Cryptomonads:Pa

rade of Taxa

BOTANY 102:
FINAL REPORTING Allawan, Bagni, Buni, Buyore, Caringal Castillo
CRYPTOMONODALES
Cryptomonas
relatively small-3-50 micrometers in
"HIDDEN SINGLE CELLS," length members of the phytoplankton;

MOST INCONSPICUOUS ALGAE. readily eaten by a wide variety of

planktonic herbivores,

PROBABLY MOST APPRECIATED BY natural collections not easily preserved;

PLANKTON ECOLOGISTS - HIGH burst readily when subjected to
environmental shock.
QUALITY ZOOPLANKTON FOOD

(GRAHAM, 2000).
Cryptomonas marssonii

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonadales
Family Cryptomonadaceae
Genus Cryptomonas
Species C. marssonii

The cells were approximately

symmetrical with rounded antapex in
ventral view under LM and contained
two chloroplasts per cell without
pyrenoids. They showed a sigmoid
shape with the sharply pointed and
curved antapex in lateral view (Kim et
al., 2007). HTTPS://WWW.CCAP.AC.UK/CATALOGUE/STRAIN-979-64
 Cryptomonas ovata

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonadales
Family Cryptomonadaceae
Genus Cryptomonas
Species C. ovata

C. ovata are known to double their

populations in less than a day. Higher rates
should be expected for species with
smaller body sizes. This is a freshwater
species and found among vegetation.
Measurements for this species could be 20-
25 micrometers (Salmaso & Tolotti, 2009).
HTTPS://ALCHETRON.COM/CRYPTOMONAS
Cryptomonas pyrenoidifera

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonadales
Family Cryptomonadaceae
Genus Cryptomonas
Species C. pyrenoidifera

This is a brownish freshwater species (Kim

et al., 2007).

HTTPS://WWW.CCAP.AC.UK/CATALOGUE/STRAIN-979-61
 Cryptomonas erosa

Kingdom: Chromista
Phylum: Cryptophyta
Class: Cryptophyceae
Order: Cryptomonadales
Family: Cryptomonadaceae
Genus: Cryptomonas
Species: C. erosa

This is a freshwater species. It doubles its

population in less than a day. Higher rates
should be expected for species with
smaller body sizes (Salmaso & Tolotti,
2009).

https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=29975
CHILOMONAS

colorless due to the absence of a

chloroplast and pyrenoid.

Cytopharynx is deep, low and half

surrounded by granules (trichocyst).

One contractile vacuole is anteriorly

positioned.
Chilomonas paramecium

Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Chilomonas
Species C. paramecium

C. paramecium cell size is 8-40

μm long and 4-15 μm wide.
Posteriorly narrowed; slightly
bent “dorsally”. Widely
distributed in stagnant water.
image source: http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Images/Mastigophora/Chilomonas/paramecium10.html
Leucocryptos marina

Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Leucoryptos
Species L. marina

The morphology of L. marina is a

rigid cell with asymmetrical droplet
shape that is 7-30 μm long and 3-10
μm wide with two rows of large
extrusomes and two approximately
equal flagella. This species is a
solitary life form and is widely
distributed and feeds on
nanoplanktons. image source: http://www.iopan.gda.pl/~wiktor/MAriclim/taxa/marina_70.htm
Chilomonas oblonga

Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Chilomonas
Species C. oblonga

C. oblonga is a solitary life form

and has a morphology of a typical
chilomonas wherein it does not
contain a chloroplast nor a
pyrenoid resulting in its
colorlessness. This species has two
flagella of unequal length. image source: https://www.plingfactory.de/Science/Atlas/Kennkarten%20Algen/AndereAlgen/Source/Chilomonas%20oblonga.html
GONIOMONADALES
Goniomonas
COLORLESS AND DOES NOT CONTAIN A PLASTID.

