Gemmocystis is a genus of apicomplexans.[1]

Gemmocystis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Alveolata
Phylum: Apicomplexa
Class: Conoidasida
Order: Agamococcidiorida
Family: Gemmocystidae
Upton & Peters 1986
Genus: Gemmocystis
Upton & Peters 1986
Species:
G. cylindrus
Binomial name
Gemmocystis cylindrus
Upton & Peters 1986

This genus is parasitic on scleractinian corals (Agaricia agaricites, Dendrogyra cylindrus, Diploria strigosa, Meandrina meandrites, Montastraea cavernosa, Porites astreoides, Porites porites) and is found in the Caribbean. Very little is known about the species in this genus.

Gemmocystis cylindrus was isolated from within the gastrodermal cells of the mesenterial filaments of the coral. Only the oocysts and released sporozoites have been described. The parasites were isolated from bleached coral but their role if any in this sign is not known.

Taxonomy edit

There is one species known in this genus

References edit

  1. ^ Upton, S.J.; Peters, E.C. (1986). "A new and unusual species of coccidium (Apicomplexa: Agamococcidiorida) from Jamaican scleractinian corals". J Invertebr Pathol. 47 (2): 184–193. doi:10.1016/0022-2011(86)90045-5.