portrait

Description:

Holomastigotes are spirotrichonymphids with flagellar rows originating from the apex and progressing helically covering the whole cell body. In a species the size and the number of flagellar rows are variable. Nucleus very anterior, no columella. Dictyosomes scattered along the flagellar rows or concentrated at the posteriror of the nucleus. Axostyle present in some species. Cytoplasm filled with spherical food vacuoles, no wood particles, pinocytic nutrition. Holomastigotes elongatum Grassi, 1892, small form with two, three or four flagellar rows (two focusing, phase contrast).