Spiniferomonas E.Takahashi, 1973

Holotype species: Spiniferomonas bourrellyi E.Takahashi

Original publication and holotype designation: Takahashi, E. (1973). Studies on genera Mallomonas and Synura, and other plankton in freshwater with the electron microscope. VIII. New genus Spiniferomonas of the Synuraceae (Chrysophyceae). Botanical Magazine Tokyo 86: 75-88.

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Description: Cells free-swimming, solitary, spherical to ovoid in shape, covered with siliceous scales and spines and at the anterior end bearing two flagella of unequal length. Except for the presence of scales and spines, cells closely resemble those of Ochromonas. The long flagellum has tripartite tubular hairs, the short flagellum is naked and has a swelling at the base which is closely appressed to the cell surface and the stigma (if present). Scales and spines are clearly visible with an electron microscope only. Scales elliptical to oval or circular and variously patterned with ridges, lacunae and rods; in some species, cells are covered by 2 or 3 different types of scales. Spines tubular or triangular in cross section, with a flared funnel- or disc-shaped base and a shaft tapering to a pointed apex; spine base simple, without double disc, septa and holes as in Chrysosphaerella; terminal half of the shaft sometimes bent, flaring outwards and forming up to 4 apices; scales and spines formed within flat vesicles which are intimately associated with cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum in the peripheral cytoplasm. Chloroplast single, sometimes provided with a stigma at the anterior end; in S. bourrellyi cells with a small leucoplast in place of a chloroplast have been observed. Protoplast containing 1-2 contractile vacuoles, food vacuoles and vacuoles with a storage product (probably chrysolaminaran). Reproduction not described. Stomatocysts observed in some species. Of the 18 species, some are widely distributed in freshwater lakes and ponds. Three additional species assigned to Spiniferomonas by Nicholls (1984) occur in brackish and marine waters, but these were transferred to the zooflagellate genus Thaumatomastix by Beech and Moestrup (1986). Solitary species of Chrysosphaerella resemble species of Spiniferomonas and have sometimes been added to this genus because of their unicellular habit (Nicholls 1984). Their classification in the genus Chrysosphaerella, on the other hand, is based on spine morphology which differs from that of typical Spiniferomonas spp., resembling more that of colonial species of Chrysosphaerella (Kristiansen and Tong 1989).

Information contributed by: H. R. Preisig. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-02-13 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 feminine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Kapustin, D. & Kulikovskiy, M. (2022). Chrysosphaerella septentrionalis sp. nov. (Chrysophyceae, Chromulinales), a new species from the Arctic including the description of Chrysosphaerellaceae, fam. nov. Plants 11(3166): 1-10.

Comments: Kristiansen & Preisig (2001: 9) record this genus as being a member of the Order Chromulinales Pascher 1910, and Family Paraphysomonadaceae Preisig & D.J. Hibberd 1983.

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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=43806

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 13 February 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 November 2024