''Podomonas'' is a genus (biology), genus of apusomonads, a group of small zooflagellates that gliding motility, glide on their posterior cilium. The genus was identified in 2010 as an independent lineage from ''Apusomonas'' and ''Amastigomonas'', and consequently were described as their own separate taxon, containing many species previously assigned to ''Amastigomonas''.

Cell structure

''Podomonas'' are ovoid or fusiform apusomonads, not divided into cell (biology), cell body and mastigophore. They lack a dense rod associated with the 8-microtubule band, just like ''Thecamonas'' but unlike ''Apusomonas'' and ''Manchomonas''. The ciliary sleeve is inconspicuous, around 1.5 μm long, seemingly triangular and merging into the ciliary base, pointing anterior (anatomy), anteriorly or slightly to the left. The anterior cilium is strongly Flagellum#Typology, acronematic, unlike ''Manchomonas'', but has a non-acronematic base extending several microns beyond the sleeve tip. The posterior cilium is acronematic or tapering, with a non-acronematic portion that extends visibly beyond the rear of the cell. The nucleus (cell), nucleus is anterior, close to the centrioles. They have finger-like, lamellar or reticulopodia, reticulose pseudopods copiously emitted by the left or posterior side of the cell. The cytoplasm is highly granular. When cultured in the absence of any other organism, ''Podomonas'' extend a prominent pseudopodium.

Species

There are currently six species of ''Podomonas''. *''Podomonas capensis'' *''Podomonas gigantea'' [''Amastigomonas gigantea'' Mylnikov 1999] *''Podomonas griebensis'' [''Amastigomonas griebensis'' Mylnikov 1999] *''Podomonas kaiyoae'' *''Podomonas klosteris'' [''Amastigomonas klosteris'' Mylnikov 1999] *''Podomonas magna''

References

External links

{{taxonbar, from=Q25369536 Taxa described in 2010 Apusomonadida