Food organisms are taken up by an anterior tubular invagination, the

infundibulum, and digested in food vacuoles in the cytoplasm

Storage granules occur inside an extension of the outer membrane of

the nuclear envelope.

Large ejectisomes occur under the anterior plasma membrane and small
ejectisomes occur between the periplast plates.
Goniomonas truncata

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Goniomonas
Species G. truncata
https://www.nies.go.jp/chiiki1/protoz/morpho/flagella/goniomon.htm

Cell flattened, outline tending to ovate, rounded posteriorly, obliquely truncated anteriorly. Two nearly identical flagella about
half as long as cell length emerge from small antero-lateral depression. Four to six densely packed refractile extrusomes
located parallel to the anterior margin of the cell. Nucleus usually situated mid-laterally to the side where flagella emerge,
contractile vacuole lateral at the opposite side of the cell. In some cells 2-4 more or less conspicuous, slightly oblique
longitudinal stripes present on the periplast, in other cells no stripes visible. Sometimes swimming with flagella directed
forward; sometimes in contact with substrate either motionless or gliding with one flagellum trailing.
Goniomonas amphinema

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Goniomonas
Species G. amphinema
http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106307 on 2022-01-11

Two unequal flagella with different orientations: the long one, which trails behind, and the short one, which is held straight while
swimming. It has a flagellar appendages (mastigonemes) located only on its short flagellum. A row of extrusomes parallel to the
truncate anterior margin. The cell size of this species ranges from 4–8 µm. They are flattened and oval like in shape, however
most of this species observe being obtuse anteriorly and rounded posteriorly . The granular area on the apical surface is
carbohydrate rich, containing GlcNac residues. Lining on the cell surface is defined as delicate stripes, are actually deep grooves
running the length of the cell.
Goniomonas avonlea

Kingdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Goniomonas
Species G. avonlea

A colorless, bacterivorous marine flagellate with flattened cell body. Cell size ranges from 8–11µm long, 6–7µm wide,
somewhat truncated at the anterior. Two subequal flagella are slightly longer than the cell and arise from an anterior depression.
One flagellum is directed forward whereas the other runs backward toward the cell posterior through a longitudinal groove. A
conspicuous band of large ejectisomes runs across the anterior margin. Younger cells tend to have a more pointed posterior end
compared to older cells, which have a more rounded end. When swimming, the cell rotates around its longitudinal axis.
Swimming cells slide along surfaces with the posterior flagellum trailing beneath the cell. It has a distinct 18S rRNA gene from
those of other Goniomonas species.
Goniomonas pacifica

KINGdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Goniomonas
Species G. pacifica

Cells are 4 to 10 microns long and with several distinct longitudinal

ridges on both sides of the cell. There is a row of about seven to nine
ejectisomes near the anterior end of the cell, which is truncated with
the posterior end rounded. Two flagella of similar length emerge from
a small anterior depression and are directed anteriorly. When the cells
are swimming, two flagella diverge in different directions.
CHROOMONADALES
Chroomonas
DESCRIBED BY ANTON HANSGIRG.

They are generally barrel-shaped but slightly compressed, the ventral

surface being somewhat flattened.

Majority of them are blue-green in color from the biliprotein Cr-

phycocyanin 645.

cells have a strong tendency to alternate between a motile state and a

palmenoid state in which they produce macroscopic mucilaginous
aggregations.

only cryptomonad genus to possess an eyespot, however it is not

present in all species.
Chroomonas mesostigmatica

KINGdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Pyrenomonadales
Family Chroomonadaceae
Genus Chroomonas
Species C. mesostigmatica
https://d3i71xaburhd42.cloudfront.net/1512b5661561414978c505971b49e24eeccd17d7/3-Figure1-1.png

