A New Freshwater Amoeba: Cochliopodium pentatrifurcatum n. sp (Amoebozoa, Amorphea)

Cochliopodium pentatrifurcatum n. sp. (ATCC((c)) 30935(TM)) is described based on light microscopic morphology, fine structure, and molecular genetic evidence. Cochliopodium pentatrifurcatum n. sp. (length similar to 25m) is characterized by surface microscales (0.3m tall) containing a circular porous base (similar to 0.6m diam.) with a thin peripheral rim. Five radially arranged feet, emanating from the base, support a short central column terminating apically as a funnel-shaped collar (similar to 0.5m diam.) composed of five radial, trifurcate rays extending from the center toward a thin peripheral rim. The central spine is 0.5-0.6m long. The comparative morphologies and combined molecular genetic evidence, SSU-rDNA and COI, indicate that the new species falls in a clade sufficiently different from other species to suggest that it is a valid new species.