Discovery of a New Marine Flagellate

Discovery of a new marine flagellate

Researchers have identified a previously unknown species of unicellular organism in seawater collected near Hachijojima Island. The newly discovered species, named Viscidocauda repens, belongs to the protist group Endomyxa and is notable for possessing a persistent flagellum -- marking the first recorded instance of such a flagellate within this group.

New Marine Flagellate Species Discovered

In a groundbreaking discovery that reshapes our understanding of protist biology and evolutionary history, researchers from the University of Tsukuba have identified a novel flagellated protist within the enigmatic group Endomyxa. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions that members of this group either lack flagella entirely or possess them only transiently during certain life stages. The organism, designated as Viscidocauda repens, exh…