ectosymbiotic bacteria

Description :

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface, but as evident here, not always adhering. With an axostyle, seen here as a dark internal structure passing over the round anterior nucleus. They may or may not have associated epibiotic bacteria. Phase contrast.