Alabasta
Alabasta is a genus of arcellinid testate amoebae belonging to the family Hyalospheniidae. It contains species with an elongated test and a strongly curved "pseudostome" with a flare and a notch in narrow view. These species previously belonged to the genus Nebela, but were later found to be a distinct monophyletic group different from Nebela. It is the sister group to Planocarina.
Morphology
Members of Alabasta have a rigid, elongated test that is colourless or yellowish, with a maximum width at about two thirds of the distance from the test's aperture and sides, then thinner towards the aperture. The test is proteinaceous, often incorporating silica scales taken from euglyphid preys. The pseudostome is strongly convex with a flare in broad view and a deep notch in profile view. Lateral pores are usually present at about one third of the distance from the pseudostome to the fundus.
Taxonomy
Alabasta was described in 2018 by Clément Duckert, Quentin Blandenier, Anush Kosakyan and David Singer. The description of the genus was published in the European Journal of Protistology.
Etymology
The genus was named after the greek word αλάβαστρος, as a reference to the diaphanous and yellowish appearance of the test. It is also related to Alabasta, a fictitious desert island described in the manga One Piece, which is reminiscent of the ecological preferences of Alabasta militaris, used in the monitoring of peatlands as an indicator of dryness.
Classification
There are 3 species of Alabasta: