Amoeba..need ID!

arturoag75 · Post by **arturoag75** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:42 am

Hi Guys,
can you help me whit ID of this amoeba?
i found this in a group of blue alga in my aquarium.
objective 40x DIC illumination.
best
arturo

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 4:52 am

Can't help with the ID Arturo, but it looks like there is a fox in the henhouse.

Very nice image.

Jan Kros · Post by **Jan Kros** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 5:16 am

Hello Arturo

Probebly this is Arcella vulgaris, he is eating Algae

Greetings
Jan

NikonUser · Post by **NikonUser** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:25 am

Excellent.
I assume this is with your Zeiss Photomicroscope III - obviously a very nice piece of equipment in experienced hands (yours).

Ferry · Post by **Ferry** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:18 pm

This is not a normal shape. It looks if he is going to die. It could be a Saccamoeba or a Mayorella, but as long as it doesn't move, you can never be sure.

@Jan: an Arcella has two nucleï and the protoplasm doesn't fill the whole theca. And there is no trace of any theca.

Ferry

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:35 pm

Where is the nucleï?

Ferry · Post by **Ferry** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:56 pm

There is one nucleus, right north of the little green spot in the center.

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:12 pm

Will a nucleus from any microbe look like that one in DIC? Or are they all different.

I am learning so much here. I love it.

Ferry · Post by **Ferry** » Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:26 pm

Most amoebae have a nucleus which looks like the one above. Only larger amoebae have different looking nuclei. The center part of the nucleus you see in the first picture is called the nucleolus. It can look homogeneous or you can see a granular nucleolus, like in the first picture. Granules can be clustered in the center or spread through the nucleus or just stick to the outer wall (see my picture below).
Most amoebae do have only one nucleus, but larger amoebae can have two or three or even hundreds and are called multi-nucleate.

Here is a part of a very large multi-nucleate amoeba (Chaos nobile, 700 um in locomotion). This one has 15 nuclei, but on the picture you can see four. They have the shape of a biconvex disc.

Ferry

arturoag75 · Post by **arturoag75** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 2:07 am

Hi,
many thanks to all for info..
i add other pics of this kind of amoeba but whit different shape..
objective 25x - 40x DIC ill. on zeiss Photomicroscope III.
best
arturo

john sp. · Post by **john sp.** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:39 am

While Ferry and others are helping you pin down an ID, I'll just add that I'm simply enjoying the photos and marveling at how interesting these critters are when viewed in this manner.

John

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:51 am

Arturo,

Can't provide an identification, but Wow! ... these are nice shots!

Ferry · Post by **Ferry** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:36 pm

Hello Arturo,

It makes more sense to show different shapes. Now I am quite sure it is a Thecamoeba, probably Thecamoeba similis.

Ferry

arturoag75 · Post by **arturoag75** » Sun Dec 12, 2010 3:36 am

Many thanks john Charlie Ferry

!
arturo

Amoeba..need ID!

Amoeba..need ID!

Amoeba..need ID.. more pics