Rhynchomonas nasuta Klebs, 1893

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 : 493

Rhynchomonas nasuta Klebs, 1893

(fi gures 1l, 2r)

Description. Gliding cells with a bulbous motile snout. Cell 3.5-6 Mm long, 2.5-4 Mm wide, fl attened, fl exible. The snout, which contains a mouth, beats slowly. The anterior fl agellum lies alongside the snout and is hard to see, and the trailing fl agellum is about 2-2.7 times the cell length, and is acronematic. Cells consume attached bacteria. Commonly observed.

Remarks. The length of R. nasuta has previously been reported to be from 3 to 11 Mm. This species has been found in marine sites in Antarctica, North Atlantic, subtropical and tropical Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Gulf of Finland, Greenland, Hawaii, Norway and Equatorial Paci fi c ( Griessmann, 1913; Throndsen, 1969, 1970; Burzell, 1973; Larsen and Patterson, 1990; Vørs, 1992a, 1992b, 1993a; Patterson et al., 1993; Vørs et al., 1995; Ekebom et al., 1996; Patterson and Simpson, 1996; Tong et al., 1997, 1998; Bernard et al., 1999). Rhynchomona s nasuta is common and widespread, but usually does not occur in large numbers. Our observations are in good agreement with those of Larsen and Patterson (1990). This species can be distinguished from small species of Amastigomonas by the bulbous snout.