anterior

Description:

Pyrsonympha (pierce-o-nymph-a) is an oxymonad flagellate, a group found as endobionts within termites etc. This one came from Reticulotermes. Pyrsonympha may or may not have an anterior holdfast, four - eight flagella, typically adhering to the cell surface, but as evident here, not always adhering. With an axostyle, seen here as a dark curving internal structure, which may or may not emerge from the end of the cell (not here). They may or may not have associated epibiotic bacteria, not here. Phase contrast.