Euglypha ciliata  (Ehrenberg, 1848) Leidy, 1878

Diagnosis: Shell oviform, compressed, in cross-section elliptical; aperture oval, bordered by 8—14 dentated scales with one central finger-shaped larger tooth; body-scales relatively large, elliptical. The short spines are located in one row (singly or in pairs) along the lateral border or cover the entire surface of the shell. Nucleus ovular, large with small nucleoli scattered throughout the nucleoplasm. Plasma and filopodia normal.

Dimensions: Shell length 40—100 µm; width 24—60 µm; thickness 18—36 µm; aperture 10—23 × 7—16 µm; length of the spines 6—10 µm.

Habitat: Sphagnum and other mosses, also in sediments and between aquatic plants. Common.

Infraspecific taxa.
E. ciliata glabra Wailes, 1915
Differs from the typical form in the absence of spines. The size and ecology are the same as the typical form.

E. ciliata heterospina Wailes, 1915
Differs from the typical form in that the shell is covered with spines of varying length. The size is the same as the typical form, the length of the spines is from 5—18 µm.

Ferry Siemensma, created March 1, 2019; last modified February 20, 2025
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