An amoeba surrounded by diatoms

The body of this moving amoeba seems a little stiff. Small flagellates are frequently scooped inside, but after struggling for a while, they get free. As the number of surrounding diatoms increases, they collide with the amoeba more and more often, causing it to change shape.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
The shape and movements of pseudopodia are the keys to identifying naked amoeba.

This organism extends pseudopodia to attach itself to a glass surface, but the effort is disturbed by a nearby diatom and ciliate.

Therefore, it is hard to identify its genus.

With its small body and lack of fibrous pseudopodia, this organism may belong to medium- or small-sized group within the class Lobosea.

Sampling Date : 18 October 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River A  Google Map