Cochliopodium barki Kudryavtsev, Brown and Smirnov, 2004

Diagnosis:  In locomotion rounded or oval, anterior and lateral hyaloplasmic edges with numerous irregularities, few subpseudopodia, posterior edge narrowed, with numerous trailing filaments. One vesicular nucleus. Occasionally up to five nuclei. Encystment in some strains. Scales consist of a circular grid-like base plate, a vertical central column of four stalks and a funnel-shaped top, formed by 20 thick radial spokes and numerous thin concentric rings.

Dimensions: Length in locomotion 11-46 µm (mean 27 µm); breadth,1 4-80 µm (mean 32-33 µm); L/B ratio,0.3-1.03 µm (mean 0.82-0.87 µm). Nucleus 4-10 µm in diameter (mean  7 µm), nucleolus 2-4 µm in diameter (mean 3 µm). Diameter of the base plate 0.7-1.0 µm (mean 0.81 µm), of the top 0.6 -0.85 µm (mean 0.67 µm), height of a scale 0.35-0.45 µm. Cyst diameter 10-19 µm (mean 13 µm).

Habitat: fresh water, different water types.

Remarks: Species distinction is only possible with an electron microscope. The shape of the micro scales is an important key characteristic.