Ciliophrys Cienkowski, 1876

Holotype species: Ciliophrys infusionum Cienkowski

Original publication and holotype designation: Cienkowski, L. (1876). Über einige Rhizopoden und verwandte Organismen. Arch. Mikroskop. Anat. 12: 15-50.

Description: Cell colorless, spherical and with numerous cytoplasmic arms (axopods) radiating in all directions from the cell surface. Axopods supported by triplets of microtubules which are ending on the surface of the central nucleus. In this heliozoan stage the cell is normally closely attached to the substrate by a short stalk from its posterior end; the single apical flagellum is usually inactive or moving very slowly in a figure eight configuration. It contains a reduced paraxial rod and bears 2 rows of tripartite (tubular) hairs. When the cell swims, the arms are resorbed andthe flagellum points forward, beating in a sinuoidal pattern like pedinellids. Swimming cells are often ovate to spindle shaped. Food particles are taken up at the cell surface, for larger particles the cytoplasm is extended to enclose the prey. The salient features of the heliozoan stage are the numerous arms radiating in all directions and the nearly immotile flagellum. The short stalk attaching the cell to the substrate is not easily seen with the light microscope. Cell division occurs in the heliozoan stage, often with a contraction of the axopods; sexual reproduction not reported. Nutrition involves bacteria captured by means of the radiating cytoplasmic arms, and engulfed at the cell surface. For larger particles the cytoplasm may be extended to enclose the prey. In both marine littoral and freshwater plankton; North Sea, Mediterranean, Pacific.

Information contributed by: J. Throndsen. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2021-10-08 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as neuter.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Kristiansen, J. & Preisig, H.R. (2001). Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=44724

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 08 October 2021. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 18 April 2024