Ploeotia plumosa Ekebom et al., 1996

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 : 529-530

Ploeotia plumosa Ekebom et al., 1996

(fi gures 17d, 18h, k)

Description. One cell observed, measuring about 20 Mm long and 10 Mm wide, slightly fl attened. Cell outline oblong-ovate, with widely spaced grooves dorsally and ventrally. The dorsal grooves are more widely spaced than those of the ventral face. Often with a large hyaline inclusion reaching from the middle of the cell to the posterior end. Many slightly curved inclusions abut on the pellicular grooves. The two fl agella are unequal in length; the anterior fl agellum moves with sweeping motions and is about 1.5 times the cell length. The trailing posterior fl agellum is about 3.5 times the cell length, is thicker than the anterior fl agellum and emerges as a hook. The ingestion organelle has two prominent rods and extends almost to the posterior end of the cell. The reservoir is situated in the left-hand side of the cell. Glides smoothly in straight lines.

Remarks. This species was described from marine sites in subtropical and tropical Australia by Ekebom et al. (1996) and Patterson and Simpson (1996). Cell length was previously reported to be from 17 to 36 Mm by previous authors. The individual described here was in the lower part of the size range reported by previous observers but otherwise our observations are in accord with the observations by previous authors. Ploeotia plumosa is easily distinguished from other species in the genus Ploeotia by the distinctive surface inclusions.