Opalina
Encyclopedia
Opalina is a genus
of Protozoa
found in the intestines of frog
s and toad
s. It is without a mouth or contractile vacuole
, covered with nearly equal flagelliform cilia, and possessing numerous nuclei, all similar. All the species are obligate endosymbionts, most likely commensal, improbably parasitic, in cold-blooded vertebrate
s. Its body is leaf like. Cytostome
is absent and nutrition is saprozoic, suggestive of its commensal role.
An example of a species is Opalina ranarum.
Opalina is a girl's name of Indian / Hindu origin and means a Precious Stone. Taken from opal (a semiprecious gemstone which reflects light in a dazzling display of colors), which is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word upala (precious stone, jewel). Variations of this name include Opal, Opale, Opala, Opalah, Opalia, Opaline, Opalyn, Opalyna, Opalynah, Opalyne.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of Protozoa
Protozoa
Protozoa are a diverse group of single-cells eukaryotic organisms, many of which are motile. Throughout history, protozoa have been defined as single-cell protists with animal-like behavior, e.g., movement...
found in the intestines of frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s and toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
s. It is without a mouth or contractile vacuole
Vacuole
A vacuole is a membrane-bound organelle which is present in all plant and fungal cells and some protist, animal and bacterial cells. Vacuoles are essentially enclosed compartments which are filled with water containing inorganic and organic molecules including enzymes in solution, though in certain...
, covered with nearly equal flagelliform cilia, and possessing numerous nuclei, all similar. All the species are obligate endosymbionts, most likely commensal, improbably parasitic, in cold-blooded vertebrate
Vertebrate
Vertebrates are animals that are members of the subphylum Vertebrata . Vertebrates are the largest group of chordates, with currently about 58,000 species described. Vertebrates include the jawless fishes, bony fishes, sharks and rays, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds...
s. Its body is leaf like. Cytostome
Cytostome
A cytostome or cell mouth is a part of a cell specialized for phagocytosis, usually in the form of a microtubule-supported funnel or groove. Food is directed into the cytostome, and sealed into vacuoles. Only certain groups of protozoa, such as the ciliates and excavates, have cytostomes. Such...
is absent and nutrition is saprozoic, suggestive of its commensal role.
An example of a species is Opalina ranarum.
Opalina is a girl's name of Indian / Hindu origin and means a Precious Stone. Taken from opal (a semiprecious gemstone which reflects light in a dazzling display of colors), which is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit word upala (precious stone, jewel). Variations of this name include Opal, Opale, Opala, Opalah, Opalia, Opaline, Opalyn, Opalyna, Opalynah, Opalyne.