Idionectes
| Idionectes | |
|---|---|
| Idionectes vortex amoeboid form | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Phylum: | Amoebozoa |
| Class: | Cutosea |
| Order: | Squamocutida |
| Family: | Idionectidae Hess & Simpson, 2019 |
| Genus: | Idionectes Hess & Simpson, 2019 |
| Species: | I. vortex |
| Binomial name | |
| Idionectes vortex Hess & Simpson, 2019 | |
Idionectes is a genus of amoeba discovered from Allensbach, Konstanz, Germany. It contains only one species, I. vortex. Described by Sebastian Hess and Alastair G. B. Simpson in 2019, the scientific name means distinct or peculiar swimmer. Named because of its unique locomotion by creating a water vortex with its flying saucer-like body, it was also dubbed UFO (for unidentified flagellate organism). It is the only known eukaryotic cell having a rotating flagellum, which is the usual characteristic of prokaryotes.