Pendulomonas adriperis Tong, 1997

Lee, Won Je & Patterson, David J., 2000, Heterotrophic flagellates (Protista) from marine sediments of Botany Bay, Australia, Journal of Natural History 34, pp. 483-562 : 539

Pendulomonas adriperis Tong, 1997

(fi gures 20j, 21f, g)

Description. Cell ovoid or droplet-shaped, about 4-9 Mm long, 2.5-5 Mm wide, somewhat fl exible and not fl attened, with two fl agella similar in length emerging subapically (about one-third of the way down). The fl agella are slightly longer than the cell and not acronematic. The anterior fl agellum projects in front of the body and beats with an asymmetric pattern, and the posterior fl agellum trails behind the body and may be held in a curve or obliquely. Sometimes, the posterior fl agellum beats sti ffl y and rapidly in non-swimming cells. Cells usually swim by slow rotating movements and the cell bodies wag. When cells swim rapidly, the anterior fl agellum beats quickly and cells do not wag. Cells may attach to the substratum by the tip of the trailing fl agellum. In attached cells, cells may wag or tremble rapidly. Commonly observed in enrichment cultures.

Remarks. This species has been found in marine sites in subtropical Australia and England, cell length range is reported to be 5-8.5 Mm ( Tong, 1997 a, 1997b). Like naked bicosoecids ( Cafeteria and Pseudobodo ) this species attaches to the substratum by the tip of the posterior fl agellum. This species can be distinguished from all species of the genus Cafeteria by the orientation and beat pattern of the fl agella. It is similar to Phyllomitus in general shape, but is easily distinguished because the two fl agella of Phyllomitus insert together to an anterior pocket, while those of Pendulomonas insert separately in a subapical groove.