Drawing

Description:

Trimastix inaequalis Bernard et al., 2000. Cells are ovoid, hunched to pyriform, and 7 to 13 microns long. A groove occupies the anterior three quarters of the ventral face and the dorsal side is markedly convex giving the cell a hunched appearance. Four flagella insert subapically at the head of the groove in a cruciate arrangement with one anterior, one posterior, one directed to the left and one directed to the right. The acronematic posterior flagellum is two to five times the length of the cell. Its proximal portion typically beats within the groove with wide amplitude, short waves and may appear thickened, suggesting the presence of vanes. The anterior flagellum and one lateral flagellum are one to one and half times the length of the cell. The other lateral flagellum is about one third as long. The nucleus is conspicuous, roundish to pear-shaped, and is generally located anteriorly. The nucleolus is large and may be irregular. The cells surface may appear irregular or may have adhering particles. Food vacuoles were observed. The cells swim with a slow rotation and with the anterior flagellum directed anteriorly or laterally. Cells were often observed attached to the substrate by the distal portion of the posterior flagellum. Detritus-bound cells may glide or become plastic and posterior strands of cytoplasm were seen occasionally.