TYPE STUDY : ELPHIDIUM

• PHYLUM: PROTOZOA
• ORDER : FORAMINIFERIDA
• GENUS : ELPHIDIUM
• SPECIES : CRISPUM.
ELPHIDIUM:
•ELPHIDIUM is a dimorphic foraminiferan.
•It is also called as pore bearer and polystomella.

•HABIT AND HABITAT

•MORPHOLOGY
a) Shell
b) Cytoplasm
c) Pseudopodia
d) Dimorphism.
•Habit and habitat:

-Elphidium is free living and

aquatic ( marine)
- Elphidium is pale yellow colour
organism
- It is unicellular organism.
Morphology:

• The firstly formed chamber is called proloculum.

• SHELL:

• The shell contains chambers(v shaped chambers)

• The chambers are filled with the cytoplasm.
• The cytoplasm contains nuclei
• Mouth is absent in Elphidium.
• The shell is hard oval in shape.
• The shell is made up of Cac03 ( calcium carbonate).
• The central part of the shell is called umbo.
• The shell of Elphidium is perforated ( the shell consist of pores)
• The cytoplasm comes of the pores and extends out to form psuedopodia.
• The shell contains many chambers(50)
• THE CHAMBERS ARE V shaped.
Cytoplasm
• The chambers in the shell are filled with cytoplasm.
• The cytoplasm surrounds the entire shell making the organism
internal.
• The cytoplasm inside the shell is endoplasm
• The cytoplasm out of the cell is cytoplasm
• Endoplasm contains mitochondria, food particles, brown coloured
granules.
Pseudopodia
• The cytoplasm which extends out from the chambers is called
pseudopodia.
• Pseudopodia can be withdrawn in lightening speed.
 Dimorphism
• Elphidium exhibit dimorphism. I.e., it is seen in two different forms
1) Microspheric form
2) Megalospheric form

• Microspheric form : The proloculum is small.

• Many nuclei are seen in Microspheric form of
Elphidium
• This form reproduces by asexual method.
•Megalospheric form :

•Its proloculum is big in size.

•Only one nucleus is present.
•This form reproduces by asexual method.
LOCOMOTION
• Elphidium is mobile in form
• It moves in the creeping form.
• Elphidium moves with pseudopodia.
NUTRITION

In Elphidium ia an omnivore.
NUTRITION is by holozoic
Elphidium eats algae

• The algae is trapped in a pseudopodial net.

Respiration
• Respiration is by surface of the body.
• The respiration is by diffusion.

EXCRETION :-
• The waste material is excreted out by diffusion.
Reproduction
• Elphidium exhibits alternation of generation. I.e in one generation
Microspheric form is seen and in other generation we find
megalospheric form.
• Microspheric form reproduces by asexual method – multiple fisssion
• Megalospheric form reproduces by asexual method – by gamets

• Microspheric form by asexual method gives birth to megalospheric

form.
• Megalospheric form by sexual method gives birth to Microspheric
form.
• The cytoplasm of Microspheric form comes out of the shell and surrounds the
shell.
• The nuclei of the cytoplasm divides repeatedly to form many nuclei(amoeboid
cells)
• Each nuclei gets a bit of cytoplasm.
• Finally a shell is secreted and inside the shell chambers are formed.

• Microspheric form by asexual reproduction = megalospheric form.

• Sexual reproduction:-

It occurs In megalospheric forms

• The nucleus of megalospheric form repeatedly divides . Each
nucleus gets a bit of cytoplasm.
• Now at this stage they are called isogametes. THE ISOGAMETES
ARE RELEASED IN THE WATER as the parent shell burst.
• Fertilization :- The isogametes swim in the water for sometime.
• the isogametes becomes elongated and loose the cilia.
• THE ISO GAMETES FUSE AMONG THEM SELVES. AND FORM ZYGOTE.
• EQCH ZYGOTE SECRTE SHELL AMONG THEMSELVES AND FORM MICROSPHERIC
FORM.
•
• megalospheric > sexual reproduction = Microspheric form
•Alternation of generation in
Elphidium.
• the history of Elphidium shows alternation of generation, the
Microspheric form undergoes asexual reproduction to produce
megalospheric form

• The megalospheric form undergoes sexual reproduction to form

Microspheric form.
• If in one generation Microspheric form is produced then in other generation
megalospheric form is seen.
• The life cycle of Elphidium takes two years to complete.
• Sexual reproduction begins in summer season.