Cryptomonas Ehrenberg, 1831
Lectotype species: Cryptomonas ovata Ehrenberg
Original publication: Ehrenberg, C.G. (1831). Animalia evertebrata exclusis insectis Series Prima cum tabularum decase prima. In: Symbolae physicae. (Hemprich, P.C. & Ehrenberg, C.G. Eds), pp. [1-71]. Berolini [Berlin]: ex officina academica.
Request PDFType designated in: Butcher, R.W. (1967). An introductory account of the smaller algae of British coastal waters. Part IV: Cryptophyceae. Fisheries Investigations, London, series IV 1967: [i]-vi, [1]-54, 22 pls.
Description: Free swimming, generally obovoid, biflagellate monads that often form thickly mucilaginous, palmelloid colonies; a longitudinal furrow extends posteriorly from the vestibulum and transforms into a sack-like gullet lined with many rows of ejectisomes; two chloroplasts, pyrenoids and nucleomorphs, the chloroplasts contain the phycobiliprotein, Cr-phycoerythrin 566, and vary in color from olive-brown to brown and yellow in older cells; periplast with an inner layer of plates and a superficial layer of fine fibrillar material sandwiching the plasma membrane. Reproduction is by simple cell division. Cytokinesis in Cryptomonas ovata has been examined by light microscopy. Several species are capable of forming thick-walled cysts. High light intensity and nitrogen deficiency induce Cryptomonas rufescens to form cysts which give rise to two or four daughter cells on excystment. Cells may remain in palmelloid colonies for extended periods in culture. These have been examined by light and electron microscopy. Sexual reproduction is unknown. The ultrastructure has been examined in a number of reports. The inner periplast plates are roughly oval in shape and have strong attachment sites to the plasma membrane around their edges. The nucleomorph is not associated with the pyrenoid. The pyrenoidal matrix is not traversed by thylakoids. The flagellar apparatus of Cryptomonas ovata has a rhizostyle consisting of a curved band of microtubules with a laminar structure associated with the concave surface. Both flagella of Cryptomonas ovata have been shown to bear mastigonemes; two rows on the longer flagellum and a single row on the shorter one. The fine structure of the mastigonemes has also been examined. Several species of Cryptomonas have been shown to possess an imbricate layer of rosulate scales on both flagella. Flagellar transformation has been shown to occur in Cryptomonas ovata with the shorter, ventral flagellum being mature. Genus cosmopolitan in freshwater habitats, including temporary ponds, rivers and lakes. More than 100 species have been assigned to Cryptomonas; including marine and blue-green forms. Recent taxonomic revisions suggest, however, that Cryptomonas should be restricted to the ovoid, olive-green to brown species found in fresh and slightly brackish waters. Cluster analysis has been used in an attempt to distinguish the species of Cryptomonas. The majority of species have been described from European waters, but the genus is known from every continent. Physiological studies include the effects of light intensity and temperature on the growth and nutrient uptake in Cryptomonas ovata; ammonium appears to be the preferred nitrogen source for at least several Cryptomonas species. The effects of organic carbon sources and proteose peptone on growth have also been examined in Cryptomonas species.
Information contributed by: D.R.A. Hill. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2022-07-18 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: Yazaki, E., Yabuki, A., Imaizumi, A., Kume, K., Hashimoto, T. & Inagaki, Y. (2022). The closest lineage of Archaeplastida is revealed by phylogenomics analyses that include Microheliella maris. Open Biology 12(4): article 210376 [1-10], 3 figuress.
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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=43571
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 18 July 2022. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 22 November 2024
