testate amoeba Gromia oviformis

Gromia oviformis has been collected in McMurdo Sound and South Georgia Island as well as western Europe, California, and New Zealand at depths from intertidal zone to 366 meters [1,2,4,5]. G. oviformis is seen as a brown, shiny shelled ovoid or sphere attached to the substrate by fine protoplasmic attaching pseudopodia extending from its oral region [1,2,4,5]. G. oviformis is multinucleated and may grow up to five millimeters in diameter [2,5].

G. oviformis can be found in assocation with seaweeds, on rock-faces and stones, or in muddy and sandy sediments [1,2,5]. Gromia sp. are a dominant species in the McMurdo jetty soft-bottom macrofaunal community [7]. G. oviformis is a scavenger and eats diatoms and plant and animal debris [2]. G. oviformis has been found in gut contents of the fish Trematomus bernacchii [6].

Due to its pseudopodial morphology, G. oviformis is regarded as a testate amoeba or sarcodine (order Filosea) [3,5].

1: Journal of Foraminiferal Research 16(4):285-292, 1986; 2: New Zealand Journal of Science 5(2):121-136, 1962; 3: Deep-Sea Newsletter 28:12-13, 1999; 4: Antarctic Journal of the United States 31(2):122-124, 1996; 5: Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) 18(2), 1969; 6: Polar Biology 13(5):291-296, 1993; 7: Ophelia 24(3):155-175, 1985

Text ©Peter Brueggeman. Photograph ©Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan). Photograph may not be used in any form without the express written permission of Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan)