Goniomonas is a genus of Cryptomonads and contains five species.[2] It is a genus of single-celled eukaryotes, including both freshwater and marine species.[2] It lacks plastids, which is very unusual among all of the Cryptophyte genera.[2] It may reflect one of only a small number of times that the Cryptophytes evolved into freshwater habitats.[3] Goniomonas seems to have a number of freshwater relatives which have not yet been cultured and named.
Goniomonas means angled small flagellates, combining goni and monas.[4][5]
It was established by German biologist Samuel Friedrich Stein in 1878.[2]
This genus contains species that are free-swimming, flattened, biflagellate monads. They are oval in lateral view with an obliquely truncate anterior.[2] A furrow extends along the middle of the anterior margin and for a short distance down the ventral margin and is surrounded by a single lateral row of ejectisomes.[2] Chloroplasts, pyrenoids, nucleomorphs and starch are absent.[2] They have periplast with longitudinal striations visible in all species.[2] And, Goniomonas is the only Cryptomonad so far examined that does not possess a plastidial complex, and is therefore considered primitive among Cryptophytes. Other Cryptophytes have bipartite tubular flagellar hairs, whereas Goniomonas has solid spike-like flagellar projections. The furrow-gullet system of Goniomonas is located on the anterior of the cell rather than the usual ventral location.[2]
Cyst production is not known in this genus.[2]
The genus is well known in freshwater habitats with a cosmopolitan distribution, but is rarely abundant.[6] It is also present in marine waters.[7] The temperatures and specific depths suitable for the species are not recorded.
Only one freshwater and two marine species have been extensively described so far.[8] Marine species are G. pacifica and G. amphinema, while G. truncata is a freshwater species.[3] Although the two marine species are morphologically quite distinct from each other, it was unclear until recently whether one of them, G. pacifica, is really separate from the freshwater G. truncata because their morphology and size are similar. Results reveal remarkable genetic diversity within all three nominal species and confirm that G. pacifica is genetically very distinct from G. truncata. [3] Scientists suggest that if further studied, Goniomonads might turn out to have as many ‘species’ as Cryptophytes.[2] They reproduce by asexual reproduction as current research concludes.[2] Further studies can focus on whether Goniomonads are sexual. And, it is still to determine whether the biological species concept can be applied to them.[3]
The following is a list of species.[2]
Goniomonas is a genus of Cryptomonads and contains five species. It is a genus of single-celled eukaryotes, including both freshwater and marine species. It lacks plastids, which is very unusual among all of the Cryptophyte genera. It may reflect one of only a small number of times that the Cryptophytes evolved into freshwater habitats. Goniomonas seems to have a number of freshwater relatives which have not yet been cultured and named.
Goniomonadales es un grupo de protistas de agua dulce o marinos clasificados en Cryptophyta, que incluye solamente el género Goniomonas. A diferencia de otras criptofíceas, que presentan cloroplastos o leucoplastos, estos organismos carecen totalmente de plastos. Presentan un citostoma y una citofaringe y se alimentan de bacterias por fagotrofia. Otras criptofíceas pueden ingerir bacterias, pero no presentan citostoma, por lo que aparentemente entran en la célula a través de la vacuola contráctil. Goniomonas no nada en la columna de agua, sino que se desliza sobre el sustrato en busca de bacterias.[1]
Goniomonas incluye tanto especies marinas como de agua dulce y puede representar una de entre varias ocasiones en las que las criptofitas colonizaron los hábitats de agua dulce.[2] El género parece estar relacionado con varios organismos presentes en agua dulce que todavía no han podido ser cultivados, conocido como el clado CRY1.[2]
Goniomonadales es un grupo de protistas de agua dulce o marinos clasificados en Cryptophyta, que incluye solamente el género Goniomonas. A diferencia de otras criptofíceas, que presentan cloroplastos o leucoplastos, estos organismos carecen totalmente de plastos. Presentan un citostoma y una citofaringe y se alimentan de bacterias por fagotrofia. Otras criptofíceas pueden ingerir bacterias, pero no presentan citostoma, por lo que aparentemente entran en la célula a través de la vacuola contráctil. Goniomonas no nada en la columna de agua, sino que se desliza sobre el sustrato en busca de bacterias.
Goniomonas incluye tanto especies marinas como de agua dulce y puede representar una de entre varias ocasiones en las que las criptofitas colonizaron los hábitats de agua dulce. El género parece estar relacionado con varios organismos presentes en agua dulce que todavía no han podido ser cultivados, conocido como el clado CRY1.
Goniomonas est un genre d'algues unicellulaires cryptophytes se nourrissant par phagocytose de proies (par exemple d'autres eucaryotes unicellulaires). Ils se distinguent par leur absence de plaste.
Il existe une relation de groupe frère entre les espèces marines et les espèces d'eau douce.
Selon NCBI (22 nov. 2011)[1] et World Register of Marine Species (22 nov. 2011)[2] :
Goniomonas est un genre d'algues unicellulaires cryptophytes se nourrissant par phagocytose de proies (par exemple d'autres eucaryotes unicellulaires). Ils se distinguent par leur absence de plaste.
Il existe une relation de groupe frère entre les espèces marines et les espèces d'eau douce.