Picomonas Seenivasan, Sausen, Medlin & Melkonian, 2013

Holotype species: Picomonas judraskeda Seenivasan, Sausen, Medlin & Melkonian

Original publication and holotype designation: Seenivasan, R., Sausen, S., Medlin, L.K. & Melkonian, M. (2013). Picomonas judraskeda gen. et sp. nov.: the first identified member of the Picozoa phylum nov., a widespread group of Picoeukaryotes, formerly known as 'Picobiliphytes'. PLOSOne 8(3): e59565 [1-18], 8 figures.

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Fossil: This is a genus of fossil species, or a genus with a fossil type species, or a genus the type species of which was originally described as a fossil.

Description: Cells are biflagellate with a long and a short flagellum inserted laterally. Each cell consists of two nearly hemi-spherical parts separated by a cleft. The anterior part contains the flagellar apparatus, nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, single Golgi body and mitochondrion with tubular cristae, whereas the posterior part is variable in size and contains the feeding apparatus and numerous vesicles and vacuoles. The anterior and posterior parts of the cell are separated by a single, large, vacuolar cisterna that leaves only part of the mitochondrion in direct contact with the posterior part. The cells exhibit a unique mode of motility: After extended periods of rest, a stereotypic pattern is initiated consisting of a rapid, short-distance jump, immediately followed by a slower, dragging cell movement in the opposite direction. This pattern may be repeated several times before cells finally show an extremely fast and extended movement away from their original position (termed 'skedaddle').

Origin of description: this description is from the original publication; it may have been modified slightly. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2023-10-21 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: Cavalier-Smith, T. (2021). Ciliary transition zone evolution and the root of the eukaryote tree: implications for opisthokont origin and classification of kingdoms Protozoa, Plantae, and Fungi. Protoplasma 259(3): 487-593, 20 figures, 2 tables.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=51607

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 21 October 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 05 May 2024