Further observations on Calliacantha Leadbeater (Choanoflagellata), with special reference to C. simplexsp. nov. from many parts of the world

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B. Biological Sciences
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 1979
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; Galapagos
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.1979.0028; https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rspb.1979.0028

C. simplex is a new species with an unusually wide geographical range, occurring at sea temperatures as varied as 0°C under ice at Pt Barrow or – 1°C in arctic Canada, to 22°C on the equator at the Galapagos Islands. The morphology and range of variation are illustrated by means of light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy applied to dry whole mounts prepared in situ from freshly-gathered wild material. Among the diagnostic structural features, special interest attaches to the position of the anterior transverse costa which is located unusually far back in comparison with other members of the genus; it is also shown to be within and not outside the ring of four longitudinal costae building up the lorica chamber, although this feature can only be ascertained by scanning. The differences between this species and C. natans (type species of the genus) are shown to be greater and to involve more characters than could previously have been recog­nized, and some possible functional implications are discussed in a preliminary way.