Polytomella Aragão, 1910

Holotype species: Polytomella agilis Aragão

Original publication and holotype designation: Aragão, H.B. (1910). Pesquizas sobre a Polytomella agilis n. g., n. sp. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2(1): 41-57, plate 3.

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Description: Unicellular,quadriflagellate and uninucleate algae without cellulosic cell walls.Cells ellipsoid, pyriform of nearly globose, but may be slightlymetabolic. Cells with four flagella typically arising in a cruciformpattern from distinct papilla. Cell posterior usually broadly rounded,but may be acuminate, and more rarely, extended into to to several spine likeextensions. Chloroplasts absent, cells accumulate numerous starchgranules in peripheral cytoplasm. Stigma usually prominent, andadditional stigma-like, red cytoplasmic granules may be present. Nucleuscentral or in anterior half of cell. Two or four apical contractilevacuoles typically present. Asexual reproduction by longitudinal binary division; each daughter cell with two newlyformed flagella and two derived from parental cell. The four flagella ofeach daughter cell fully formed before daughter cells separate.Encystment frequent; excystment giving rise to a single cell. Sexual reproduction isogamous, giving rise to planozygote which gives rise to fourmotile cells.

Information contributed by: G.E. Dillard. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2022-11-29 by E.A. Molinari Novoa.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Masjuk, N.P. & Lilitska, G.G. (2011). Dunaliellales. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 152-157. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

Comments: Polytomella widely distributed in freshwater. SeeEttl for descriptions and figures of the nine species. Ettl records anadditional five species as nomen nuda

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=44237

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 November 2022. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 23 April 2024