''Porosia'' is a genus of arcellinid

testate amoebae Testate amoebae (formerly thecamoebians, Testacea or Thecamoeba) are a polyphyletic group of unicellular amoeboid protists, which differ from naked amoebae in the presence of a test (biology), test that partially encloses the cell, with an apert ...

belonging to the family

Hyalospheniidae Hyalospheniidae is a family of arcellinid testate amoebae and the sole family of the infraorder Hyalospheniformes. Commonly referred to as "hyalospheniids", these lobose amoebae are characterized by their ability to generate a shell composed of ...

. Described in 1942, it used to be a monotypic genus with the sole species '' P. bigibbosa''. However a second species, '' P. paracarinata'', was discovered in 2015.

Morphology

The original 1942 description of ''Porosia'' corresponds to the type species '' P. bigibbosa''. The description was expanded in 2015 to fit both species. The organism consists of a pyriform, laterally compressed

test Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities Arts and entertainment * ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film * ''Test'' (2014 film) ...

with a rounded posterior end, two large invaginated pores situated on each lateral compression, both of which connected by internal tubes in '' Certesella''. Small lateral pores are seen anterior to the large ones. Lateral keels, present in '' P. paracarinata'' but absent in '' P. bigibbosa'', surround a third of the posterior lateral margins. The test itself is composed of

euglyphid The euglyphids are a prominent group of filose amoebae that produce shells or tests that in most described species is reinforced by siliceous scales, plates, and sometimes spines, but this reinforcement is absent in other species. These element ...

shell plates embedded in a disorganized cement. The test's aperture or "pseudostome" is surrounded with a lip made of organic compounds. It is closely related to '' Certesella'', but lacks a punctuated neck.

Ecology

''Porosia'' species are rare and have been seen inhabiting ''

Sphagnum ''Sphagnum'' is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as sphagnum moss, also bog moss and quacker moss (although that term is also sometimes used for peat). Accumulations of ''Sphagnum'' can store water, since ...

moss Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...

es, forest litter and

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...

References

External links

{{taxonbar, from=Q26447096 Amoebozoa genera Tubulinea