Korotnevella discophora Smirnov, 1999


Korotnevella discophora 1-8: locomotive; 9: resting cell in agar culture; 10-11: floating form. Scale bar 20 mkm

Korotnevella discophora 1: total section of the cell; 2: nucleus; 3: mitochondria; 4: bacteria in the cytoplasm; 5-6: cell surface. Scale bar: 500 nm.

  • Locomotive form variable, usualy triangular with the basis directed anteriorly. The cell always has anterior hyaline border, from which it forms hyaline dactylopodia. Sometimes, the moving cell elongates in antero-posterior direction and forms one or two long, thin, anteriorly directed subpseudopodia. However, cells of this sort do not seem to be pre-floating, and are able to keep this type of organisation and to move with these pseudopodia for a long time.
  • Some specimens have bulbous uroid, but most lack differentiated uroidal structures. The average length of the locomotive form is 23 mkm (16-34 mkm), breadth, 9 mkm (6-14 mkm); L/B 2-2.5.
  • The floating form has 1-4 very long, thin, tapering hyaline pseudopodia.
  • The cell has one vesicular nucleus 1-2 mkm in diameter, with rounded central endosome. One contractile vacuole. No cytoplasmic cristals. Cyst were not found.
  • Electron microscopy show that the amoeba is covered with disk-shaped scales. Each scale has conical projection in the middle, resembling a specific sort of hat. The diameter of the scale is about 350 nm, and the central projection is about 80 nm high. Cytoplasmic organelles were never well preserved. Based on the material available, we can only state that the cell has mitochondria with dense matrix and tubular, probably anastomosing cristae. The nucleus has a dense, nearly compact central nucleolus and numerous patches of electron-dense material (probably chromatin), situated throughout between the nucleolus and nuclear envelope. A single large dyctiosome is situated near the nucleus.
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