This translation includes selected passages of a longer paper on Mastigophora and Rhizopoda found in saline lakes Weissovo and Repnoie. The translation focuses on describing taxonomy and morphology of Ochromonas species and Pedinella. Plates and figures of the original paper are not included in the translation

Vysotskii, A. V.

English

Aquatic Commons

FBA Transl. (New Series) No. 23 
translated by J.W.G.Lund 
Mastigophora i Rhizopoda, naigennyya v" Veisovom" i R(ê)pnom" ozerakh". 
C" 2 tabl. [Les Mastigophores et Rhizopodes trouves dans les lacs sales 
Weissovo et Repnoie (pres Slaviansk, gouvern. Kharkow).]. Trud. Obshch. 
Ispuit. Prir. Kharkov, 21, 119-140. 1887. 
VYSOTSKII, A.V. 1888. 
[Ochromonas & Pedinella] 
p. 121. Ochromonas nov. gen. 
In lake Veisov live two representatives of this genus, similar to, each 
other in the vegetative stage but, for all that, sharply differing in their 
zoospores which could not be attributed to already known genera of the 
group of Chrysomonads, and figuring in this list provisionally under a new 
generic name. 
p. 122. 4. Ochromonas triangulata nov. gen. et sp. nova. 
The zoospore is of elongate triangular shape, in which the apex ox the 
triangle is the front end of the body. - but the base is the rear end. At 
the apex, but somewhat to the side of it, the flagellum is attached, serving 
as the organ of movement, but beside it there is found yet another minute 
flagellum (Nebengeissel) passively concerned with the movement of the zoospore. 
By this little flagellum lies a 'red eyelet'. The. chromatophore disc, the 
doubleness of which I cannot certify, is always found in the anterior half 
of the body of the zoospore and covers the body on one longitudinal side but 
on the other side is found a broad gap between its margins. The rear half 
of the body, consisting of colourless protoplasm, has a shining appearance 
and often contains grains of varying size; here too sometimes there is a 
'feeding vacuole' (Pl. 1, fig. 1, a-f). 
Footnote: I have made a more or less literal translation in order to 
avoid distorting the author's meaning - J.W.G. Lund. 
2. 
Division of the zoospore begins with the development of four 
flagella - two big and two small; then begins a stretching of the body in 
a transverse direction by which is stretched also the chromatophore, while 
keeping the bending up of its margin. Interestingly in this, is the 
position of the 'eyelet'. Before the stretching of the zoospore, the eyelet 
is not seen at its usual place, but instead in the central part of the body 
appear strongly shining granules, having a reddish gleam, sometimes moving 
energetically. Then, in the last stage of division, the 'eyelet' again 
appears near the flagella (Pl. 1, fig. 2 ) . Sometimes the process of 
division goes very slowly and then is noticed a curious alteration of the 
form of the body, produced by the development of processes of the colourless 
part of the protoplasm (Pl. 1, figs. 3 and 4 ) . Apart from division, 
multiplication sometimes is accomplished by budding; in the way Fischer 
described for Bodo jaculans : on the body is formed a process, gradually 
elongating and thickening at the end; at first it is colourless and only by 
enlargement takes on a brownish colour. On reaching a size approximately 
equal to 1/3 the size of the maternal organism, the two usual flagella are 
noticed, the colouration becomes more intense and finally a typical zoospore 
is obtained, joined to the maternal cell by a very delicate stalk which then 
is torn apart (Pl. 1, fig. 5). 
Finally there exists a third method of multiplication in this stage, 
consisting in this, that the maternal body falls apart into several parts, 
keeping for some time a connection among themselves. The division begins 
with the eyelet and chromatophore, while the colourless part of the cells and 
equally the flagellum remain as before, undivided. In one of the cases seen by 
me, the coloured part fell apart into 4, having one flagellum which was feebly 
vibrating and a single communal colourless protoplasm which, in this time, 
altered itself in an amoeboid fashion and produced delicate pseudopodia 
(Pl. 1, fig. 10). Such a condition lasted from 12 o'clock in the afternoon 
to 9 o'clock in the morning of the following day, when, among many fine 
pseudopodia, I noticed a second new flagellum : about two hours afterwards 
