portrait

Description:

Amastigomonas (a-ma-stig-o-moan-ass), one of two genera of apusomonad flagellates. Extremely common and widespread. Moves by gliding with one projecting flagellum and one flagellum trailing under the cell (just visible in a lighter groove in the posterior right half of the cell). Apusomonads are distinguished by having the dorsal surface of the cell covered by a thick layer or theca. this extends around the base of the anterior flagellum (the edges of it are visible in the image as two lines on either side of the flagellum. The anterior flagellum is acronematic - the tip region is much narrower than the rest. Eats bacteria and detritus. From marine and freshwater habitats, mostly in sediments but associated with almost all submerged surfaces.