GENUS: OIKOMONAS 



289 



into a number of sub-families according to the number of flagella present, 

 but it seems unnecessary to give these names. The following groups can 

 be recognized: 



A. MONADID^ WITH ONE FLAGELLUM. 



A number of minute flagellates which possess a single flagellum have 

 been described from stagnant water and infusions. Some of these are 

 exceedingly minute, and many of them may be the " swarm spores " of 

 plants or other Protozoa. Undoubtedly, many of the forms which are 

 included with the Phytomastigina might be classed with the Monadidae, 

 but for the purpose of this work they have been omitted. 



Genus: Oikomonas Kent, 1880. 

 A typical member of this genus, as defined by Kent, has an ovoid or 

 spherical body and a single flagellum, while the posterior end of the body 



Fig. 135. — Oikomonas termo : Free and Encysted Forms ( x ca. 2,000). (After 



Martin. 1912. 



1-2. Usual type. 

 6. Encysting zygote. 



3-4. Dividing forms. 



5. Stage in conjugation. 

 7. Mature cyst. 



may form a pseudopodium by means of which temporary attachment to 

 objects can be effected. Several species were described by Kent as 

 occurring in stagnant water. 



Oikomonas termo (Ehrenberg, 1838). — This flagellate, which is possibly 

 identical with the flagellate described by Miiller (1773) and Ehrenberg 

 (1838) as Monas termo, and by Stein (1878) as Cercomonas termo, was 

 studied by Martin (1912), who recovered it from soil (Fig. 135). The body, 



I. 19 



