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Lepocinclis

{{Short description|Genus of algae}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Lepocinclis tripteris - 400X - 2 (10388691043).jpg

|image_caption = Lepocinclis tripteris

|taxon = Lepocinclis

|authority = Perty, 1849

|type_species = Lepocinclis globulus

|type_species_authority = Perty{{AlgaeBase genus | id=43653 | title=Lepocinclis Perty, 1849, nom. cons. | access-date=2025-05-04 }}

}}

File:Lepocinclis tripteris - 400X - 1 (10388482005).jpg

Lepocinclis is a genus of algae belonging to the family Phacaceae.{{cite web |title=Lepocinclis Perty, 1849 |url=https://www.gbif.org/species/3208529 |website=www.gbif.org |access-date=28 April 2021 |language=en}} The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, and is primarily part of the plankton in freshwater habitats (rarely brackish ones).

Description

Lepocinclis consists of single, free-swimming cells, with the flagella, eyespot (stigma), and flagellar swelling similar to that of Euglena. The cells are rigid or semi-rigid (they may bend somewhat, but are not metabolic).{{cite book |editor-first1=John D.|editor-last1=Wehr|editor-first2=Robert G.|editor-last2=Sheath|editor-first3=J. Patrick|editor-last3=Kociolek |date= 2014 |edition=2 |title= Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification |last1= Triemer|first1=Richard E. |last2= Zakryś |first2=Bożena |chapter= Chapter 10. Photosynthetic Euglenoids |url= |location= |publisher= Elsevier Inc. |page= |isbn=978-0-12-385876-4 }} The cell shape is variable but species-specific: they may be ovoid, fusiform, cylindrical, sometimes twisted; the cell is usually not flattened (rarely flattened or triangular) in cross section. Cells often with a tapering posterior spine; the cell is surrounded by a pellicle with spiral striations. Cells are typically filled with numerous small, discoid chloroplasts without pyrenoids, which give the cell a green color. A few species have secondarily lost their chloroplasts, and are therefore colorless. Cells are also filled with paramylon grains, of two different sizes (dimorphic); the large paramylon grains are ring-shaped or rod-shaped.

Taxonomy

The circumscription and species-level taxonomy of Lepocinclis has changed significantly with molecular phylogenetic analyses.{{cite book | title= Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições | edition=2 | year=2006 | first1=Carlos E. M. |last1=Bicudo | first2=Mariângela | last2= Menezes | publisher= RiMa Editora | pages=508 | isbn= 857656064X }} For example, in 2003 some elongate species with a semi-rigid pellicle were transferred to Lepocinclis, such as Lepocinclis acus.{{cite journal |pmid=12812373 |year=2003 |last1=Marin |first1=B |last2=Palm |first2=A |last3=Klingberg |first3=M |last4=Melkonian |first4=M |title=Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of plastid-containing euglenophytes based on SSU rDNA sequence comparisons and synapomorphic signatures in the SSU rRNA secondary structure |volume=154 |issue=1 |pages=99–145 |journal=Protist |doi=10.1078/143446103764928521}} These species were formerly considered to be part of the genus Euglena, subgenus Rigidae sensu Pringsheim. Another change involved the genus Cyclidiopsis, which differed from Lepocinclis sensu stricto in having colorless cells (no chloroplasts). Cyclidiopsis was found to be included within the clade of Lepocinclis, and thus made a synonym.{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/jeu.12094 |title=The Genus Cyclidiopsis: An Obituary |date=2014 |last1=Bennett |first1=Matthew S. |last2=Triemer |first2=Richard E. |journal=Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology |volume=61 |issue=2 |pages=166–172 |pmid=24325246 }}

Species delimitation involves morphological characters such as the shape and size of cells,{{cite journal|doi=10.1111/jpy.12949 |title=Molecular and Morphological Delimitation of Species in the Group of Lepocinclis ovum-like taxa (Euglenida) |date=2020 |last1=Łukomska-Kowalczyk |first1=Maja |last2=Chaber |first2=Katarzyna |last3=Fells |first3=Alicja |last4=Milanowski |first4=Rafał |last5=Zakryś |first5=Bożena |journal=Journal of Phycology |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=283–299 |pmid=31730236 |bibcode=2020JPcgy..56..283L }} and the number and shape of paramylon grains.{{cite journal|doi= 10.1111/jpy.13220|title= Toward the robust resolution of taxonomic ambiguity within Lepocinclis (Euglenida) based on DNA sequencing and morphology|date= 2022|last1= Chaber|first1= Katarzyna|last2= Łukomska-Kowalczyk|first2= Maja|last3= Fells|first3= Alicja|last4= Milanowski|first4= Rafał|last5= Zakryś|first5= Bożena|last6= Declerck|first6= O.|journal= Journal of Phycology|volume= 58|issue= 1|pages= 105–120|pmid= 34719033|pmc= 9300208|bibcode= 2022JPcgy..58..105C}}

The following species are recognized in the genus Lepocinclis:

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References

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Category:Euglenozoa

Category:Euglenozoa genera