Testate Amoeba for ID

[pjoris]

Still having difficulty identifying what I'm photographing. Is this an Euglypha ? Joris

Olympus Splan 20x (flash)


Olympus Splan 40x (flash)

[Charles Krebs]

Joris,

There are others here that are much better than I am at identifying these but I do believe is it a Euglypha.

One place I always check when I am trying to search out an ID for these is here:
http://user.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/FwrPLA.htm
Leidy did some amazing work 134 years ago.

Have a look at Plate 35 (XXXV) and in particular #14:
http://user.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/Fwr35P.htm

Caption here:
http://user.xmission.com/~psneeley/Personal/Fwr35K.htm

[pjoris]

Thanks, I'm glad to hear I wasn't way off with my ID.

Beautiful plates from Leidy's work - a reminder you don't need the latest optics and digital camera's to make good observations. I will try to look more through the microscope first and then take pictures - probably the better way to learn to ID these organisms ...

One other question: am I seeing the amoeba itself somewhere ? Is it the cell in the back of the shell (which seems to have a nucleus) or in the front, or is the amoeba deceased ?

Joris

[Charles Krebs]

Amoeba can "encyst" and become dormant when conditions are poor, and become active again as their environment improves. The cell is in the back of the test.

Although this reference is not for testate amoeba, you can read a little more about this process here:

http://tinyurl.com/759njmf