''Mastigamoeba'' is a
genus of peolobionts, and treated by some as members of the Archamoebae group of
protists
A protist () is any eukaryotic organism (that is, an organism whose cells contain a cell nucleus) that is not an animal, plant, or fungus. While it is likely that protists share a common ancestor (the last eukaryotic common ancestor), the excl ...
. ''Mastigamoeba ''are characterized as
anaerobic, amitochondriate organisms that are polymorphic. Their dominant life cycle stage is as an amoeboid
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 ...
. Species are typically free living, though
endobiotic species have been described.
The genus is relatively understudied, and under contention regarding the composition of the genus. While dozens of species have been described (some in other genera such as ''Phreatamoeba'', ''Dinamoeba'', and ''Mastigina''), the well described species are ''Mastigamoeba aspera'' Schulze, 1875; ''Mastigamoeba simplex'' Kent, 1880; ''Mastigamoeba chlamys'' Frenzel, 1897 Lemmermann, 1914; ''Mastigamoeba viridis'' Prowazek, 1900; ''Mastigamoeba trichophora'' Lauterborn, 1901; ''Mastigamoeba balamuthi'' (Chàvez et al., 1986) Simpson et al., 1997; ''Mastigamoeba schizophrenia'' Simpson et al., 1997; and ''Mastigamoeba punctachora'' Bernard, Simpson and Patterson, 2000. ''Mastigamoeba balamuthi'' was initially referred to as ''Phreatamobea balamuthi'' and are treated by some as indistinguishable at the generic level, though this is not universally accepted. All species share many similarities with other pelobionts, such as ''Mastigella ''and the related ''
Entamoeba
''Entamoeba'' is a genus of Amoebozoa found as internal parasites or commensals of animals.
In 1875, Fedor Lösch described the first proven case of amoebic dysentery in St. Petersburg, Russia. He referred to the amoeba he observed microscopic ...
.''
It includes ''
Mastigamoeba balamuthi
''Mastigamoeba'' is a genus of peolobionts, and treated by some as members of the Archamoebae group of protists. ''Mastigamoeba ''are characterized as anaerobic, amitochondriate organisms that are polymorphic. Their dominant life cycle stage i ...
''.
A strain previously called as ''Mastigamoeba invertens'' (ATCC 50338) is now classified as ''
Breviata
''Breviata anathema'' is a single-celled flagellate amoeboid eukaryote, previously studied under the name ''Mastigamoeba invertens''. The cell lacks mitochondria but has remnant mitochondrial genes, and possesses an organelle believed to be a modif ...
anathema''.
History
''Mastigamoeba ''was described as a genus of species characterized by an ameboid body with a hyaline based cytoplasm and a flagellum. Due to its similarities to genera such as ''Mastigella ''and ''Mastigina,'' the genus ''Mastigamoeba ''was specified in 1891 to only include organisms with the following features: amoeboid flagellates with hyaline based cytoplasm, a direct connection between the flagellum and the nucleus, on occasions with lateral pseudopods, and nucleus with an elongated shape.
Throughout the 20th century, hundreds of species were described under the genus ''Mastigamoeba'' based on external morphological characteristics alone. However, recent discoveries regarding life cycles have shown that a single organism takes on many morphologies throughout its life cycle, putting the number of described species into question. There are currently 9 confirmed distinguished species of ''Mastigamoeba'', with many more in contention. Tom Cavalier-Smith described the class Archamoebae in 1983 and among others included the order Mastigamoebid, which includes the genus ''Mastigamoeba''.
Historically, amoeboid flagellates have been considered Pelobionts, which encompasses mastigamoebids and pelomyxids.
Habitat and Ecology
''Mastigamoebae'' are a type of Pelobiont. Pelobionts are considered