Hyalospheniidae

Hyalospheniidae
Temporal range: Middle Devonian[1] 370–0 Ma
Hyalosphenia papilio
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Phylum: Amoebozoa
Class: Tubulinea
Order: Arcellinida
Suborder: Glutinoconcha
Infraorder: Hyalospheniformes
Lahr et al. 2019[4]
Family: Hyalospheniidae
Schulze, 1877[2] emend. Kosakyan & Lara, 2012[3]
Type genus
Hyalosphenia
Stein 1857
Genera
Diversity
87 species
Synonyms[5]
Nebelidae
Taranek 1882[6]

Hyalospheniidae is a family of arcellinid testate amoebae and the sole family of the infraorder Hyalospheniformes. Commonly referred to as "hyalospheniids", these lobose amoebae are characterized by their ability to generate a shell composed of either organic matter or siliceous particles that may be recycled from euglyphid amoebae. They inhabit soil or freshwater habitats, and are abundant on Sphagnum mosses.

Hyalospheniid amoebae originated after the middle Devonian, around 370 million years ago. They are considered important bioindicators, and are frequently used for environmental monitoring. Their fossils are studied to investigate the paleoecology of prehistoric wetland habitats. The classification of hyalospheniids has changed several times since the 19th century based on morphological criteria. Initially classified as two separate families, Hyalospheniidae and Nebelidae, they were later proven to be synonymous through phylogenetic analyses.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Lahr 2015 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Schultze 1877 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference RedefinitionHyalospheniidae was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference ArcellinidaPhylo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference PerspectivesTestate was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Taranek 1882 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).