Galeripora galeriformis González-Miguéns et al., 2021
Diagnosis: Colour ranges from transparent to yellow-orange. General test shape is rounded and flattened. The aboral side of the test has a small elevation at the top that gives the test a helmet shape; the surface does not have pores and presents a granular pattern of irregular shape. Large ridges cross the aboral side of the test. The oral side of the test is smooth, covered with an organic matrix that prevents the observation of test building units, with a central aperture. Pores are localized on the brim of the oral side and around the aperture, following a circular pattern. The aperture is invaginated outwards forming a short ring or lip.
Dimensions: According to González-Miguéns et al. (2021): Shell diameter: 71—75 μm; aperture 11—12 μm.
Ecology: Terrestrial. Moss on dry gypsum.
Geographical distribution: Type locality: Spain, Madrid, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, near Laguna del Campillo (40°19’N 3°30’W).
Intraspecific variability. The shape and number of ridges on the aboral side of the test can be variable. The number of pores around the aperture is variable. There may be certain deformations in the test that prevent it from having a perfectly circular morphology.
Diagnosis with closely related species. Galeripora galeriformis can be diagnosed by its specific sequences of the mtDNA markers and by its phylogenetic placemen. Differs morphologically from other species closely related to Galeripora arenaria by presenting (1) morphometric differences, with a smaller test and aperture diameters than all species presented here; (2) pores along the edge of the base test; (3) presence of a dome in the top part of the test; and (4) irregular granulations of the top surface of the test.
References: González-Miguéns, R., Soler-Zamora, C., Villar-Depablo, M., Todorov, M., Lara, E., 2021. Multiple convergences in the evolutionary history of the testate amoeba family Arcellidae (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida: Sphaerothecina): when the ecology rules the morphology. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society zlab074. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab074