Naked amoebae from benthic sediments in The Clyde Sea area, Scotland

The species diversity of benthic naked amoebae in marine sediments of the Clyde Sea Area in Scotland was investigated during a year-long study in In total, approximately 70 taxa of amoebae, representing 24 genera, were observed. Some isolates could not be identified and a few were probably undescribed species new to science. Most had morphologies well-suited to life in the interstitial spaces of sediments. Many were small (<10 μrn) and either Umax (cylindrical and “slug-like”) forms or very flattened genera such as Vannella, Platyamoeba, Clydonella and Stygamoeba. This study provides new information on the biodiversity of naked amoebae and draws attention to a group of protists that are common but easily overlooked in marine sediments.