Testate amoebae (Testaceae) of Lithuania

Abstract

Lithuania is situated in the geographical centre of Europe, on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. The landscape is formed by lakes, rivers, some wetlands and woodlands. The majority of vertebrate and invertebrate fauna of Lithuania are explored sufficiently well. However, free living protists in Lithuania are studied very scantily. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of testate amoebae in Lithuania on the basis of own results and of literature data recorded by other researchers. Fifty seven testate amoebae species of 13 genera were identified. 28 species of testate amoebae were revealed from soil mosses, 7 from lichen X. parietina and 29 from various types of freshwater habitats. Species of genus Difflugia (16 species) dominated in freshwater habitats. The most diverse genera in moss and lichen were Euglypha (9 species).