Description of Nuclearia

Amoeboid organism with thin thread-like (filose) non-granular non-anastomosing pseudopodia, body shape flattened or spherical (ish). If flat, the pseudopodia emerge from the anterior margin, if spherical pseudopodia tend to emerge from all over the body. Cell body without covering or with mucus layer. May form organic walled (mucus-sheath) cysts. A member of the naked filose amoebae or nucleariid filose amoebae (also called the Cristidiscoidea) many of which were previously classified among with the heliozoa as Rotosphaerids. Typically without colour (cf. vampyrellids with which they have previously been classified). Ultrastructural studies revealed their distinctive identity. Found rarely. Phagotrophic, food generally seems to be algae. Genus revised by Patterson (1984) to accommodate species previously assigned to Astrodisculus, Nuclearella, Nuclearina,. Heliosphaerium and Nucleosphaerium.