Genus VII. Ochrobium Perfiliev, 1921.
(Perfiliev, in Wislouch, Bull. Institut Hydrobiol., Russia, 1921; Sideroderma in part, Naumann, Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., 62, Part 4, (1921) March 20, 1922, 32; also see Naumann, Zent. f. Bakt., II Abt., 78, 1929, 514.)
O.chro'bi.um. Gr. noun ochra yellow ochre, iron oxide; Gr. noun bius life, dwelling; M.L. neut.n. Ochrobium ochre-dweller.
Ellipsoidal to rod-shaped cells that are partially surrounded by a marginal thickening (torus) that is heavily impregnated with iron. This torus remains open at one end so that it resembles a horseshoe. The cells are surrounded by a delicate, transparent capsule that contains a very small amount of iron. Polar flagellate. Widely distributed in fresh water.
The type species is Ochrobium tectum Perfiliev.
1. Ochrobium tectum Perfiliev, 1921. (Perfiliev, in Wislouch, Bull. Institut Hydrobiol., Russia, 1921; also see Nach- richten des Sapropelkommittees, Leningrad, 1922, 1; and Verhandl. Intern. Verein. f. theor. und angew. Limnologie (1925)3, T. 3, 1927; Sideroderma limneticum Naumann, Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakad. Handl., 62, 1922, 32.) tec'tum. L. v. tego to cover; L. past part. tectus covered. Cells small, ellipsoidal to rod-shaped, 0.5 to 3.0 hj 1.5 to 5.0 microns. Each cell is surrounded by a heavily iron-impregnated torus which is open at one pole. Pairs of cells appear like a pair of horseshoes with the open ends together. The cells are cov- ered with a delicate outer capsule, and they may be united in small colonies. When motile, they bear two unequal polar flagella. Comment: The cells are much like those found in the algal genus Pteromonas, only smaller. Source: Originally found in the region about Leningrad; then found independently by Naumann (Zent. f. Bakt., II Abt., 78, 1929, 514) in Sweden and later by Beger (Zent. f. Bakt., I Abt., Orig., 154, 1949, 65) in wells of waterworks near Berlin. Habitat: Widely distributed iniron-bear- ing waters.
Genus VIII. Siderococcus Dorff, 1934.
(Die Eisenorganismen, Pflanzenforschung, Jena, Heft 16, 1934 9.)
Si.de.ro.coc'cus. Gr. noun siderus iron; Gr. noun coccus a berry, sphere; M.L. mas.n. Siderococcus iron coccus.
Cells cocciform and of small size. Lack a gelatinous capsule. Not encrusted with iron compounds; these are deposited entirely outside of the cells.
The type species is Siderococcus limoniticus Dorff.
1. Siderococcus limoniticus Dorff, 1934. (Die Eisenorganismen, Pflanzenfor- schung, Jena, Heft 16, 1934, 9.) li.mo.ni'ti.cus. Gr. noun limon meadow, bog; M.L. noun limonitum limonite, a min- eral, ferrous iron o.xide; ALL. adj. limon- iticus of limonite. Cocci 0.2 to 0.5 micron in diameter. No evident capsule. Utilize inorganic iron compounds and deposit them outside of the cells. In liquid cultures, the cells produce, on a glass slide, a sharply marked zone beneath the surface in which iron compounds are deposited on the slide. When the iron com- pounds are dissolved with dilute HCl, very tiny cocci are left on the slide. Source: Isolated from limonite deposits in a bay of Teufelsee near Freienwalde, Austria. Also found in Russian and Swedish iron ore deposits as well as in Java, Sumatra and Borneo. Habitat : Widely distributed in swamps and lakes where limonite deposits are forming.
