Drawing

Description :

Cryothecomonas aestivalis Drebes et al., 1996. Colourless flagellates, in the free, motile stage, oblong to oval, 9-12 microns long and 4-5 microns wide, two apically inserted flagella, anteriorly directed flagellum 15 microns long, posteriorly directed flagellum up to 25 microns Feeds on the marine planktonic diatom Guinardia delicatula. Flagellate penetrates the diatom frustule. Trophonts gradually phagocytize the host cytoplasm by means of a pseudopodium, which emerges posteriorly through a gap in the theca. Theca delicate, consisting of two layers, occasionally lacking. Trophonts and division stages with shortened, in part basally thickened flagella. Mature trophonts give rise to 8-32 new flagellates (swarmers). Defecation before the last division.