Discosea

Platyamoeba (platte-ee-a-me-ba) is a naked lobose amoeba which typically advances with a single broad pseudopodium (i.e. is monopodial). Contractile vacuole to the right, and posterior uroid. Phase contrast.

Platyamoeba (platte-ee-a-me-ba) is a naked lobose amoeba which typically advances with a single broad pseudopodium (i.e. is monopodial). Nucleus with nucleolus to the right, contractile vacuole tucked into the posterior uroid. Phase contrast.

Platyamoeba (platte-ee-a-me-ba) is a naked lobose amoeba which typically advances with a single broad pseudopodium (i.e. is monopodial). Group shot with cysts. Phase contrast.

Platyamoeba (platte-ee-a-me-ba) is a naked lobose amoeba which typically advances with a single broad pseudopodium (i.e. is monopodial). Contractile vacuole to the right anterior, and posterior uroid. Phase contrast.

Phase contrast.

Clydonella (clyde-on-ell-a), s small free-living naked amoeba, typically moves with a single progressing pseudopodium . Pseudopodium with relatively large hyaline zone which may have a slightly undulating appearance. Phase contrast micrograph.

Lingulamoeba (ling-you-la-me-ba) is a naked lobose amoeba, typically monopodial (producing a single progressing pseudopodium). The hyaline cap is often very extensive and may develop distinctive ridges. Phase contrast.

Lingulamoeba (ling-you-la-me-ba) is a naked lobose amoeba, typically monopodial (producing a single progressing pseudopodium). The hyaline cap is often very extensive and may develop distinctive ridges. Phase contrast.

Lingulamoeba (ling-you-la-me-ba) is a naked lobose amoeba, typically monopodial (producing a single progressing pseudopodium). The hyaline cap is often very extensive and may develop distinctive ridges. Phase contrast.

Thecamoeba (theek-a-me-ba) a naked amoeba, in which the surface seems relatively thick and stiff and is often thrown into folds (not visible here). Hyaline regions are the clear areas upper left and right. Phase contrast. Material from Nymph Creek and Nymph Lake, thermal sites in Yellowstone National Park, photograph by Kathy Sheehan and David Patterson.

Thecamoeba (theek-a-me-ba) naked amoeba, moves forward as if a single pseudopodium, typically with broad hyaline zone at the front end, and distinguished by having longitudinal folds on the body. Phase contrast micrograph.

Thecamoeba is a naked amoeba with a relatively stiff surface. This one, found in Obsidian Creek, has long, extended pseudopodia that are used to trap food. The round structure towards the back of the cell is the contractile vacuole that helps to control the water content of the cell. Anterior to the contractile vacuole is the nucleus with a large nucleolus.

Thecamoeba, a flattened naked amoeba with a cell covering of thick mucoprotein, which is thrown up into longitudinal folds. Locomotion is monopodial. The broadly rounded pseudopod has a prominent hyaline cap. Crystalline cytoplasmic inclusions and a large posterior contractile vacuole are seen in this image. The morphology of the nucleus, important for species identification, is not well seen here. From fresh water pond near Boise, Idaho. Phase contrast.

Acanthamoeba (a-can-tha-me-ba), collection of cysts. Irregular shape of cyst wall and with pores is characteristics of this and closely related genera. Differential interference contrast.

Acanthamoeba (a-can-tha-me-ba), fine extensions are referred to as subpseudopodia, because they emerge from the hyaline cap. Anterior is to north. Nucleus with dark nucleolus is in the centre of the cell. Large vacuole near base of cell is the contractile vacuole. Phase contrast.

Acanthamoeba (a-can-tha-me-ba), detail of hyaline cap with subpseudopodia. Nucleus also evident. Differential interference contrast.

Protacanthamoeba (prote-a-can-tha-me-ba), free-living lobose amoeba with extensive hyaline zone and fine subpseudopodia arising from the margins of the cell. Trophic cells and cysts, contractile vacuole and nuclei visible in both. Phase contrast.

Balamuthia (bah-lah-moo-thee-a) is an amoeba which was first isolated as an infectious agent of primate (not human) brains. Irregular appearance. Differential interference contrast.

Balamuthia (bah-lah-moo-thee-a) is an amoeba which was first isolated as an infectious agent of primate (not human) brains. Irregular appearance. This image shows various cysts. Differential interference contrast.