Abstract
Paramoebidium, along with Amoebidium, constitute the order Amoebidiales, traditionally included in the ecological group trichomycetes and conventionally studied by mycologists, although they are phylogenetically embedded in the protist clade Mesomycetozoean (Ichthyosporea). The genus Paramoebidium has 13 accepted species, all associated with immature stages of aquatic insects. Three new species of Paramoebidium, P. angulatum, P. avitruviense and P. ecdyonuridaei, are described here, associated with either Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera nymphs. During routine observations of the amoeboid phases, uroidal adhesive filaments at the posterior end of the amoebae were noted and photographed, this being a novel observation for the Amoebidiales. This and other features are illustrated for all taxa.
Acknowledgments
The author is indebted to Ll. Sáez for his help with logistics during the surveys and to N. Ortiz for his help in some of the field collections in Vallforners (Montseny Natural Park, Barcelona) and also to Merlin M. White who provided valuable suggestions on the text. This research was financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN) of Spain by means of the project no. CGL2009-07141 “Biosystematics, Ecology & Biogeography of European Trichomycetes I. Occidental Europe (EUROTRIC-I)”.