Three new limax amoebae isolated from marine surface sediments: Vahlkampfia caledonica n sp, Saccamoeba marina n sp, and Hartmannella vacuolata n sp

Three new limax amoebae, isolated from marine, surface sediment samples are described using light microscopic and fine structural features. One species, characterized by eruptive locomotion typical of the family Vahlkampfiidae, is assigned the name Vahlkampfia caledonica (47.4 +/- 16.0 mu m x 12.1 +/- 3.2 mu m). The other two monopodial species move with steady locomotion characteristic of the family Hartmannellidae. One is a Saccamoeba with a distinct posterior bulbous uroid, vacuoles containing prominent crystals, glycocalyx with cup-like components, and spherical nucleus with central nucleolus. It is assigned the name Saccamoeba marina (72.5 +/- 14.9 mu m x 20.7 +/- 4.5 mu m). The other hartmannellid limax amoeba moves by steady locomotion and has a rather constant monopodial form, lacks a uroid, but has occasional trailing masses of cytoplasm, contains cup-like structures in the glycocalyx, and is characterized by numerous vacuoles. Based on the latter characteristic, it is assigned the name Hartmannella vacuolata (32.8 +/- 6.8 mu m x 8.5 +/- 1.8 mu m). Few limax amoebae have been described from marine environments and these data provide additional evidence that limax amoebae may be more abundant in marine sediments than realized previously.