that part of this complex zoospore, which had one of the flagella, began to 
3. 
p. 124 
separate from the main body by means of a bud, rapidly separated completely 
and swam away; the remaining part of the zoospore had not divided further 
during this day and next morning it was not present in the usual place. 
Nutrition of the zoospore sometimes occurs, as described above, by 
means of the capture of solid food particles - small bacteria, oil of the 
cedar nut etc. The catching of these substances is by delicate, sometimes 
very peculiar, pseudopodia and, falling into the zoospore, they are 
distributed into vacuoles in its rear portion (Pl. 1, fig. 1d.); in the 
presence of oil of the cedar nut the rear portion of the zoospore is filled 
with small shining granules. 
The zoospore stage can last for very different lengths of time depending 
on the environmental conditions - from half a day to several months. In one 
of the cultures, Ochromonas, in the course of the whole winter, lived on the 
glass of the vessel (among palmelloid algae) above the level of the water, 
without loss of the flagellum and, on its transference into the water at 
once went over into the zoospore stage. 
Footnote 1. The ability to catch solid food is excellently demonstrated 
in Chrysom. flavicans, thanks to the considerable size of the 
body of this organism. Very often specimens were found which had contained 
diatoms in the rear part of their body so that it was possible to see the 
succeeding process of 'digestion', to the degree in which it showed itself 
in the change of the diatom, which consisted in the reduction of its content 
and transformation, finally, of the chromatophore into a small, dark brown 
little clot. Once there was observed the case of the capture of a considerable 
piece of Leptothrix which greatly elongated the body of the Chrysomonad in the 
transverse plane. The fact of the capture of solid food here stands outside 
any doubt and it is not understandable why Bütschli doubts this, despite 
the convincing figures of Stein. 
4. 
Apart from the zoospore stage, Ochromonas has also a vegetative -
(protococcoid) stage which appears in two ways depending on whether it takes 
place on the surface of water or under water. In the first case there is 
obtained a one-layered film consisting of flattened cells, spread out parallel 
to the surface of the water, closely drawn together; there is no eyelet, the 
chromatophore is of a different type and in a different position; in the 
centre of the cell there is usually a colourless, light area (Pl. 1, fig. 11'). 
Under water, the growth of the colony occurs in all directions,'the separate 
cells are not flattened and are usually of elongate oval form with shining 
protoplasm and intensely coloured chromatophores. In this stage Ochromonas 
in no way differs from Chromophyton Rosanoffii Wor. in the corresponding state 
of this latter organism. 
p. 125. Ochromonas has a cyst stage with a thick two-contoured wall and 
contents distributed in two sections : in one is placedthe 
chromatophore with turned up margins, in the other - a colourless, strongly 
shining protoplasm with granules. Development of the cyst consists in the 
swelling of its wall and division of the contents into 2, 4, etc., up to the 
formation of considerable colonies, enclosed in the very delicately mucilaginised 
wall; in this stage is seen the red 'eyelet'(Pl. 1, fig. 8, a, b; fig. 9, a, 
b.). 
Ochromonas biciliata n.g. et sp.n. 
The typical form of the zoospore is elongate elliptical, although 
variations are encountered - from an ovoid to elongate cylindrical form. In 
the anterior end of the body are located two identical flagella and the 
pulsating vacuole (sometimes two); the end of the body sometimes bulges 
asymmetrically in relation to the long axis of the body in the form of a lip. 
There is no 'eyelet'. Two chromatophores' are visible, situated in the body 
of the zoospore just as in the preceding species and, on death of the 
zoospore, always attaining the form of little clots. In the rear part of 
the body of the zoospore there are sometimes vacuoles containing undetermined 
little clots and giving the right, on the basis of analogy with the above 
described facts, to consider that these are 'digestion vacuoles'; this part 
5. 
