EDMONDSON — PROTOZOA OF IOWA. 



25 



This rare and remarkable organism has come under my obser- 

 vation but once, the individual being dark granular in appear- 

 ance, the endoplasm crowded with minute spherical, oil-like glob- 

 ules. Leidy reports that the body of Vampyrella may be of a 

 brick or orange-red color. 



The peculiar characteristic of the species is that it possesses 

 two varieties of pseudopodia, the more numerous capitate variety, 

 each having a short stem ending in a minute round head. These 

 are usually projected and withdrawn with great rapidity. A few 

 simple pseudopodia like those of Adiiiop/uys sol are intermingled 

 with the capitate variety. Normally the organism rests quietly 

 in the water, but if the micro.scopist is patient some strange phe- 

 nomena may be observed. Suddenly, as if not pleased with its 

 surroundings, the animal begins to elongate it.self, acquiring an 

 oblong-oval form. The capitate pseudopodia are still active, the 

 simple rays at the region of the body now corresponding to the 

 anterior are withdrawn, while those at the opposite extremity 

 begin to vibrate and the organism slowly moves through the 

 water. 



Figure 37, Plate VI, illustrates the normal individual at rest. 

 Fig. 38, PI. VI, represents the organism during its amceboid 

 phase, as observed by the author. 



After a period of more or less duration the animal again comes 

 to rest, the spherical shape is assumed and the vibrating pseudo- 

 podia become simple and ray-like once more. 



Such phenomena as are exhibited by Vampyrella lateritia, are, I 

 believe, of no little significance to the biologist. The sudden 

 transformation of pseudopodia into flagella, and vice versa, is a 

 visible example of the close relationship between amoeboid and 

 ciliary movements. The cause or causes underlying such phe- 

 nomena are not easily determined. Wonderful must be the met- 

 abolism in this bit of protoplasm to bring about such marvelous 

 physiological changes. 



Found in Johnson county, in fresh water, among diatoms and 

 other one-celled plants. 



Order, CHAI^ARATHORACIDA. 



RAPHIDIOPHRYS Archer. 



Body spherical, composed of granular protoplasm, often bright 



[Proc. D. A. S., Vol. XI.) 4 [May 5. 190^-] 



