An unusual amoeboid. ID? Ferry?

[Bruce Taylor]

I did not take the footage in this link. It's from a Uruguayan friend who is not comfortable posting in English.

He has come up with a couple of plausible identifications: Biomyxa vagans and Filoreta marina. I thought of Aletium pyriforme, as well...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKBdD3YfhV8

Any thoughts?

[Ferry]

Hi Bruce,

It is a beautiful but very strange organism. These amoebae are very very difficult to identify. We don't know much about them, because they are seldom observed. My first thought was Gymnophrys cometa or maybe a Stereomyxa, but I suppose your friend shows a marine one? In any case it is not a Filoreta, which forms a network of filopodia. I don't have a good description of Aletium, so I leave that suggestion open... Biomyxa vagans is a quite different amoeba.
So the question still remains....

Ferry

[Bruce Taylor]

Thanks, Ferry!

In vol ii of the ISOP "Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa" there's a catch-all category: "Amoebae of Uncertain Affinities." Four of the five organisms that have been mentioned are listed in there! It seems we have a lot to learn about these little guys.

Cheers,

Bruce

[Bruce Taylor]

Ferry, Carlos (microuruguay) sends "a big hello and thanks."

Apparently the organism was about 20μm wide and 300μm long.

[Ferry]

Hi Bruce,

Yes, I am very interested in that section of the Illustrated Guide. I have been one of the authors, in this case for the Heliozoa-part, but you can also find some of my drawings in the naked amoeba section.

Ferry

[carlos.uruguay]

A salute to the forum, greetings to Bruce and to Ferry.
I thank you both the help.
In the same sample I have seen other similar amoebas to illustrations Aletium
Sorry for my bad English
carlos - Uruguay

[RogelioMoreno]

Carlos,

Welcome to the forum (bienvenido al forum, no te preocupes mucho por el Inglés, con la práctica escribiendo aquí lo vas a mejorar. Yo tampoco tengo un Inglés fluido; sin embargo cada día aprendo algo nuevo).

Rogelio