Cercomonads are small

flagellate A flagellate is a cell or organism with one or more whip-like appendages called flagella. The word ''flagellate'' also describes a particular construction (or level of organization) characteristic of many prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their ...

s, widespread in aqueous habitats and common in soils.

Characteristics

The cells are generally around 10 μm in length, without any shell or covering. They produce filose pseudopods to capture bacteria, but do not use them for locomotion, which usually takes place by gliding along surfaces. Most members have two

flagella A flagellum (; ) is a hairlike appendage that protrudes from certain plant and animal sperm cells, and from a wide range of microorganisms to provide motility. Many protists with flagella are termed as flagellates. A microorganism may have f ...

, one directed forward and one trailing under the cell, inserted at right angles near its anterior. The nucleus is connected to the flagellar bases and accompanied by a characteristic paranuclear body.

Classification

Genetic studies place the cercomonads among the

Cercozoa Cercozoa is a phylum of diverse single-celled eukaryotes. They lack shared morphological characteristics at the microscopic level, and are instead defined by molecular phylogenies of rRNA and actin or polyubiquitin. They were the first major eu ...

, a diverse group of amoeboid and flagellate protozoans. They are divided into two families. * The Heteromitidae tend to be relatively rigid, and produce only temporary pseudopods. * The Cercomonadidae are more plastic, and when food supplies are plentiful may become amoeboid and even multinucleate. The classification of genera and species continues to undergo revision. Some genera have been merged, like ''Cercomonas'' and '' Cercobodo''. Others like '' Helkesimastix'', '' Sainouron'' and '' Cholamonas'' have been moved to Helkesida, while the rest of the family Heteromitidae has been moved to Glissomonadida. * Order Cercomonadida Poche 1913 sensu Bass et al. 2009 ** Genus '' Paracercobodo'' Hovasse & Combescot 1959 ** Family ?

Krakenidae ''Kraken'' is a genus of amoebae within the Cercozoa, containing the sole species ''Kraken carinae''. These amoebae are characterized by a small round cell body and a network of thin and very long filopodia that can reach up to a mm in diameter. ...

Dumack, Mylnikov & Bonkowski 2017 *** Genus ''

Kraken The kraken () is a legendary sea monster of enormous size said to appear off the coasts of Norway. Kraken, the subject of sailors' superstitions and mythos, was first described in the modern age at the turn of the 18th century, in a travelogu ...

'' Dumack et al. 2016 ** Family Paracercomonadidae Cavalier-Smith & Karpov 2012 *** Genus '' Brevimastigomonas'' Brabender et al. 2012 *** Genus '' Metabolomonas'' Brabender et al. 2012 *** Genus '' Nucleocercomonas'' Brabender et al. 2012 *** Genus '' Paracercomonas'' Cavalier-Smith & Bass 2006 ** Family Cercomonadidae Kent 1880 sensu Karpov et al. 2006 ercobodonidae Hollande 1942*** Genus '' Eocercomonas'' Karpov et al. 2006 *** Genus '' Filomonas'' Cavalier-Smith & Karpov 2012 *** Genus '' Cavernomonas'' Vickerman 2009 *** Genus ''

Cercomonas Cercomonads are small flagellates, widespread in aqueous habitats and common in soils. Characteristics The cells are generally around 10 μm in length, without any shell or covering. They produce filose pseudopods to capture bacteria, but do n ...

'' Dujardin 1841 emend. Karpov et al. 2006 non emend. Ekelund et al. 2004 [''Neocercomonas'' Ekelund, Fredslund & Daugbjerg 2004; ''Cercobodo'' Krassilstschick 1886; ''Cercomastix'' Lemmermann 1913; ''Dimastigamoeba'' Blochmann 1894; ?''Mukdeniamonas'' Skwortzov 1960; ?''Changia'' Skwortzov 1960 non Sun 1924; ?''Reptomonas'' Kent 1880; ''Dimorpha'' Klebs 1892 non Gruber 1882] *** Genus ''Neocercomonas'' Ekelund, Daugbjerg & Fredslund 2004

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q724194 Cercomonadida, Cercozoa orders