Gymnamoebia: cheklist of species   Amoebae: bibliography   Useful links   Start page  

 How to identify an amoeba?   Ecology of amoebae   Atlas of Gymnamoebae  I. Thecamoebidae  
 

Deuteramoeb algonquinensis CCAP 1503/5.

Olympus BH2, DIC
Locomotive forms, floating forms and nucleus

Photo: A.Smirnov

Deuteramoeb algonquinensis CCAP 1503/5.

Mitochondria and dyctyosomes

TEM: A.Smirnov

Deuteramoeba algonquinensis Baldock, Rogerson and Berger 1983
CCAP 1503/5

  • Lentgh in locomotion up to 80 mkm. Majority of amoebae are polypodial (polytactic) under favourable conditions, with small minority orthotactic. Polytactic amoebae have few well-pronouced pseudopodia. Floating form of radial type; several thick pseudopodia of unequal lenght radiate from irregular central mass of the granuloplasm. Many paired inclusion in the cytoplasm, few bipiramidal crystals.

  • No cysts known.

  • Nucleus spherical, 7.5 - 11.5 mkm in diameter, with irregular pieces of nucleolar material, most parietal but some in interior of nucleus.

  • Surface coat looks like very fine amorphous glycocalyx. Maybe it consists of very fine, irregular filaments that cougulate under fixation. Mitochondrial heteromorphism is not known. Fibrous nuclear lamina presents (Page, 1986).

  • This relatively small species during initial examination may resemble Polychaos spp. However, unique nuclear structure among largest amoebids may help to distinguish it. TEM of the cell coat and nucleus is preferable for correct identification.

  • Freshwater, North-America. Can be maintained on CPA with Hartmannella vermiformis as a food object.

  • The type strain is available from Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa, CEH Windermere, UK.

  • Basic references for identification:
    • Baldock B.N., Rogerson A. and Berger J. 1983. A new species of freshwater amoeba: Amoeba algonquinensis n.sp. (Gymnamoebia Amoebidae). Trans. Amer. Microsc. Soc. 102: 113-121.
    • Page F.C. 1986. The genera and possible relationships of the family Amoebidae, with special attention to comparative ultrastructure. Protistologica. 22: 301-316.
    • Page F.C. 1988. A new key to freshwater and soil gymnamoebae. FBA, Ambleside. 122p.
    • Page F.C. 1991. Nackte Rhizopoda. in: Protozoenfauna, b.2. Gustav Fisher, Stuttgart. 3-172.
    Back to checklist of species
    		•