Tetratoma Buetschli, 1884

Holotype species: Tetratoma archeri Wille

Description: Unicellular thalli ovoid to nearly cylindrical. Four isokont flagella inserted at widely separated points on the apex. The flagella are inserted near the periphery of a rather broad, flat papillum. Stigma present and contractile vacuoles present at apex (2) or are very numerous and scattered throughout the protoplast (depending on the species). Chloroplast varies from cup-shaped to nearly stellate. A single pyrenoid is normally present. Asexual reproduction by zoosporogenesis resulting in four motile daughter cells. Divisions are longitudinal. No other asexual stages have been reported. No sexual stages have been observed in this genus. Tetratoma has been referred to as a quadriflagellate Gloeomonas in that both share the unusual, widely-spaced flagellar insertion points. Tetratoma has frequently been found associated with filamentous algae. One species (T. schussnigii) has been associated with Sphagnum. The genus known largely from central Europe. No biochemical or molecular data are available for this organism.

Information contributed by: M. Buchheim. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2012-06-29 by Michael Guiry.

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

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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Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in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=47457

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Michael Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 June 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 28 March 2024

 
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