Stephanopogon
Genus of flagellate marine protozoan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Stephanopogon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Stephanopogon sp. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| (unranked): | incertae sedis |
| Phylum: | Heterolobosea |
| Class: | Eutetramitea |
| Order: | Pseudociliatida |
| Family: | Stephanopogonidae |
| Genus: | Stephanopogon Entz, 1884 |
| Type species | |
| Stephanopogon colpoda Entz, 1884 | |
| Species | |
| |
Characteristics and taxonomy
Stephanopogon superficially resemble ciliates and was originally thought to be one,[1] but the organism is now considered to be a heterolobosean. The cell is somewhat flattened, with multiple smooth flagella arranged in rows running from the front to the back, and has an anterior mouth supported by rods. They feed on bacteria, diatoms, and other smaller organisms. There are 2-16 equally sized nuclei per cell.
Because nuclear dimorphism is absent, Stephanopogon had been regarded as an evolutionary intermediate between the ciliates and other protozoa, and possibly an ancestor of the animals as well. Corliss and Lipscomb showed this organism is not physically similar to ciliates, lacking their complex pellicle and infraciliature.[2] Further electron microscopical studies added details to the understanding of the cytological organization of Stephanopogon.[3][4] Yubuki and Leander demonstrated that Stephanopogon is closely related to Percolomonas within the Heterolobosea. The bases of the flagella in both genera are attached to an electron dense cytoskeletal material,[5] but it has been argued that this is not an apomorphy of the clade.[4]
It appears to be closely related to another poorly understood genus known as Percolomonas.[6]
The genus contains 7 species: S. apogon Borror, 1965, S. colpoda Entz, 1884, S. mesnili Lwoff, 1923, S. minuta Lei et al., 1999, S. mobilensis Jones et Owen, 1974, S. paramesnili Lei et al., 1999 and S. pattersoni Lee et al., 2014 [7]
