portrait

Description:

Portrait of Diploeca flava a salpingoecid choanoflagellate. The cell body (protoplast) Is seen within a double-walled lorica. Iron salts color the thick outer layer brown. The clear, thin, trumpet-shaped inner layer of the lorica is seen projecting beyond the thick outer layer. The collar of long microvilli surrounding the single terminal flagellum is seen extending from the protoplast beyond the inner neck of the lorica. A single contractile vacuole is seen in the protoplast. The flagellum creates water currents directing food particles to the microvilli. Food particles are ingested at the bases of the microvilli. This genus is distinguished from Salpingoeca by its double-walled lorica. Diploeca may be confused with Diplosigopsis. In the latter genus what appears to be a clear trumpet-like extension of the lorica is actually a cytoplasmic collar extending from the protoplast to surround the wreath of microvilli (for an excellent discussion and illustration of the differences between these two genera see P. Bourrelly (1981) Les Algues D'eau Douce (Tome II) pp 130-135. Societe des Editions Boubee. Collected from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho December 2003. DIC optics.