Cryptophyceae

Leucocryptos marina (Braarud, 1935) Butcher, 1967. Cells are 5-7 x 10-20 microns Asymmetrical, droplet-shaped cell with two thick, subequal flagella, about as long as the cell and inseted subapically. One or two, ventral and longitudinal rows of 1-5 large extrusomes are visible in the light microscope. There is a central nucleus. When swimming one flagellum coils around the anterior, while the other trails. The flagellate is propelled rapidly forwards, spiraling around its axis.

Chilomonas (kai-low-moan-ass), one of the two genera of cryptomonad flagellates which do not have chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically (the dent near the front of the cell is where is opens). Cytoplasm with large numbers of polysaccharide granules. Differential Interference Contrast.

Chilomonas (kai-low-moan-ass), one of the two genera of cryptomonad flagellates which do not have chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically (the dent near the front of the cell is where is opens). Special extrusomes (ejectisomes) form a little cluster around the flagellar pocket (the pocket can not be seen). Cytoplasm with large numbers of polysaccharide granules. This cell slightly distorted. Differential Interference Contrast.

Chilomonas (kai-low-moan-ass), one of the two genera of cryptomonad flagellates which do not have chloroplasts. There are two flagella which insert into a groove which opens subapically - the flagella can be seen here as the two dark filaments emerging from the anterior (top) of the cell. Cytoplasm with large numbers of polysaccharide granules. Phase contrast.

Chilomonas paramecium Ehrenberg, 1831. Colourless cryptomonads, with stiff elongate-ovate body, 19 to 30 microns long. Two subequal flagella, shorter than the length of the body, insert in an anterior pocket which is surrounded by rows of extrusomes. Small extrusomes are also visible under the cell membrane. The nucleus is located posteriorly to the pocket. A contractile vacuole is located anteriorly and empties into the pocket. Cells contain refractile storage products and often two refractile Maupas bodies. Cells rotate while swimming, and can also swim backwards.

Chilomonas, a colourless (but lecuoplastidic) cryptomonad. The body shape of most cryptomonads is similar, rounded or pointed posteriorly, perhaps with a very slight twist, widest just subapically. There are two flagella which insert into a subapical pocket. The pocket is lined with explosive extrusomes (the type in cryptomonads is called ejectisome), and small extrusomes also lie under the body surface. Body often with abundant polysaccharide materials. This species can form vast numbers - usually in organically enriched low oxygen conditions. Differential interference contrast.

Chilomonas amygdalum Kent, 1880. Colourless cryptomonads, with stiff elongate-ovate body, almond-shaped, somewhat curved towards the ventral aspect, from three to four times as long as broad, flagella subequal, longer than the cell, endoplasm transparent, granular. Length 12.7 microns

Goniomonas (go-knee-o-moan-ass) is one of two genera of cryptomonads without chloroplasts. The other is Chilomonas. Goniomonas (also incorrectly called Cyathomonas in some of the literature) is unlike all other cryptomonads because it is primitively aplastidic, and because there is no deep pocket inside the cell. The homologue is located running parallel to the front margin of the cell, and is associated with a line of extrusiible bodies. With two flagella emerging from one anterior corner of the cell. Very flattened. Common but small. Differential interference contrast.

Goniomonas (go-knee-o-moan-ass) is one of two genera of cryptomonads without chloroplasts. The other is Chilomonas. Goniomonas (also incorrectly called Cyathomonas in some of the literature) is unlike all other cryptomonads because it is primitively aplastidic, and because there is no deep pocket inside the cell. The homologue is located running parallel to the front margin of the cell, and is associated with a line of extrusiible bodies. With two flagella emerging from one anterior corner of the cell. Flattened. This individual is ingesting a bacterium. Phase contrast.

Goniomonas (go-knee-o-moan-ass) is one of two genera of cryptomonads without chloroplasts. The other is Chilomonas. Goniomonas (also incorrectly called Cyathomonas in some of the literature) is unlike all other cryptomonads because it is primitively aplastidic, and because there is no deep pocket inside the cell. The homologue is located running parallel to the front margin of the cell, and is associated with a line of extrusiible bodies. With two flagella emerging from one anterior corner of the cell. Very flattened. Common but small. Phase contrast.

Goniomonas (go-knee-owe-moan-ass) is a small cryptomonad flagellate. Typically flattened, with two flagella (not visible here) emerging from a pocket located near one of the anterior corners of the cell. The refractile region is a band of extrusomes. Phase contrast. Material from Nymph Creek and Nymph Lake, thermal sites within Yellowstone National Park, photograph by Kathy Sheehan and David Patterson.

Goniomonas, often referred to as Cyathomonas, a colourless cryptomonad. Known to occasionally consume bacteria. Two flagella insert in a small pocket to one siode of the flattened anterior end of the cell. There is a line of refractile ejectisomes running parallel to the front edge of the cell. From Lake Donghu, China. Phase contrast micrograph.

Goniomonas, a small heterotrophic cryptomonad. the shape is not typical of other members of the group. It is flattened , the front end looks as if it has been cut off. Two flagella arise from one corner of the front of the cell. There is a short line of ejectisomes (extrusomes) running parallel to the front edge fo the cell. From a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.

Phase contrast micrograph of cell from ATCC strain 50108, image taken April 2006. ATCC data on this organism.

Goniomonas (gop-knee-owe-moan-ass) amphinema. Larsen and Patterson, 1990. Cells are 3 - 9 microns long. Two flagella insert in an anterior lateral pocket, one directed anteriorly, one posteriorly. The two flagella are unequal in length. The long flagellum usually trails over the body and is slightly longer than the cell. The cells are flattened with anterior row of ejectisomes and with or without several longitudinal ridges. The row of ejectisomes is at times difficult to observe. Commonly observed.

Goniomonas amphinema Larsen and Patterson, 1990. Cells are 3 - 9 microns long. Two flagella insert in an anterior lateral pocket, one directed anteriorly, one posteriorly. The two flagella are unequal in length. The long flagellum usually trails over the body and is slightly longer than the cell. The cells are flattened with anterior row of ejectisomes and with or without several longitudinal ridges. The row of ejectisomes is at times difficult to observe.

Goniomonas (go-knee-owe-moan-ass) pacifica Larsen and Patterson, 1990. Cells are 4 to 10 microns long and with several distinct longitudinal ridges on both sides of the cell. There is a row of about seven to nine ejectisomes near the anterior end of the cell, which is truncated with the posterior end rounded. Two flagella of similar length emerge from a small anterior depression and are directed anteriorly. When the cells are swimming, two flagella diverge in different directions. Less common than G. amphinema in marine sites.

Goniomonas pacifica Larsen and Patterson, 1990. Cells are 4 to 10 microns long and with several distinct longitudinal ridges on both sides of the cell. There is a row of about seven to nine ejectisomes near the anterior end of the cell, which is truncated with the posterior end rounded. Two flagella of similar length emerge from a small anterior depression and are directed anteriorly. When the cells are swimming, the flagella diverge. Less common than G. amphinema. Marine.

Chroomonas (crow-owe-moan-ass) is one of the cryptomonad flagellates with blue-green plastids. The inclusions are mostly polysaccharide (starch) storage. Two flagella are visible at top (anterior) and the cell surface is irregular because of the small skeletal plates that lie under the cell membrane. With posterior pyrenoid. This may be Chroomonas mesostigmata. Differential Interference Contrast. data on this strain.