Ministeria vibrans

Two Ministeria species have been reported so far,^[2] both of them from coastal marine water samples: M. vibrans and M. marisola.^[3] However, there is currently only one culture available, that of Ministeria vibrans.

Ministeria vibrans occupies a key position in understanding animal origins. It is a member of the Filasterea, that is the sister-group to Choanoflagellatea and Metazoa.^[1][4] Microvilli in Ministeria suggest their presence in the common ancestor of Filasterea and Choanoflagellata. The kinetid structure of Ministeria is similar to that of the choanocytes of the most deep-branching sponges, differing essentially from the kinetid of choanoflagellates. Thus, kinetid and microvilli of Ministeria illustrate features of the common ancestor of three holozoan groups: Filasterea, Metazoa, and Choanoflagellata.^[5]