The genus Polytomella: A review of classification, morphology, life cycle, metabolism, and motility

A review of the Genus Polytomella, initially described by Aragao in 1910, is presented. Polytomella spp. are colorless eukaryotic quadriflagellates. They are typically oval or elliptical to pyriform in shape and may range in size from 9 × 8 to 30 × 20 μm. The four flagella are approximately body length and originate from an anterior cruciform papilla. The objective was to compile all the information in the literature in order to update the first and only review of Polytomella published by Pringsheim in 1955. The following areas are discussed: classification, morphology, life cycle, metabolism, and motilitv.