| Desmarella moniliformis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Class: | Choanoflagellata |
| Order: | Craspedida |
| Family: | Codonosigaceae |
| Genus: | Desmarella |
| Species: | D. moniliformis |
| Binomial name | |
| Desmarella moniliformis Kent, 1878 | |
Desmarella moniliformis is a species of choanoflagellata belonging to the family Codonosigidae. [1]
The species is found in the northern parts of the Atlantic and north eastern parts of the Pacific [2] near the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Sweden. [3]
The morphology and structure of D. moniliformis consist of ribbon like row that is slightly curved that contains around 2 to 20 cells with an average of 8 cells per colony. [1]
Cells of D. moniliformis have a typical ovoid form. The average body length is 7.3 µm (micrometers) and a width of 5.7 µm. [1]
Desmarella moniliformis feeds on primarily bacteria and some algae. The prey specifically bacteria gets trapped in the funnel shaped collar of the tentacles then it's later transported toward a pseudopodium for ingestion. [4]
D. moniliformis is a protist which is a type of eukaryotic Flagellate organism which are members of Choanoflagellate, and furthermore in category with Heterotrophic Nanoflagellates (HNFs) as they are flagellates that function as consumers in the aquatic food web.
D. moniliformis plays an essential role as mineral recyclers in the microbial food web breaking down organic material which is bacteria and algae. [5] [4]
