Dimorphid

Dimorpha

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Tetradimorpha

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The dimorphids or heliomonads are a small group of heliozoa that are unusual in possessing flagella throughout their life-cycle. There are two genera: Dimorpha, a tiny organism found in freshwater, and the larger Tetradimorpha, which is distinguished by having four rather than two flagella. Bundles of microtubules, typically in square array, arise from a body near the flagellar bases and support the numerous axopods that project from the cell surface.

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Dimorphids have a single nucleus, and mitochondria with tubular cristae. Genetic studies place them among the Cercozoa, a group including various other flagellates that form pseudopods.

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Heliozoa: Heliozoa, or sun animalcules, are roughly spherical amoeboids with many stiff, microtubule-supported projections called axopods radiating outward from the cell surface. These give them the characteristic sun-like appearance for which they are named, and are variously used for capturing food, sensat...

Flagella: REDIRECT Flagellum...

Microtubule: Microtubules are protein structures found within cells. They have diameter of ~ 24 nm and varying length from several micrometers to possible millimeters in axons of nerve cells....