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The Chlorarachniophyceae are a recently described class of amoeboid unicells with cytoplasmic extensions (filose pseudopods) that hold them together in a loose colony and also capture bacteria Hibberd and Norris 1984).  They are mixotrophic, both photosynthetic and heterotrophic (ingesting bacteria).

Chloroplasts are surrounded by four membranes indicating a primary and secondary endobiosis.  A nucleomorph - remains of the nucleus of an endobiont - is located between the two pairs of membranes.

 

Motile cells occur with a single emergent flagellum and a second basal body indicating a biflagellate ancestry.  Cysts may be formed from the motile cells (Moestrup and Sengco 2001).

 

 

References:

Hibberd, D.J. and R.E. Norris  1984.  Cytology and ultrastructure of Chlorarachnion reptans (Chlorarchniophyta Divisio nova, Chlorachniophyceae Classis nova).  Journal of Phycology 20(2): 310-330.

Moestrup, Ø. and M. Sengco  2001. Ultrastructural studies on Bigelowiella natans, gen. et sp. nov., a Chlorarachniophyte flagellate. Journal of Phycology 37(4):624-646,