An interesting group of testate amoebae is the genus Difflugia. There have been described hundreds of species, but the question is: how many of them are true species? Most descriptions are inaccurate of just based on one single test. Probably this group consists of several genera. Only DNA sequencing can help here. One of my projects is to make a visual map of all known species. It’s one of the most difficult taxa to identify.
Cyclopyxis magna – from Stepanek, 1967 Cyclopyxis magna Stepanek, 1967 Diagnosis: Test relatively high, covered with large mineral grains. The edge of the pseudostome is
Cyclopyxis marinus – from Decloitre, 1977 Cyclopyxis marinus Decloitre, 1977 Diagnosis: Compared to Cyclopyxis aplanata the pseudostome is very minimally invaginated. It is surrounded by
Cyclopyxis triangularistoma – from Decloitre, 1980 Cyclopyxis triangularistoma Decloitre, 1980 Diagnosis: Ventral side exclusively covered with very small mineral grains, giving it a pearled appearance.
Cyclopyxis pirini – from Golemansky 1974 Cyclopyxis pirini Golemansky 1974 Diagnosis: Ventrally, the test is circular. Laterally, the test is low hemispherical with a more
C. eurystoma f. alta, after Jung, 1942 Cyclopyxis eurystoma f. alta Jung, 1942 Diagnosis: Test and coverage as the type. However, the side profile is
C. kahli var. crucigenia, after Stepanek, 1963 Cyclopyxis kahli var. crucigenia Stepanek, 1963 Diagnosis: This variety differs from the type by a small and highly