page_title: Sphaeroforma arctica
section_title: Taxonomy
hierarchical_section_title: Sphaeroforma arctica / Taxonomy
caption_attribution_description: Flickr description Sphaeroforma arctica, single cells and colonies. DIC. Picture taken by Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo.
context_page_description: Sphaeroforma arctica, is a unicellular eukaryote with a pivotal position in the tree of life. It was first isolated from the arctic marine amphipod Gammarus setosus. Like other Ichthyosporeans such as Creolimax and Abeoforma, Sphaeroforma arctica are spherical cells characterized with their capacity to grow into multi-nucleated coenocytes. However, a unique feature of S. arctica, is that no obvious budding, hyphal, amoeboid, sporal or flagellated growth stages have been observed in laboratory growth conditions.
context_section_description: Sphaeroforma is a member of the Ichthyosporea clade, which is the earliest branching holozoan lineage. It is a key organism to understand the origin of animals.
caption: Sphaeroforma arctica, single cells and colonies
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