of the body is able to alter greatly in an amoeboid manner, without the 
formation of fine pseudocilia peculiar to the preceding species (Pl. 1, 
fig. 12, a,b,c). The zoospore stage usually lasts up to midday, after that 
the vegetative stage sets in, appearing in two ways depending on its location 
on the surface of the water or under water. In both cases this stage differs 
little from the corresponding state of the preceding species. Sometimes 
O. biciliata, in the vegetative stage, begins to alter in an amoeboid manner, 
at which time thick pseudopodia are developed (Pl. 1, fig. 13 a, b.). 
Undoubtedly, the described forms stand close to the genus Chromulina 
Cnk. [syn. Nonas (ochracea) Ehr. (Infusionsth.), Fromentel (Etudes etc., 
328, XXVII, f. 21). Chromulina Cnk. (Arch. f. m. Anat. 1870, 435; Bütschi 
(ib. 1878, 214); Fisch (Zeit. f. wiss. Zool. 1885, 67); Wille (Bot. Centralbl. 
1885, 258). Chrysomonas (ochracea); Stein (Org. Inf. III, 2), S. Kent (Manual 
etc., p. 402) Chromophyton Woronin (Bot. Zeit. 1880, S-Abdr. l)]: the 
morphological features of the zoospores and the cycle of development, in general 
characteristics, have been described similarly by all these authors, there 
exist features of similarity sufficient for the relation of all the described 
forms in one genus together with our two species; but, with the similarity 
in general features, these forms differ so in details (for example - number 
of flagella, absence or presence of a red 'eyelet' and the general form of the 
zoospore), that it is necessary to recognise all the forms, described up till 
now, as independent. 
p. 128. 16. Pedinella hexacostata, nov. gen. et sp. nova. 
Despite its insignificant size, this organism has considerable 
morphological differentiation, permitting the distinction of three parts in 
its body : colourless anterior and posterior ends and a pigmented central part. 
This last has the form of a hexagonal prism, sometimes of a truncated pyramid 
Footnote 1. Excluding Chrom. Woronina Fisch which is identical with 
Chromophyton Rosanoffii Wor. 
6. 
so that, in transverse section (when observed en face) there is a hexagonal 
figure (Pl. 1, fig. 17). The chromatophore is thickened on the ribs, the 
spaces between being either weakly pigmented or completely colourless (in 
those individuals in which, in general, a faint pigmentation is observed). 
From the colourless anterior part of the body arises a long, thick flagellum, 
in the normal conditions of existence of this organism (in the attached 
state) usually vibrating only at the end. Apart from the flagellum, this 
part of the body carries very delicate, with difficulty seen, appendages of 
indefinite number, immobile, therefore it is possible to suppose that they 
are not protoplasmic and are analagous to those appendages which are met 
with in other brown flagellates (Pl. 2, fig. 15). 
Within the body lies the nucleus, visible in transverse section of 
the body. Here too are found granulae and food vacuoles of varying degrees 
of size; there are no contractile vacuoles. From the posterior end of the 
body arises a stalk capable of contracting as a result of shortening (but 
not of bending). Usually with the least irritation, the body of this flagellate 
immediately moves the point of the attachment of the stalk while it moves 
away very slowly and, in this position, it is also possible to see thickening 
of the stalk: as it lengthens again, it takes up its previous thickness. 
Occasionally the body moves from the place of attachment on the whole length 
of the stalk : usually it is somewhat shortened by the formation of local 
thickening of the stalk. 
Pedinella takes solid food. Small kinds of bacteria are propelled by the 
fiagellum to the front part of the body and fall between the previously 
described appendages but then, with the aid of a vacuole are drawn into the 
body. Vacuoles of considerable size are distributed in the anterior part of 
the body, often pressing on the chromatophore and bending its margins - a 
phenomenon noted in Chrysomonas flavicans. Multiplication takes place by 
division; first of all two flagella appear, then begins a splitting of the 
stalk at the place of its attachment to the body and, at the same time, the 
body lengthens in a transverse direction, when the chromatophore also is 
stretched out (Pl. 1, fig. 16, a). As, before the beginning of elongation, the 
