Alabasta militaris (Penard, 1890) Duckert, Blandenier, Kosakyan and Singer, 2018

Diagnosis: Shell rigid, colourless or yellowish, compressed in broad view, narrow pyriform, reminding the shape of an ancient cannon (hence the species name) with a maximal width at about the first third from the posterior part and the sides of the test tapering towards the aperture. Shell proteinaceous often incorporating silica scales taken from euglyphid preys. Lateral pores frequently observed at ca. one third of the distance from the pseudostome to the fundus. Pseudostome fan-shaped (i.e. strongly curved) in broad view, with a notch in profile, and a thick organic lip.

Dimensions: Duckert et al. (2018): Shell length 61—77.5 μm (mean 67.9 μm); width: 31.5—53 μm (mean 37.7 μm); aperture 15.5—20.5 μm (mean 18.1 μm). Dimensions based on previous observations: Length 50—82 μm; width 25—46 μm; aperture 15—22 μm wide.

Habitat: Sphagnum swamps and mosses.

Remarks: Cash (1909) described some specimens that were broader than average, but suggests that this appears to be the only variation.

References: Duckert, C., Blandenier, Q., Kupferschmid, F.A.L.,Kosakyan, A., Mitchell, E.A.D., Lara, E., Singer, D., 2018. En garde! Redefinition of Nebela militaris (Arcellinida, Hyalospheniidae) and erection of Alabasta gen.nov. European Journal of Protistology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejop.2018.08.005