1978), but appear slightly smaller than those encountered from Ontario, Canada (1.8x3.0; Nicholls 1981). The presence or absence of a chloroplasts in species of the genus Spiniferomonas has been controversial subject because member of this genus are almost exclusively studied as TEM whole mounts revealing only surface related morphological features (e.g. Takahashi 1973, 1978; Nicholls 1981, 1984). However, the presence of a chloroplast in the type species of the genus (S. bourrellyi) was convincingly documented by Nicholls (1985). Due to the ease by which this taxon is recognized in LM dry preparations we were able to conclusively verify the presence of a chloroplast also in this species by means of epifluorescence microscopy of the freshly prepared LM whole mounts. (ref. ID; 4878)
Measurements
Scales 0.7-1.0x1.0-1.4 um, spine 10.4 um long. (ref. ID; 7657)
Synonym
Chrysosphaerella coronacircumspina Wujek & Kristiansen, 1977 (in Wujek et al. 1977) (ref. ID; 4822); Chrysosphaerella solitaria Preisig & Takahashi, 1978 (ref. ID; 4822)
Descriptions
Cells solitary, with chloroplast covered with two types of scales. Plate-scales elliptic with marginal perforation, 3.0x1.8 um in size. Spine-scales with pulley-shaped base and straight spine with bifurcated tip, about 15 um in length. (ref. ID; 4822)
Spiniferomonas pectinata Stefanova & Kalina, 1992 (ref. ID; 4822 original paper)
Diagnosis
Cells motile, solitary living covered with two types of scales. Plate-scales irregularly elliptic with narrow rim and inconspicuous axial rib, inner scale are structure-less. Scale size: 2.2-2.7x1.0-1.7 um. Spine-scales with irregularly triangular basal parts with comb-like structure on its base. Hollow slightly bent long spine, usually with broken tip, more than 10 um long. The cell is provided with only a few spines. (ref. ID; 4822)
Comments
Spiniferomonas species are known as chloroplast bearing solitary living monads with a few long spines. Our material did not allow the observation of the characters of the genus. For that reason the classification of the new species is preliminary. S. pectinatus differs from S. trioralis Takahashi by the shape of the two types of scales. (ref. ID; 4822)
Type locality
Type material collected in Mach's basalt quarry near Semily town (Eastern Bohemia), November 1990. March and April 1991. Water temperature 0-10 degrees C, pH 6.5-8.2. (ref. ID; 4822)
Measurements
Plate scales 0.7-1.5x1.0-2.35 um, spines 7.4-13.9 um long. (ref. ID; 7657)