Protistology 1 (3) 120–123 (2000)
First isolation of a cyst-forming Vannella species, from soil - Vannella persistens n. sp.
(Gymnamoebia, Vannellidae)
Alexey V. Smirnov and Susan Brown
Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Soil Science, St. Petersburg State University, Russia, and
Summary
No member of the genus Vannella described to date is known to form cysts. A new species, Vannella persistens, isolated
from upland grassland soil (Sourhope, Scotland) has trophozoite morphology typical for the genus, but forms peculiar, double-walled cysts.
Cyst formation appears to be a natural adaptation for soil amoebae, although not all species isolated from soil have been shown to form
cysts. Vannella seems to be one of the most commonly occuring amoeboid genera in all habitats but remains one of the most
difficult among gymnamoebae for species differentiation.
Key words: amoebae, Lobosea, Gymnamoebia, Vannella, systematics, ultrastructure
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