number of ribs does not increase and, in the time of the whole process of 
7. 
division, the regularity of the distribution of the chromatophore is 
disturbed - so it is possible to think that here are not six separate 
discs but one, all the more that, with the already considerable stretching 
of the body, the place where it looks squeezed in, is, all the same, 
pigmented. After division the daughter cells remain for some time in 
connection by means of a thin crosspiece, as a consequence of which is 
obtained the curious figure shown in the drawing b of Pl. 1, fig. 16. After 
the complicated division of the body and stalk (fig. 16, c) the young 
individuals live together having a common point of attachment; in spite of 
this the development of colonies was not observed. 
The described organism usually lived attached to branches of 
Cladophora, especially between diatoms which had settled on the latter, 
among which it conceals itself, shortening the stalk when distrubed by infusoria, 
rotifers and others. Sometimes Pedinella is torn away* from a place and then 
gracefully is carried in the water, describing large circles, during which 
the stalk is dragged behind the body. 
Habit. Lake Repno. 
After p. 137. 
Explanation of the Figures. 
Ochromonas triangulata n. g. et sp.n. (fig. l-ll). 
Fig. 1. a-f. Various forms of the zoospore, in the rear part of the body of 
which are seen granules of various size and food vacuoles.-
Fig. 2. Dividing specimens: a - 4 flagella have developed, and the eyelet 
already is not visible; b. the body is stretched transversely and in 
each of its halves, near the flagella, has appeared an eyelet. 
* Sryvaetsya can mean either 'is torn away' or 'tears itself away' (i.e. 
spontaneously) - J.W.G. Lund. 
8. 
Fig, 3-4. Various changes of the form of the body, observed during slowly 
occurring division. 
Fig. 5. Development of a zoospore by means of a bud. 
Fig. 8. Cysts; a - resting and b - growing out, in which the wall begins to 
swell and mucilaginise. 
Fig. 9. Multiplication of the cyst by division: a - content has fallen 
apart into two; b - to four parts. 
Fig. 10. Division, in which, first the chromatophore falls apart into 
several portions but the colourless protoplasm still remains 
single and carries out amoeboid movement. 
Fig. 11. Vegetative (protococcoid-like) stage, developed on the surface of 
the water. Cells strongly crowded, spread parallel to the surface 
of the water and distributed in the form of a one-layered stratum. 
Ochromonas biciliata n. g. et sp. n. (fig. 12-14). 
Fig. 12. a, b, c. Rear part of the body can alter strongly in an amoeboid 
manner. c, v- contracting vacuoles, n. the cell nucleus. 
Fig. 13. Vegetative stage, altering in an amoeboid manner and forming thick 
pseudopodia (a, b) and, c - pulsating vacuole, n - cell nucleus. 
Pedinella hexacostata n.g. et sp. n. (fi.g. 15-17). 
Fig. 15. Solitary specimen in which, apart from the flagellum, the thin 
appendages are also seen. 
Fig. 16. Division: a - the body begins to divide and the stalk has branched, 
b - dividing halves of the body still connected by a thin crosspiece, 
branching of the stalk stronger. c - division wholly completed. 
Fig. 17. Optical transverse section of the body; on examination of it en face, 
is obtained a hexagonal form. 
Note: As a consequence of the sudden death of the author certain figures, in 
details, remained without explanation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice 
 
 
Please note that these translations were produced to assist the scientific staff of the 
FBA (Freshwater Biological Association) in their research. These translations were 
done by scientific staff with relevant language skills and not by professional 
translators. 
 
 
 


Mastigophora and Rhizopoda found in saline lakes Weissovo and Repnoie (near Slaviansk). Selected passages describing Ochromonas species and Pedinella. [Translation of: Trudy Obshch.Ispyt.Prir.imp.khar'kov.Univ. 21 119-140, 1888]

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Mastigophora and Rhizopoda found in saline lakes Weissovo and Repnoie (near Slaviansk). Selected passages describing Ochromonas species and Pedinella. [Translation of: Trudy Obshch.Ispyt.Prir.imp.khar'kov.Univ. 21 119-140, 1888]

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