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Cryptodifflugia

Cryptodifflugia is a genus of arcellinid testate amoebae. It contains all the species previously grouped as the genus Difflugiella, which is now a synonym of Cryptodifflugia.

Description

Cryptodifflugia species are characterized by a shell with an oval egg-like shape with a short neck. Their surface is either smooth or adhering foreign particles. The shell can be colorless, yellow or brown, composed of an outer proteinaceous material that is usually lined. The shell's aperture is terminal, and has either a circular or an oval shape. They present pseudopods in the form of ectoplasmic anastomosing reticulopods, i.e. like fine threads that can branch or anastomose (meaning they can form links with each other) to create a dense network.

Classification

The classification of the genus, as revised in 2017, identifies 23 species along with some subspecies:

Excluded taxa

Several taxa previously accredited to Cryptodifflugia or Difflugiella have been excluded from the 2017 revision:

  • Difflugiella heynigi <small>Schönborn, 1965</small> and Cryptodifflugia lamingerae <small>Chardez, 1977</small> do not match the description of the genus because they are larger and characterized by an apical aboral end of the shell and a prominent long neck with collar; it is possible that these two species will soon be included in the genus Chardezia instead.
  • Cryptodifflugia sakotschawi and C. kelensis were mentioned by Tarnogradsky in 1945 but their descriptions were never published.
  • Cryptodifflugia turfacea <small>Zacharias, 1903</small> and C. vanhoornei <small>Beyens et Chardez, 1987</small> are thought to be more probably a different genus because they're characterized by a retort-shaped shell.

References