Polychaos annulatum
(Penard, 1902) Smirnov & Goodkov, 1997
Most likely ID: n.a.
Synonym: n.a.
Sampling location: Simmelried
Phylogenetic tree: Polychaos annulatum
Diagnosis:
body polypodial, sometimes monopodial
pseudopodia broad with hyaline cap
slow locomotion of polypodial form, fast locomotion of monopodial form
length 60–325 µm (monopodial), usually 60–190 µm
globular nucleus (12–25 µm), nucleolus forming a hollow, perforated sphere (appears ring-shaped)
one contractile vacuole, often near uroid
uroid bulbous in monopodial form, faciculate in palmate form
cytoplasm with crystals up to 5 µm (bi-pyramidal, polyhedral or rectangular)
I have found Polychaos annulatum in the Simmelried, where the species is much more common than the larger representative of the genus Polychaos dubium. The two species can be distinguished not only by their size, but mainly by the shape of the nucleus. In Polychaos annulatum, the nucleolus, i.e. the condensed nuclear material, is concentrated on the wall of the nucleus and thus forms an perforated hollow sphere. In the microscope, this hollow sphere then appears like an interrupted ring, which is clearly different from the granular nucleus of Polychaos dubium.
So far I have only been able to observe the monopodial form of Polychaos annulatum (s. figs. 1 a-f and 2 a-d). However, this may be due to an insufficient layer thickness under the coverslip, so that the monopodial form is preferred. As described by Siemensma, the monopodial form has a bulbous uroid (s. fig. 1 a-f).
More information on Polychaos annulatum: Ferry Siemensma-Microworld-Polychaos annulatum.
Fig. 1 a-f: Polychaos annulatum. L = 88 µm. Different stages of the monopodial locomotion. Note the bulbous uroid (UR). The diameter of the nucleus in this specimen is 11 µm. CV = contractile vacuole, Nu = nucleus, Nuc = nucleolus. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 2 a-d: Polychaos annulatum. L = 76 µm. A specimen during monopodial locomotion (a-c) and slightly squashed (d). CV = contractile vacuole, Nuc = ring-shaped nucleolus. Obj. 100 X.
Fig. 3: Polychaos annulatum. The nucleus (Nu) in a strongly squashed specimen. The nucleolus (Nuc) is a perforated hollow sphere and apperas as an interrupted ring. Obj. 60 X.
Fig. 4: Polychaos annulatum. The nucleus (Nu) and nucleolus (Nuc) in a second squashed specimen. Obj. 100 X.