Small free-living heterotrophic flagellates from marine sediments of Gippsland Basin, South-Eastern Australia

Abstract

A total of 85 morpho-species of heterotrophic flagellates are reported from sediments at depths from 25–3000 m in the Gippsland Basin (Australia). They are drawn from the apusomonads, cercomonads, cryptomonads, euglenids, heteroloboseids, stramenopiles, thaumatomonads, and groups of uncertain taxonomic affinities (Protista incertae sedis). Three new species, Ancyromonas impluvium nov. spec., Kurnaimonas celeris nov. spec., Sinistermonas sinistrorsus nov. spec., one combination, Psammosa unguis nov. comb., and one unidentified species are described. The biogeography of the species seen in Gippsland Basin is discussed with reference to studies in other localities. It appears that many heterotrophic flagellates are cosmopolitan.