Ankyra Fott, 1957: 302
Classification:
Empire Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Chlorophyta
Class Chlorophyceae
Order Sphaeropleales
Family Characiaceae
Holotype species: Ankyra ancora (G.M.Smith) Fott
Original publication and holotype designation:Fott, B. (1957). Taxonomie der mikroskopischen Flora einheimischer Gewasser. Preslia 29: 278-319.
Taxonomic status: currently recognized as a distinct genus.
Description: Microscopic cells, solitary or in small groups, planktonic or attached to microscopic debris. Cells fusiform, 15-150 µm long and 1.5-14 µm wide, the anterior pole (corresponding to flagellar pole of zoospore) tapering gradually to a long bristle which bears either a pair of leaf-like appendages or a cluster of horse tail-like bristles. The posterior pole tapers gradually to a long bristle or blunt tip. Leaf-like appendages 1-6 µm long and up to 2.3 µm wide, parallel to each other and forming lanceolate extension to cell or they stay in opposition at base and give cell an anchor-like shape. High magnification of the leaf-like appendages show many (up to 240) parallel curved ridges on one face. Cell walls smooth (except for one species with one bristle). Cells uninucleate; chloroplasts single, with or possibly without pyrenoid. Reproduction by zoospores released by splitting of mother cell wall in equatorial region or by formation of a hole. Resting spores reported. Sexual reproduction unknown.
Comments: Ankyra species are cosmopolitan in lakes and pools. However, the genus concept is unclear. TEM observations show that structure of anterior appendages and other features are similar in Ankyra and Paradoxia. The genera are probably closely related, and similar relationships are expected between Ankyra and Korshikoviella. Hindák (1988) proposed that Ankyra spatulifera (Korsikov) Fott be referred to the monotypic genus Lanceola. (T. sp. Lanceola spatulifera (Korsikov) Hindák)(see Lanceola). Species of Ankyra distinguished based on protoplast shape and morphology of leaf-like appendages.
NCBI Nucleotide Sequences
Numbers of names and species: There are 12 species (and infraspecific) names in the database at present, of which 6 have been flagged as currently accepted taxonomically.
Names: ('C' indicates a name that is currently accepted taxonomically; 'S' a homotypic or heterotypic synonym; 'U' indicates a name of uncertain taxonomic status, but which has been subjected to some verification nomenclaturally; 'P' indicates a preliminary AlgaeBase entry that has not been subjected to any kind of verification. For more information on a species click on it to activate a link to the Species database):
Ankyra ancora (G.M.Smith) Fott C - type
Ankyra ancora f. spinosa (Korshikov) Fott C
Ankyra ancora f. issajevii (Kisselev) Fott C
Ankyra calcarifera (Kisselev) Fott C
Ankyra inermis O.Reymond & J.C.Druart C
Ankyra judayi (G.M.Smith) Fott C
Ankyra judayi var. radzimowskii (Korshikov) Tsarenko C
Ankyra lanceolata (Korshikov) Fott S
Ankyra ocellata (Korshikov) Fott C
Ankyra paradoxioides S.Cirik S
Ankyra spatulifera (Korsikov) Fott S
Ankyra starrii K.W.Lee & Bold C
References
Cambra Sánchez, J., Álvarez Cobelas, M. & Aboal Sanjurjo, M. (1998). Lista florística y bibliográfica de los clorófitos (Chlorophyta) de la Península Ibérica, Islas Baleares e Islas Canarias. pp. 1-614. Burgos: Asociación Española de Limnología.
Contributors
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: http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43378
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2013. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 21 May 2013.
Algaebase taxon LSID: urn:lsid:algaebase.org:taxname:7004