This species possesses a red eyespot in the center of the cell which is
an extension of the chloroplast beyond the pyrenoid. It has an overall
blue-green color whereas the eyespot itself is pale yellow and is
situated deep within the cell, between one-half and two-thirds of the
way from the anterior, flagellated end. Between the eyespot and the
cell surface are two vacuoles. The small vacuole is positioned close to
the eyespot disc whereas the larger vacuole lies immediately adjacent
to it.
Chroomonas nordstedtii

KINGdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Pyrenomonadales
Family Chroomonadaceae
Genus Chroomonas
Species C. nordstedtii

It is described as having subsperical or oblong-cylindrical cells 6-8

µm broad and 9-12 µm long. The cells have two anterior, subsequal,
briskly moving flagella which emerged through the anterior
vestibulum.. The chloroplasts are simple, parietal, and of a color
between that of cankered brass and blue, and the pyrenoids are
spherical.
Chroomonas salina

KINGdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Pyrenomonadales
Family Chroomonadaceae
Genus Chroomonas
Species C. salina
https://www.ccap.ac.uk/catalogue/image/cache/catalog/strainImages/image_27_125-800x600.png

This species has a broad anterior, a sub-apical opening of the gullet on the flattened ventral side and a tapering posterior.//
It has an arrangement of numerous small rectangular plates, of varying sizes in different parts of the cell; in longitudinal
rows with the anterior raised edge of each plate out of step with those of neighbouring rows by a constant amount. The
protrusions of individual trichocysts give a markedly serrated appearance to the periplast in sections/ and are situated
beneath the anterior facing edges of each of the plates. This consequently give the periplast a clearly hexagonal honey-
comb pattern which overrides the spiral aspect of the arrangement
Chroomonas pochmanni

KINGdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Pyrenomonadales
Family Chroomonadaceae
Genus Chroomonas
Species C. pochmanni

Cells are barrel shaped to ovoid, 10–18 μm long and 8–13 μm wide, and blue-
green in color. A single chloroplast and a massive pyrenoid are present in the
cell. They have a gullet but lack a furrow. Each cell has one massive blue-
green chloroplast with a large pyrenoid. Also, a large, prominent contractile
vacuole is located in the anterior of the cell which is specialized for capturing
and containing bacterial cells. Numerous large starch grains usually are
present in the cell.
Chroomonas coerulea

KINGdom Chromista
Phylum Cryptophyta
Class Cryptophyceae
Order Cryptomonodales
Family Cryptomonodaceae
Genus Chroomonas
Species C. coerulea

Cells are ellipsoid and sometimes slightly concave dorsiventrally, measuring 8–12 µm in length and 4–6 µm in width. The cell
posterior is rounded. Inner and surface periplast components consist of small rectangular periplast plates. A single blue-green
chloroplast is present, with a single pyrenoid and a prominent stigma, which is associated laterally with the pyrenoid. Only a
vestibulum and gullet are present. Flagella are shorter than the cell length. Cells often form extensive mucilage in which groups
of cells remain embedded and attached to a substrate. Ubiquitous in Rocky Mountain lakes, reservoirs, and streams.
ITIS. (n. d.). Chilomonas paramecium. Integrated Taxonomic Information System -
Report. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?
search_topic=TSN&search_value=10611#null
REFERENCES
WoRMS. (n. d.). Leucocryptos marina (Braarud) Butcher, 1967. World Register of
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Nordic Microalgae. (n. d.). Leucocryptos marina (Braarud) Butcher, 1967. Nordic
Microalgae and Aquatic Protozoa. http://nordicmicroalgae.org/taxon/Leucocryptos
%20marina

ITIS. (n. d.). Chilomonas oblonga. Integrated Taxonomic Information System -

Report. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?
search_topic=TSN&search_value=180942#null

EQAT Phytoplankton. (n. d.). Chilomonas oblonga. External Quality Assessment

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%5D=30505&tx_pydb_pi1%5Bcur%5D=12
Kim, J. H., Boo, S. M., & Shin, W. G. (2007). Two freshwater cryptomonads new to
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