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Name derivation:
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Classification:
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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?
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Morphology:
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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).
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Similar genera:
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Calliacantha, Campylocantha, Cosmoeca, Nannoeca, Platypleura (Ibid.).
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Habitat:
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Marine plankton, widespread latitudes.
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References:
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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).
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