Why Actinophrys is commonly called Sun Animalcule?
Actinophrys sol is a fresh-water species of heliozoa frequently referred to as the sun animalcule. The name spawns from the numerous radiating pseudopodia that surround the spherical organism, which give it a sun-like appearance under the microscope.
What phylum is Actinosphaerium in?
SarcomastigophoraActinophryid / PhylumThe phylum Sarcomastigophora belongs to the Protista or protoctista kingdom and it includes many unicellular or colonial, autotrophic, or heterotrophic organisms. It is characterized by flagellae, pseudopodia, or both.
It is polyphyletic, and it is not a universally recognized classification. Wikipedia
Where can Actinosphaerium be found?
pond water
It is a protist that uses its long axopodia to capture prey. Actinosphaeria are also known as sun animalcules and are approximately 0.2 – 1.0mm wide.
Is Actinosphaerium an amoeba?
Sarcodina: Protozoans (amoebas) that move with pseudopodia The Actinosphaerium is a protist (protozoan) and belongs to the Phyllum Sarcodina. It looks like a sea urchin and is from 200-1000 micrometers wide.
Where can I find heliozoa?
They may be found in both freshwater and marine environments.
What is Actinosphaerium adaptation?
The Actinosphaerium has a food vacuole, which is a vacuole with a digestive function in the protoplasm of a protozoan. Next it has an contractile vacuole, which is a vacuole in some protozoans that expels excess liquid on contraction.
What size is Actinosphaerium?
Actinosphaerium species are multinucleate, often reaching a diameter of 1 mm (0.04 inch).
How do Actinophrys reproduce?
Like other sarcodines, or amoebae, the major reproduction in Actinophrys takes place asexually by binary fission, a division into two similarly equal parts (Figure 3). However actinophryid heliozoa have a different sexual reproduction called autogamy which does not occur in other groups.
What is another name for Sun animalcule?
Actinophrys sol is a common species often referred to as the sun animalcule. Acanthocystis turfacea is a similar species commonly called the green sun animalcule because its body is coloured by harmless symbiotic green algae (zoochlorellae).
How does Actinosphaerium reproduce?
Actinosphaerium is a genus of heliozoans, the members of which look similar to tiny sea urchins due to their spherical shape and radiating, spiny pseudopodia. Depending on conditions and food supplies, areas may contain large populations, the heliozoans quickly reproducing asexually through binary fission or budding.
Are Actinosphaerium autotrophic or heterotrophic?
Cells have contractile vacuoles near periphery for buoyancy adjustment. Pseudopods contain coiled microtubules for support, and are sticky so they adhere to prey. Heterotrophic (no chlorophyll).
Is heliozoa a phylum?
SarcomastigophoraHeliozoa / Phylum