Bicosoecida

Article By:

Lackey, James B. Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Last reviewed:October 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.080800

An order of Zoomastigophorea (Protozoa). They are colorless, free-living cells, each with two flagella, one of which is used for attaching the organism to its exoskeleton (lorica). Although the attachment is normally from the front end, the flagellum emerges alongside the primary or vibrating one (see illustration). The anterior end in many species (Codomonas annulata, Poteriodendron petiolatum, and Stephanocodon stellatum) is ameboid, or at times appears to be formed into a lip which can turn in and engulf a bacterium. Stenocodon has the same sort of lip but neither of the two flagella is used for attachment. These Bicosoecida are common in freshwater, often seen attached to desmids or other algae. Bicosocca mediterranea is common at times in salt water, where assemblages of it are found on diatoms. The order has very few genera and species, and individuals easily escape observation because of small size and transparency. See also: Cilia and flagella; Protozoa; Zoomastigophorea

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