Minimassisteria | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
Clade: | SAR |
Phylum: | Cercozoa |
Class: | Granofilosea |
Order: | Leucodictyida |
Family: | Massisteriidae |
Genus: | Minimassisteria |
Species: | M. diva
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Binomial name | |
Minimassisteria diva Arndt & Cavalier-Smith, 2011[1]
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Minimassisteria is a marine bacterivorous genus of protists with only one species, M. diva, that presents three different lifestyle forms. It has a widespread geographic distribution. It is an amoeboflagellate most closely related to Massisteria, and together comprise the family Massisteriidae.[1]
Minimassisteria are trimorphic (i.e. with three forms) filose amoeboflagellates with two flagella. Their life cycle has a trophic phase that feeds by non-anastomosing filose pseudopodia (i.e. filopodia) that bear evident granules along their length. There is a distinct swimming form and, unlike its closest relative Massisteria, a crawling form with a thicker non-granular anterior filopodia used for traction.[1]
The genus name references the small size, as well as its similarity to Massisteria. The species epithet references the deep-sea expedition DIVA, during which the type strain of M. diva was collected, at a depth of 5036 meters in the Northern Cape abyssal plain.[1]