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Name derivation:

 

 

Classification:

Meringosphaera  Lohmann  1932;  4 of 12 species descriptions are currently accepted taxonomically (Guiry and Guiry 2013).

Orde Mischococcales; Family Pleurochloridaceae

However, Meringosphaera has also been classified in the Chrysophyceae, Order Synurales, Family Pleurochloridaceae by the Australian Antarctic Data Centre (Scott and Marchant 2005).

Incertae sedis?

 

 

Morphology:

Colorless nonmotile unicell, 3 – 9 μm diameter, covered with patternless oval flat scales overlain by several widely-spaced barbed spines with undulating shafts unmistakable with light microscopy. Scales and spines are siliceous (Preisig 1994).

Heterotrophic with food vacuoles containing ‘colored contents’ suggesting that they prey on algae (Vors et al. 1995).

 

Similar genera:

Calliacantha, Campylocantha, Cosmoeca, Nannoeca, Platypleura (Ibid.).

Habitat:

Marine plankton, widespread latitudes.

 

References:

Guiry, M.D. and G.M. Guiry  2013.  AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway.  http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 8 April 2013.

Lohmann, H. 1902 '1903'.  Neue Untersuchungen über den Reichthum des Meeres an Plankton und über die Brauchbarkeit der verschiedenen Fangmethoden. Zugleich auch ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis des Mittelmeerauftriebs.  Wissenschaftliche Meeresuntersuchungen, Abteilung Kiel, Neue Folge 7: 1-87.

Preisig, H.R.  1994.  Siliceous structures and silicification in flagellated protists.  In:  Wetherbee, R., R.A. Andersen & J.D. Pickett-Heaps [Eds.]  1994.  The Protistan Cell Surface.  Springer-Verlag, Vien, New York (publisher).

Scott, F.J. & H.J. Marchant (Eds] 2005.  Antarctic Marine Protists.  ISBN 0 642 56835 9.

Vørs, N., K.R. Buck, F.P. Chavez, W. Eikrem, L.E. Hansen, J.B. Østergaard & H.A. Thomsen  1995.  Nanoplankton of the equatorial Pacific with emphasis on the heterotrophic protists.  Deep-Sea Research II(42, No 2-3): 585-602).