Cercomonas is a genus of flagellate cercomonads.

Characteristics

Members of this genus of cercomonads move by gliding. They are typically spindle-shaped. They have a trailing posterior flagellum that usually extends all the way to the rear of the cell body. The pseudopods and filopodia, which are generally unbranched, are broad and flat-lobed and occur frequently. The nuclear extension extends distinctly toward the nearby centrioles. Tubular mitochondrial cristae are usually slightly flattened. A proximal cartwheel is typically present in the anterior centriole but not in the posterior centriole. Both centrioles contain a thick distal compartment with a more distinct, diaphragm-like outer region. A fibrillar striated projection is present only in the anterior centriole. Posterior centriole has a single proximal transverse plate. Extrusomes can be considered nearly isodiametric osmiophilic bodies. Some species also have a complex life cycle that includes multinucleate plasmodia and spherical cysts, which can be either smooth or rough walled.

Taxonomy

It belongs to the family Cercomonadidae, order Cercomonadida and phylum Cercozoa and contains eighty-three species.

Species:

References