Raphidiocystis tubifera

R. tubifera, from Siemensma, 1991

Raphidocystis tubifera  Penard, 1904
  
Diagnosis: Periplast 10-27 µm in diameter, with tangential plate-scales and radial spine-scales. Spine-scales of two kinds: short spine-scales broadly funnel-shaped, 2.5-4.5 µm high, about 2.8 µm in diameter with a thick, hollow rim, and long spine-scales 15-27 µm high, trumpet-shaped or only slightly enlarged distally. All spine-scales with a hollow stem and a button-like base. Sometimes there are a few short spine-scales with only a cup-shaped depression. Plate-scales oval, 5.0-7.9 x 2.5-3.2 µm, with a thick border and a median line. Plate-scales and short spine-scales with a reticulate structure. The number of long spine-scales can vary greatly.

Ecology: Freshwater, mesotrophic waters. Never en masse, all year round. Switzerland (Penard 1904), Great Britain (Wailes 1939), Germany (Rainer 1968), Netherlands (Siemensma 1991), Canada (Rees et al. 1980), New Zealand, Malaysia, Chile, Sri Lanka (Nicholls and Dürrschmidt 1985).
  
Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubifera, body Ø 50 µm – rainforest Lake Cocococha, Peru

Raphidocystis tubifera

From Siemensma, 1991

Raphidocystis tubifera
  
Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubifera – SEM photomicrography Eckhard Voelcker

Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubifera – SEM photomicrography Eckhard Voelcker

Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubifera – SEM photomicrography Eckhard Voelcker

Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubifera – SEM photomicrography Eckhard Voelcker

Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubifera – SEM photomicrography Eckhard Voelcker
These radial spines were found in a dune lake along the Dutch coast. L = long spiculum, S = short spiculum. Both long spicula differ in the shape of the apex.
From a dune lake along the Dutch coast.

Air dried cell, with all three types of scales present.

Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubiferaCrailoo, Netherlands

Raphidocystis tubifera

R. tubiferaCrailoo, Netherlands
Ferry Siemensma, created February 28, 2019; last modified October 28, 2024
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