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Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) A very common but little studied genus of gliding flagellates, two flagella inserted one in front of the other in a shallow ventral depression near the front of the cell. One flagellum trails behind the cell, one sweeps in front of the cell. There are caps (dictyosomes?) over the nucleus and these can be seen as two lines leading away from the site of flagellar insertion. Protaspis can produce pseudopodia and may eat diatoms. This individual has starchy inclusions. Phase contrast.
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Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) A very common but little studied genus of gliding flagellates, two flagella inserted one in front of the other in a shallow ventral depression near the front of the cell. One flagellum trails behind the cell, one sweeps in front of the cell. There are caps (dictyosomes?) over the nucleus and these can be seen as two lines leading away from the site of flagellar insertion. Protaspis can produce pseudopodia and may eat diatoms. This individual has starchy inclusions. Phase contrast.
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Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) A very common but little studied genus of gliding flagellates, two flagella inserted one in front of the other in a shallow ventral depression near the front of the cell. One flagellum trails behind the cell, one sweeps in front of the cell. Protaspis can produce pseudopodia and may eat diatoms. This individual has starchy inclusions. Phase contrast.
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Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) is a medium-sized heterotrophic flagellate. Two flagella emerge close to each other from a point behind the apex of the cell and on the ventral side. The anterior flagellum is typically shorter than the posterior flagellum. The ventral side may give rise to pseudopodia which can enclose food - such as diatoms. Phase contrast microscopy.
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Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) is a medium-sized heterotrophic flagellate. Two flagella emerge close to each other from a point behind the apex of the cell and on the ventral side. The anterior flagellum is typically shorter than the posterior flagellum. The ventral side may give rise to pseudopodia which can enclose food - such as diatoms. In this image, many cells have fused into a syncitium. Phase contrast microscopy.
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Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) is a medium-sized heterotrophic flagellate. Two flagella emerge close to each other from a point behind the apex of the cell and on the ventral side. The anterior flagellum is typically shorter than the posterior flagellum. The ventral side may give rise to pseudopodia which can enclose food - such as diatoms. In this image, many cells have fused into a syncitium. DIfferential interference microscopy.
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Biflagellate protist with a ventral furrow and anterior depression from where the two flagella emerge. Species not identified. Isolated by M. Virginia Sanchez Puerta from Sippewissett Pond, Woods Hole, MA, USA. Photographed using DIC microscopy.
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Protaspis (pro-tass-piss) obliqua Larsen and Patterson, 1990. Cells are slightly oval or roundish, 8 to 32 microns long, 10 to 27 microns wide, dorso-ventrally flattened and with thickened cortex. There is a ventral median groove, cell indented anteriorly and posteriorly where the groove meets margin. Subapically, the right margin of the groove forms a protrusion. With two flagella inserting under the protrusion, the anterior flagellum is about 0.5 times the length of the cell and the posterior flagellum is about 0.5 to 1.5 times the length of the cell. The nucleus is without nuclear caps, is located subapically in a median position, is rounded and is 5 to 13 microns in diameter. The cells may contain food particles or diatom up to 24 microns long. Commonly observed.
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Protaspis obliqua Skuja, 1939. Cells are slightly oval or roundish, 8 to 32 microns long, 10 to 27 microns wide, dorso-ventrally flattened and with thickened cortex. There is a ventral median groove, cell indented anteriorly and posteriorly where the groove meets margin. Subapically, the right margin of the groove forms a protrusion. With two flagella inserting under the protrusion, the anterior flagellum is about 0.5 times the length of the cell and the posterior flagellum is about 0.5 to 1.5 times the length of the cell. The nucleus is without nuclear caps, is located subapically in a median position, is rounded and is 5 to 13 microns in diameter. The cells may contain food particles or diatom up to 24 microns long.
