#testate amoebae

[mbimphblog]

ON SOME NEW RECORDS OF TESTATE AMOEBAE (PROTOZOA: RHIZOPODA) FROM MEGHAMALAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, WESTERN GHATS, TAMIL NADU, INDIA | UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Testate amoebae are a group of unicellular free-living protozoa which are characterized by morphologically distinct shells ‘’(tests)’’ which play an important role in the natural ecosystems as bio-indicators. So far no study has been made in Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu, part of Western Ghats, India and this study was done from the moss samples of the sanctuary. The study resulted the reports of 25 species of testate amoebae new to the sanctuary and the results also show that the testate diversity of India has increased by 4species. Please read full article - http://mbimph.com/index.php/UPJOZ/article/view/1387

[micromademacro]

Assulina sp. found in a peat sample of unknown age. Assulina are a type of testate filose amoebae often associated with wet places so finding it in a peat sample is not unexpected. The overlapping scales are fairly clearly defined, as is the aperture.

(Source: micromademacro)

I have to admit, I was a bit thrown when trying to identify this at first as it was in one of my pollen slides and I'd never seen anything like this before. Hooray for lecturers who make you look saft by telling you a genus within five seconds of looking at it.