An amoeba extends a number of fine pseudopods and moves very slowly. Here its movements is sped up to 10 times the normal speed, so it appears to be moving quickly. A large particle attached to the back of the amoeba is being dragged along by the organism. When it arrives at the surface of an aggregate, the amoeba squeezes its flexible body through a narrow opening, leaving the particle behind.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University This amoeba is Vexillifera or closely-related organism.
Its method of locomotion is similar to that of Mayorella, but unlike Mayorella,
this organism extends many narrow pseudopodia (Dactylopodia) forward.
When a ciliate or flagellate accidently runs into the amoebas body, two pseudopodia tightly grasp the unlucky prey and transfer it to the central part. At first the prey struggles to get free, but soon stops moving. Finally the prey loses its shape and becomes unrecognizable.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University This organism resembles Vanella in its radial shape,
but unlike Vanella, it catches food while floating freely.
The organism may be Vexillifera or it may belong to a related family.
It sometimes moves on a solid surface, while at other times it proceeds
while swaying its long pseudopodium in front.
An important criterion for classifying amoeba is their method of locomotion.
Since amoeba appear similar when they are floating,
it is difficult to determine what species this organism is.
When the amoeba concentrates on catching food using one or two pseudopodia, the remaining pseudopodia become very short. When many food particles approach all at once, the amoeba becomes confused and cannot decide which pseudopodium to extend. When this happens, the hunt is a complete failure.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University The organism is Vexillifera.
When a ciliate or flagellate accidently runs into the amoebas body, two pseudopodia tightly grasp the unlucky prey and transfer it to the central part. At first the prey struggles to get free, but soon stops moving. Finally the prey loses its shape and becomes unrecognizable.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University The organism is Vexillifera.
A hidden amoeba extends several slender pseudopodia from behind the end of one particle. As the amoeba comes to other particles, it extends pseudopodia from behind the one of particle. As the amoeba never shows itself completely, we cannot recognize where it is. In the meantime the amoeba and several particles begin journey to another place together with a colony of flagellates.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University Two types of amoeba take turns appearing in this video.
Diaphoropodon is characterized by fine spiny projections on the surface of its shell, but to see these projections clearly requires higher magnification and resolution.
Diaphoropodon is characterized by fine spiny projections on the surface of its shell, but to see these projections clearly require higher magnification and resolution.
Diaphoropodon is characterized by fine spiny projections on the surface of its shell, but to see these projections clearly requires higher magnification and resolution.
An amoeba 100 microns in length actively moves using its many slender pseudopodia. In the cytoplasm, we can see a contractile vacuole and numerous particles that were probably captured as food.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University This is Vexillifera, a comparatively large amoebae. The shape and color of the cell body are similar to Mayorella, but unlike Mayorella, it extends several long, thin pseudopodia called dactylopodia.
