Light and Electron Microscopy of Metanophrys diminuta N. Sp.

ABSTRACT. Metanophrys diminuta n. sp., a marine philasterine scuticociliate collected from the south Florida coast, was preserved for transmission electron microscopy using a mixed fixation technique. Rough endoplasmic reticulum profiles were found proximal to mitochondria and within mitochondrial fenestrations (or deep pockets). In longitudinal sections mitochondrial profiles appear to be very long, occupying almost the entire length of the cell. The micronucleus is roughly spherical to ovoid, semi-enclosed in the macronucleus. The oral polykinetid #1 is composed of two files of kinetosomes. The c segment of the oral dikinetid is composed of three to four kinetosomes. This species is the smallest within the genus Metanophrys.