title: Parvamoeba rugata n. g., n. sp., (Gymnamoebia, Thecamoebidae): An exceptionally small marine naked amoeba.
abstract: A small naked marine amoeba isolated from the Cycle Sea area on the west coast of Scotland is described as Parvamoeba rugata n. g., n. sp. It is remarkable in that it is the smallest example of a marine naked amoeba yet to be described and may represent a size class of heterotrophic amoebae worthy of future ecological consideration. It has characters justifying its inclusion in the family Thecamoebidae, notably prominent surface wrinkling obvious with the light microscope, the possession of a Thecamoeba-like glycocalyx, and a nucleus with an electron dense layer similar to the lamella of the Thecamoebidae. However, although its general morphology is compatible with membership in this family, P. rugata has additional features not found in any of the described genera of thecate amoebae. Characters of note include its extremely small size (mean length only 3.9 μm), random surface folds, a raised rather than flattened cell mass and fine subpseudopodia extending from the edge of the hyaloplasm which are not normally associated with Thecamoeba-like amoebae. These features warrant its inclusion in a new genus to be accommodated within the family Thecamoebidae.
authors.affiliation: University Marine Biological Station Millport, Isle of Cumbrae, Scotland, U.K.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rogerson