Genus AMŒBA Auct.
The pseudopodia are lobose, sometimes absent, the body then progressing by a flowing movement; the body consists of ectoplasm and endoplasm, the latter being granular and internal, the former hyaline and external. There is always one nucleus and one vacuole, but both may be more numerous. Reproduction takes place by division or by spore-formation. Fresh-water and marine.
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Fig. 1.— Amœba guttala. [ ENLARGE ] |
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Amœba guttala Duj. Fig. 1.
A minute form without pseudopodial processes, extremely hyaline in appearance, and characterized by rapid flowing in one direction. The body is club-shape and moves with the swollen end in advance. A comparatively small number of large granules are found in the swollen portion, while the smaller posterior end is quite hyaline. Contractile vacuole absent, and a nucleus was not seen. Frequent in decomposing vegetable matter. Length 37µ. Traverses a distance of 160µ in one minute.
The fresh-water form of A. guttula has a vacuole, otherwise Dujardin's description agrees perfectly with the Woods Hole forms.
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Fig. 2.—Amœba sp. [ ENLARGE ] |
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Amœba ? Fig. 2.
A more sluggish form than the preceding, distinguished by its larger size, its dense granulation, and by short, rounded pseudopodia, which, as in Amœba proteus, may come from any part of the body. A delicate layer of ectoplasm surrounds the granular endoplasm, and pseudopodia formation is eruptive, beginning with the accumulation of ectoplasm. Movement rapid, usually in one direction, but may be backwards or sideways, etc. Contractile vacuole absent; the nucleus is spherical and contains many large chromatin granules. Length 80µ; diameter 56µ.