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The World of Protozoa, Rotifera, Nematoda and Oligochaeta

Actinosphaerium

Actinosphaerium Stein, 1857

[ref. ID; 1618]
Spherical; ectoplasm consists almost entirely of large vacuoles in one or several layers; endoplasm with numerous small vacuoles; numerous nuclei; axopodia end in the inner zone of ectoplasm. (ref. ID; 1618)

[ref. ID; 1923]
No central corpuscle. Central nucleus from which the axial filaments arise. Nuclei many. (ref. ID; 1923)
  1. Actinosphaerium arachnoideum Penard, 1904 (ref. ID; 3541, 3691 original paper) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)
  2. Actinosphaerium eichorni (ref. ID; 2573, 3292)
  3. Actinosphaerium eichhornii Ehrenberg (ref. ID; 1923), eichhorni (Ehrenberg, 1840) (ref. ID; 3541) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618, 3691)
    Syn; Actinophrys eichhornii Ehrenberg, 1840 (ref. ID; 1334, 3541), eichhorni Ehrenberg, 1840 (ref. ID; 3691); Actinosphaerium eichhorni Stein, 1857 (ref. ID; 3691)
  4. Actinosphaerium eichhorni var. majus Penard, 1904 (ref. ID; 3691 original paper), eichhornii var. majus Penard (ref. ID; 1923)
  5. Actinosphaerium eichhorni var. viride Penard, 1902 (ref. ID; 3691)
  6. Actinosphaerium nucleofilum Barrett, 1958 (ref. ID; 3541) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)
  7. Actinosphaerium portuum Kufferath, 1952 (ref. ID; 3541)

Actinosphaerium arachnoideum Penard, 1904 (ref. ID; 3541, 3691 original paper) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)

Descriptions

Ectoplasm irregularly vacuolated; no distinct endoplasmic differentiation; nuclei smaller in number; pseudopodia of two kinds; one straight, very long and the other filiform, and anastomosing; fresh water. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

70-80 um in diameter. (ref. ID; 1618)

Actinosphaerium eichhornii Ehrenberg (ref. ID; 1923), eichhorni (Ehrenberg, 1840) (ref. ID; 3541) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618, 3691)

Synonym

Actinophrys eichhornii Ehrenberg, 1840 (ref. ID; 1334, 3541), eichhorni Ehrenberg, 1840 (ref. ID; 3691); Actinosphaerium eichhorni Stein, 1857 (ref. ID; 3691)

Descriptions

Numerous nuclei scattered in the periphery of endoplasm; two or more contractile vacuoles, large; axial filaments arise from a narrow zone of dense cytoplasm at the border line between endoplasm and ectoplasm; among vegetation in freshwater bodies. (ref. ID; 1618)
Protoplasm vacuolated with very large vacuoles pressed together about the periphery. Nuclei numerous, disseminated in the endoplasm near its periphery; 2 or more (up to 14) contractile vacuoles. Pseudopodia extending from all part of the body, but axial filaments ending free in the protoplasm. Habitat aquatic vegetation, in pods and lakes; not infrequent. (ref. ID; 1923)

Measurements

Body large, diameter 200-300 um, sometimes up to 1 mm.; nuclei 12-20 um in diameter. (ref. ID; 1618)
Average diameter 200-300 um. (ref. ID; 1923)

Actinosphaerium eichhorni var. majus Penard, 1904 (ref. ID; 3691 original paper), eichhornii var. majus Penard (ref. ID; 1923)

Measurements

Average diameter 600-780 and up to 1000 um. (ref. ID; 1923)

Actinosphaerium nucleofilum Barrett, 1958 (ref. ID; 3541) reported year? (ref. ID; 1618)

Descriptions

Similar to eichhorni in general appearance; nuclei are similar to that of Actinophrys sol, 4-8 um in diameter; filaments of pseudopods arise from the nuclei which are located in the peripheral zone of the endoplasm; fresh water. (ref. ID; 1618)

Measurements

Body 230-400 um in diameter. (ref. ID; 1618)