Petalomonas planus Lee and Patterson, 2000

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 : 523

Petalomonas planus Lee and Patterson , n. sp.

(fi gures 14f, 16h -j. Type micrograph: fi gure 16i)

Diagnosis. Petalomona s, rigid, 15-24 Mm long, dorso-ventrall y fl attened, hyaline body with one emergent fl agellum, without grooves or ridges.

Description. Cell outline ovate, 15-24 Mm long, 5-10 Mm wide, rigid, dorsoventrally fl attened. Cells are rather hyaline. There are no grooves and no ridges on either side of the cell. Most cells have a pointed posterior end but some cells have a rounded posterior end. Small and large granules occupy the entire cell except at the poles. One fl agellum emerges from the canal and is slightly shorter than the cell. The reservoir is situated subapically in the midline of the cell. Cells move by gliding with the fl agellum in close contact with the substratum. Often common.

Remarks. We assign this species to Petalomonas because it is a rigid gliding heterotrophic euglenid with one emergent fl agellum. This species is easily distinguished from most species of Petalomonas by its hyaline body and smooth cell surface. It is most similar to P. simplex Christen, 1962 in general appearance and hyaline body, but P. simplex is slightly larger (27.5-31 Mm) (see Christen, 1962b).