Anisonema Dujardin, 1841, nom. et typ. cons.

Holotype species: Anisonema acinus Dujardin

Original publication and holotype designation: Dujardin, F. (1841). Histoire naturelle des Zoophytes, Infusoires, comprenant la physiologie et la clasification de ces animaux et la manière de les étudier à l'aide du microscope. pp. i-xii, 1-684. Paris: Librarie Encyclopédique de Roret.

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Description: Rigid or semi-rigid, ovoid, flattened, colorless, phagotrophic cells, 10-80 µm long, with a strong ventral furrow but no ingestion organelle visible in the light microscope. Two flagella, both emergent from the subapical canal opening, subequal or unequal in length, heterodynamic, the shorter one directed anteriorly during gliding, the longer (and thicker) trailing posteriorly, usually 2 or 3 times as long as the cell.
Freshwater, brackish and marine; cosmopolitan.

Information contributed by: G.F. Leedale & M.D. Guiry. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2024-02-06 by E.A. Molinari Novoa.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Cavalier-Smith, T. (2016). Higher classification and phylogeny of Euglenozoa. European Journal of Protistology 56: 250–276, 2 figs.

Comments: Electron microscopy by Triemer (1985) shows his "Anisonema sp." to have a feeding apparatus of vanes and rods as found in Peranema, Dinematomonas and Urceolus. Triemer and Farmer (1991a, 1991b) argue that this and other observations on Calycimonas and Petalomonas remove the justification for separation of the orders Sphenomonadales and Heteronematales. However, existence of ingestion rods in Anisonema acinus and the numerous other described species has not yet been demonstrated and it could reasonably be suggested that Triemer's "Anisonema sp." is a Heteronema.

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=43658

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
E.A. Molinari Novoa in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 06 February 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 April 2024