Filipodium

Filipodium
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Chromalveolata
Superphylum: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Levine 1970
Class: Conoidasida
Levine 1988
Subclass: Gregarinasina
Dufour 1828
Order: Archigregarinorida
Grassé & Schrével 1953
Family: Selenidioididae
Genus: Filipodium
Species

Filipodium aspidosiphoni
Filipodium ozakai
Filipodium phascolosomae

Filipodium is a genus of parasitic protozoa in the phylum Apicomplexa. Species in this genus infect marine invertebrates.

This genus was described by Hukui in 1939.[1]

Taxonomy

The type species is Filipodium ozakai.

Description

The mucron is broadly funnel shaped with papillae around its rim

The gamonts are elongate, with longitudinal striations and with many protrusible filaments emerging from beneath the pellicl

The gametocysts have numerous many oocysts

The gametes dissimilar: the male gametes not flagellated

The oocysts ellipsoidal or ovoid and have 8 sporozoites.

Life cycle

The species infects sipunculid worms.

The parasite infects the gastrointestinal tract and is presumably transmitted by the orofaecal route but the details of this mechanism are presently unknown.

Host record

References

  1. Hukui (1939) On the gregarines from Siphonosoma kumanense (Kefer-stein), Spengel. J Sci Hiroshima Uni Zool 7: 1-23