Excavates

Portrait of the diplomonad Hexamita inflata (Dujardin 1838).Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Phase contrast.

Portrait of the diplomonad Hexamita inflata (Dujardin 1838).Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Phase contrast.

Spironucleus (spire-owe-new-clee-us) is a diplomonad flagellate. Like most genera in the group, there are two anterior nuclei, and arising in association with each nucleus is a group of four flagella. The flagella insert at the head of a lateral groove. Most members of this genus are parasites. Differential interference contrast.

Spironucleus (spire-owe-new-clee-us)is a diplomonad flagellate. Like most genera in the group, there are two anterior nuclei, and arising in association with each nucleus is a group of four flagella. The flagella insert at the head of a lateral groove. Most members of this genus are parasites. Differential interference contrast.

Giardia (gee-arr-dee-a), a diplomonad flagellate that is a common inhabitant of the human intestine. These are diplomonads, they have two nuclei (anterior), and two sets with four flagella each arising from the front end of the cell but extending to the side or posteriorly. Normally they clamp onto cells of the intestine, and heavy infections can lead to cells being ripped from the gut wall leading to bloody diarrhoea. Phase contrast.

Giardia (gee-arr-dee-a), a diplomonad flagellate that is a common inhabitant of the human intestine. These are diplomonads, they have two nuclei (anterior), and two sets with four flagella each arising from the front end of the cell but extending to the side or posteriorly. Normally they clamp onto cells of the intestine, and heavy infections can lead to cells being ripped from the gut wall leading to bloody diarrhoea. Phase contrast.

Chilomastix (kai-low-ma-sticks), a genus of retortamonad flagellates, mostly reported in association with animals, but we find this species (C. cuspidata) in anoxic sites. There are four flagella, we can only see three in this picture, inserting just subapically, and at the head of a large groove. One wall of the groove has a cusp. Posterior end drawn out as a long spike. Phase Contrast.

Chilomastix (kai-low-ma-sticks) cuspidata (Larsen and Patterson, 1990) Bernard et al., 1997. Cells are drop-shaped with a long posterior spike and about 20 - 32 microns long (including the spike) with a groove extending from the apex to the posterior end of the untapered part of the cell. The cells have 4 flagella inserting subapically and are directed anterior laterally, one is shorter than the cell and the other three are about the cell length. The short flagellum beats and lies within the ventral groove. The nucleus is situated subapically. Food vacuoles occur throughout the cell. The cells move slowly by swimming while rotating and may attach to the substrate by the tip of the spike.

Chilomastix cuspidata (Larsen and Patterson, 1990) Bernard et al., 1997. Cells are drop-shaped with a long posterior spike, they are about 20 - 32 microns long (including the spike) with a groove extending from the apex to the posterior end of the untapered part of the cell. The cells have 4 flagella inserting subapically and are directed anterior laterally, one is shorter than the cell and the other three are about the cell length. The short flagellum beats and lies within the ventral groove. The nucleus is situated subapically. Food vacuoles occur throughout the cell. The cells move slowly by swimming while rotating and may attach to the substrate by the tip of the spike.

Chilomastix (kai-low-ma-sticks), a genus of retortamonad flagellates, mostly reported in association with animals, but we find this species (C. cuspidata) in anoxic sites. There are four flagella, we can only see three in this picture, inserting just subapically, and at the head of a large groove. One wall of the groove has a cusp. Posterior end drawn out as a long spike. ATCC 50927 was isolated from a salt marsh.  

Jakoba incarcerata Bernard et al., 2000. Cells are 4 to 10microns Two flagella arise slightly sub-apically. They may be slightly acronematic. The anterior flagellum is usually shorter than the length of the cell. The posterior flagellum is up to one and a half times the length of the cell and may appear proximally thickened. The nucleus is located subapically. Food vacuoles containing bacteria are common. A refractile granule is frequently located in the middle of the cell. Typical cells are crescent-shaped with a groove occupying three quarters of the ventral face. The posterior flagellum beats with a short wavelength and amplitude pattern within the groove, often attaching to the posterior margin but with the distal portion free. Some cells lack a groove, have an ovoid to irregular profile, but have usually a posterior tail. Transformation from a grooved to a tailed profile has been observed. Grooved or tailed cells may attach to the substrate by a hooked anterior flalgellum or the tip of the posterior flagellum. Tailed cells often stick to the substrate by the tail, the cell body or irregular extensions thereof. Grooved, or more commonly, tailed cells may swim with a smooth spiral path, with the anterior flagellum directed forward. Occasionally, non-grooved cells were observed with anterior flagella up to four times the length of the cell directed posteriorly in a curving arc. These cells swim or attach to the substrate by the cell body. Electron-micrographs of cells from the type culture shows a single vane on the dorsal side of the posterior flagellum.

Euglena ehrenbergii. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using phase contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Euglena ehrenbergii. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003.  This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.

Euglena ehrenbergii. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics. This work was supported by The Australian Biological Resources Study

Trypanoplasma are digenetic (two hosts) bodonid flagellates in which the recurrent flagellum is attached along the entire length of the body to form a prominent undulating membrane. Most of them live in the blood of fishes and in the vector leech. Trypanoplasma borelli infects carp and several European cyprinid fishes and is transmitted by leeches such as Piscicola geometra or Hemiclepsis marginata. Trypanoplasma borelli in the blood of fish (Giemsa), nucleus (n), kinetoplast (k), anterior flagellum (fa), recurrent flagellum (fr).

Dinema griseolum Perty Cells elongated, with rounded ends, 76-80 microns long, 30-40 microns Anterior flagellum about cell length and posterior flagellum about 1.5 times cell length.

Phacus agilis. Cell observed in freshwater habitats in the vicinity of Broome, Western Australia in September 2003. This image was taken using differential interference contrast optics.   This work was supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study.