Spironematellidae

Spironematellidae (previously known as Spironemidae)^[1] is a family of heterotrophic flagellates, in the group Hemimastigophora. They vary in size and shape from the ellipsoid Hemimastix amphikineta (14 × 7 μm) to the vermiform Spironematella terricola (43 × 3 μm), and are united by the possession of two rows of cilia, called kineties.^[2]

Spironematellidae
Hemimastix amphikineta
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Phylum:	Hemimastigophora
Class:	Hemimastigea
Order:	Hemimastigida
Family:	Spironematellidae Silva 1980 emend. Shɨshkin 2022[1]
Genera
Hemimastix Spironematella Stereonema
Synonyms
Paramastigaceae Skuja 1948 Spironemidae Doflein 1916

Phylogenomic analysis shows that Hemimastigophora are a distinct and ancient lineage of eukaryotic organisms, forming a possible sister clade to the supergroup Diaphoretickes.^[3][4]

Classification

The classification of Spironematellidae, as of 2022:^[1]

Spironematella multiciliata

• Hemimastix Foissner, Blatterer & Foissner, 1988
  • H. amphikineta Foissner, Blatterer & Foissner, 1988
  • H. kukwesjijk Eglit & Simpson, 2018^[3]
• Stereonema Foissner & Foissner 1993 non Kützing 1836
  • S. geiseri Foissner & Foissner 1993
• Spironematella Silva 1970 emend. Shɨshkin 2022 (=Spironema Klebs 1893 non Vuillemin 1905 non Léger & Hesse 1922 non Rafinesque 1838 non Hochst. 1842 non Lindley 1840 non Meek 1864)
  • S. multiciliata (Klebs 1892) Silva 1970 (=Spironema multiciliatum Klebs 1893)
  • S. terricola (Foissner & Foissner 1993) Shɨshkin 2022 (=Spironema terricola Foissner & Foissner 1993)
  • S. goodeyi (Foissner & Foissner 1993) Shɨshkin 2022(=Spironema goodeyi Foissner & Foissner 1993)