Superficially described and ignored for 92 years, rediscovered and emended: Apodera angatakere (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida: Hyalospheniformes) is a new flagship testate amoeba taxon from Aotearoa (New Zealand)

• DOI: 10.1111/jeu.12867
• Publication Date: 2021-08-05T14:49:11Z
• Authors: Clément Duckert; Quentin Blandenier; Michelle McKeown; Holden Hohaia; Stefan Luketa; Janet Wilmshurst; Enrique Lara; Edward A. D. Mitc...
• Keywords: Testate amoebae

Eukaryotic microbial diversity is known to be extensive but remains largely undescribed and uncharted. While much of this unknown composed inconspicuous flagellates parasites, larger morphologically distinct protists are regularly discovered, most notably from poorly studied regions. Here we report a new flagship species hyalospheniid (Amoebozoa; Arcellinida; Hyalospheniformes) testate amoeba New Zealand an unusual story overlooked description under preoccupied name subsequent oversight for nearly one century. Through process involving The Māori Language Commission, named the Apodera angatakere, meaning "a shell with keel." This resembles vas differs by presence distinctive hollow keel. Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 1 (COI) sequence data show that forms clade nested within genus Apodera. conspicuous so far only restricted peatlands. It few examples endemic microorganisms biodiversity hotspot biogeographer's paradise. As over 90% Zealand's peatlands have been lost since European colonization remaining surfaces threatened, angatakere could not biogeography also island conservation.