Meisterfeldia is a genus of arcellinid testate amoebae erected in 2016 that unites several new species as well as old species previously found in the genus Cryptodifflugia.[1][3] Five of the newly described species were first found and isolated from subarctic tundra soil surrounding a river near Chokurdakh, Russia,[1] while the last one, described in 2021, was recovered from tree hollows in Moscow.[2]

Meisterfeldia
Meisterfeldia turfacea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Phylum: Amoebozoa
Class: Tubulinea
Order: Arcellinida
Family: Cryptodifflugiidae
Genus: Meisterfeldia
Bobrov 2016[1]
Type species
Meisterfeldia chibisovi
Bobrov 2016
Species[1][2]

Description

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Members of this genus are characterized by their ovoid, bilaterally symmetrical, laterally compressed tests. These tests are either colorless, yellow or brown, composed of proteinaceous material that lacks mineral particles. The test's aperture is circular, localized either in a ventrally subterminal position or a neck inclined vertically. Sometimes, the aperture's border shows a slight swelling.[1]

Taxonomy

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The genus Meisterfeldia is named after the German protozoologist Ralf Meisterfeld. It encompasses 6 species described so far, distinguished from each other through the shape and size parameters of their tests:[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Bobrov, Anatoly (2016). "Description of a New Testate Amoebae Genus Meisterfeldia with Notes on the Systematics of the Suborder Phryganellina (Amebozoa; Tubulinea; Arcellinida)". Acta Protozoologica. 55: 211–219. doi:10.4467/16890027AP.16.020.6007.
  2. ^ a b c Bobrov, Anatoly; Mazei, Yuri (2021). "Meisterfeldia bitsevi—new testate amoeba of the family Cryptodifflugiidae Jung, 1942 (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida) from the tree hollow in the urban park (Moscow, Russia) with a key to species of the genus Meisterfeldia". Zootaxa. 4908 (4): 595–600. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4908.4.11. PMID 33756608. S2CID 232339152.
  3. ^ Lahr D, Kosakyan A, Lara E, Mitchell E, Morais L, Porfirio-Sousa AL, Ribeiro GM, Tice AK, Pánek T, Kang S, Brown MW (2019). "Phylogenomics and Morphological Reconstruction of Arcellinida Testate Amoebae Highlight Diversity of Microbial Eukaryotes in the Neoproterozoic". Current Biology. 29 (6): 991–1001. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.01.078. hdl:11380/1301486. PMID 30827918.