genera of Microgromiidae
Microgromiidae De Saedeleer, 1934
Diagnosis: Small testate granofilose amoebae with a membranous shell which is usually attached to the substrate. Granulopodia branching and in some species anastomosing, usually appressed to the substrate; bidirectional streaming of extrusomes. One to several apertures, sometimes with an internal septum. Feeding on bacteria.
This is a poorly studied taxon. Often descriptions are insufficient and hard to compare with each other. Below is an attempt to distinguish known genera.
| 1 | Shell free, not attached to any substrate | |
| – | Shell attached to substrate | 2 |
| 2 | Shell with one aperture | 4 |
| – | Shell with more apertures | 3 |
| 3 | Shell with two apertures | |
| – | Shell with three or more apertures | |
| 4 | Shell without any septum | |
| – | Shell with septum | 5 |
| 5 | Septum symmetrically, shell with two apartments | |
| – | Septum asymmetrically, shell one apartment | Microgromia |
Ditrema spec.
Microgromia minor, each shell c. 16 µm; the left hand cell is dividing; Vancouver, dried pond – Photomicrograph: Yana Eglit
Microgromia spec. – SEM by Eckhard Voelcker, 2015