cells rounded-cylindrical, barely flattened, not metabolic
length 30–46 µm
cell with 8–10 longitudinal ribs, clockwise twisted
ribs containing paramylon grains inside
anterior part often filled with spherical or oval paramylon grains
one flagellum, about body length
movement rapid, spirally circling
nucleus spherical, below the middle
Gyropaigne kosmos
I have found Gyropaigne kosmos so far exclusively in the Simmelried, mainly between decaying plants. Due to its distinct ribs, which run clockwise in a spiral, this flagellate is conspicuous even at low magnifications. Together with other saprophytic genera like Rhabdomonas or Menoidium it belongs to the Euglenophyceae. Often the cells are heavily filled with paramylon grains and shine brightly in DIC, while appearing black in brightfield illumination. In my experience, the cells are quite coverslip sensitive and quickly shed the flagellum. As Skuja described it, the longitudinal ribs always have small paramylon grains arranged in rows (s. fig. 1c).
Fig. 1 a-c:Gyropaigne kosmos. L = 45 µm. Three focal planes of a freely swimming specimen. Note the small paramylon grains (PG) arranged in the longitudinal ribs. F = flagellum, Nu = nucleus. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 2 a-c:Gyropaigne kosmos. L = 34 µm. Three focal planes of a second specimen. Obj. 100 X.