''Plagioselmis'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomencla ...
of
cryptophytes, including the
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
''
Plagioselmis punctata''.
''Plagioselmis'' was first described by Butcher in 1967 as a
saltwater
Saline water (more commonly known as salt water) is water that contains a high concentration of dissolved salts (mainly sodium chloride). On the United States Geological Survey (USGS) salinity scale, saline water is saltier than brackish water ...
life form. In 1994, Novarino placed the
freshwater
Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does inclu ...
''Rhodomonas minuta'' into the genus, giving it the new binomial name of ''Plagioselmis nanoplantica''. ''Nanoplantica'' is the only freshwater species in this genus.
''Rhodomonas'' was first described by Klaveness, who agreed with the reclassification.
The cells are comma-shaped and appear red or similar colors. Some strains within the genus appear to have a
furrow
A plough or plow (Differences between American and British spellings, US; both ) is a farm tool for loosening or turning the soil before sowing seed or planting. Ploughs were traditionally drawn by oxen and horses, but in modern farms are draw ...
, while other do not. Researchers have suggested that those without furrows should be placed into a new genus.
References
Cryptomonad genera
{{Cryptomonad-stub