Golenkinia radiata (Chodat, 1894)
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Simmelried
Phylogenetic tree: Golenkinia radiata
Diagnosis:
- solitary cells
- cells spherical, 10 – 18 µm diameter
- covered by < 20 spines, each 25 – 65 µm long
- cell surrounded by mucilaginous envelope
- chloroplast bell- or cup-shaped
- one pyrenoid
- asexual reproduction by 2, 4 or 8-16 autospores
I have found Golenkinia radiata so far exclusively in the Simmelried. Mostly the specimens are “stuck” there in floating algae with detritus, bacteria and filamentous algae. Therefore the bristles do not seem to serve as floating extensions, but seem to me rather to function as a feeding protection.
Fig. 1: Golenkinia radiata. d = 16 µm. An isolated specimen with focus on the spines. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 2: Golenkinia radiata. d = 16 µm. The same specimen with focus on the nucleus (NU), pyrenoid (PY) and the mucilaginous envelope (ME). Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 3 a-b: Golenkinia radiata. Two focal planes of a small colony of 4 cells. Obj. 100 X.