Microcometes paludosa Cienkowski, 1876
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Simmelried
Phylogenetic tree: Microcometes paludosa
Diagnosis:
- shell hyaline, brownish, with 3–5 apertures
- shell fastened to substrate
- diameter (of shell) 6.8–17 µm
- 3–6 contractile vacuoles
- nucleus with central nucleolus
- pseudopodia thin, granular
So far, I have only been able to detect Micrometers paludosa in Simmelried. In fresh samples, this testate amoeba is practically impossible to detect due to its small size. However, the specimens like to settle on the floating coverslip and are then easy to observe.
The specimens in my population had shells with a diameter of 8–11 µm, which corresponds very well with the observations of Siemensma (2024). My specimens usually had 3–4 apertures in the shell. I have not yet found specimens with more openings. According to my measurements, the pseudopodia extend to a maximum of three times the shell diameter, which corresponds to about 25–35 µm. The shells were mostly brown-orange in color with a more or less distinct crust, which may be due to iron deposits. Only young specimens had a colorless shell without a crust.
More images and information on Microcometes paludosa: Ferry Siemensma-Microworld-Microcometes paludosa
Fig. 1: Microcometes paludosa. D = 11 µm (of shell). A fully extended specimen with a brownish shell with 3 apertures. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 2: Microcometes paludosa. D = 9 µm (of shell). A second specimen with 3 apertures. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 3: Microcometes paludosa. D = 10 µm (of shell). A young specimen with a slightly brownish shell with 4 apertures. Obj. 100 X.