DOTkamina's Secret Hide: February 2026

26/02/26

Cryptomonas obovata Skuja 1948... and notes on Cryptomonas morphs

Well, I don't expect to have much to say about this one, to be honest, except that I've noticed some details that were perhaps missing from the other Cryptomonas curvata illustration I published back in 2025. Damn, that year sounds so far away, and it's already February 2026. When will it be Christmas again?

The following illustrations depict Cryptomonas obovata Skuja 1948, as the name is recorded on AlgaeBase. I have shown it in ventral view. The images are free to use and are also available on Wikimedia Commons. Of course, commercial use of these images is not permitted, nor is their use without proper attribution. "DOTkamina (2026)" is sufficient.

There are two main sources I used as a basis for creating the illustration of this organism:

"Cryptomonas obovata Skuja, 1948". Martin Kreutz, 2021. Real Micro Life.
"Chapter 18 - Cryptomonads". Brec L. Clay, 2015. Freshwater Algae of North America (Second Edition). Academic Press.

Btw, that chapter of "Cryptomonads" is even haunting my dreams. Clay, Lee, Hill, Andersen, Kugrens etc., seem to be the experts on cryptomonad algae; they've been researching these organisms since the past century (That's an exaggeration, but... well, you know what I mean). It would fill me with uncertainty, humility, joy, and a touch of fear if they were to see the images I create.

For the design of the flagella, I relied on this article: "Ultrastructural variations in cryptomonad flagella", by Paul Kugrens, Robert E. Lee, Robert A. Andersen, 1987. The design of the mitochondrion is speculative, but it is based on what is said in Santore and Greenwood (1977). I will explain it later.

Cryptomonas obovata follows a similar anatomical scheme to that of Cryptomonas curvata, which I illustrated earlier. The first noticeable difference is in its shape: Cryptomonas curvata could be oval-shaped but slightly more elongated than C. obovata, in addition to having a slight curve at its posterior end.

The second difference, and the one I find most unnerving, is the absence of pyrenoids. Instead, it has numerous starch granules distributed throughout the cell, although Kreutz (2021) mentions that these are located "beneath the chloroplasts." In microscopic photographs (see Kreutz (2021): Figures 1 to 4), these starch granules are clearly visible in both ventral and dorsal views. In my representation, I have chosen to depict them as being beneath the chloroplasts—in other words, "covered" or "hidden" by them. But you should consider that in real life, this property wouldn't be so obvious. Let's not forget that C. obovata has two chloroplasts.

There's another important aspect I should mention: some species within the genus Cryptomonas, according to Clay (2015), can have two distinct morphotypes in their life cycles: the cryptomorph and the campylomorph. I'd say this is a bit poorly worded, because at first glance it implies that it occurs "in all Cryptomonas species," but a quick review of the article by Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003) shows that this isn't always the case. Some species do indeed exhibit both morphotypes (cryptomorph or campylomorph), while other species only express one of the two (or, based on current research, it's assumed that only one morphotype occurs in these species because the other simply hasn't been found or observed).

So, briefly, using Clay's (2015) description: the cryptomorph consists of cells that are more or less rounded or oval in shape. These cells are protected by the periplast (a structure that performs a function similar to that of the cell wall in plant cells). The periplast has two layers: the inner periplast component (which in the cryptomorph consists of rounded or oval plates), and the surface periplast component (which in the cryptomorph is made of a thin layer of fibrils).

In the cryptomorph, the plastidial complex (the set of cellular plastids) is generally made up of two chloroplasts, with two pyrenoids not traversed by thylakoids, and two nucleomorphs, one between the nucleus and the pyrenoids. The furrow of the cryptomorph is "complex," possessing a stoma.

The campylomorph was considered for some time to be such a distinct morph that individuals with this morph were considered species in different genera of Cryptomonas. Formally, Campylomonas and Chilomonas. Now that it's known that the forms of both genera are actually the campylomorph, an alternative to the cryptomorph of Cryptomonas, they are considered synonymous where applicable.

But let's see: using again Clay (2015): the campylomorph is first different from the cryptomorph by having a more "sigmoid" cell shape; I would describe it, in simple terms, as a somewhat oval, flattened cell shape with varying degrees of elongation and curvature. More importantly, the periplast may be composed solely of the inner periplast component, simply a layer without shaped plates. The surface periplast component may be absent, but if present, it would be made of fibrillar material or heptagonal "scales."

The campylomorph generally has the same plastidial complex structure as the cryptomorph. The most noticeable difference is seen in the furrow, which lacks a stoma. In addition, it also has a scalariform furrow plate, a structure similar to the furrow plate that, in the campilomorph, resembles a ladder. In the cryptomorph, this furrow plate is only fibrous. I haven't depicted the furrow plate in the illustrations of this species. Finally, the vestibulum in the campylomorph also has a "vestibular ligule," a kind of extension that covers a small portion of the vestibule.

My state right now.

But anyway, those would be the main differences between the cryptomorph and the campylomorph of a Cryptomonas species. Now, in which species exactly, and in which ones only a single morph has been observed... hell, who knows?

According to the article by Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003), and comparing it with the information in Clay (2015), the cryptomonad species in which only the cryptomorph was found are: C. ovata, C. obovata (the species I illustrated in this post), C. phaseolus, C. tetrapyrenoidosa, and C. erosa. Clay (2015) also mentions C. ozolinii Skuja 1939 as a cryptomorph, but Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003) already indicate that it is actually a synonym of C. pyrenoidifera Geitler 1922 emend. Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (in Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003), this synonym is written simply as "C. ozolini Skuja"). C. pyrenoidifera exhibits both morphs, cryptomorph and campylomorph.

Similarly, considering Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003) and Clay (2015), the species where, conversely, only the campylomorph was found are: C. platyuris and C. marssonii. Clay (2015) also mentions C. rostratiformis Skuja (omitting the "1950"), which would actually be a synonym of C. curvata Ehrenberg 1832. I had illustrated C. curvata as campylomorphic, but according to Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003), it also has the cryptomorph.

There is a problem with C. reflexa. First, it should be noted that Clay (2015) mentions C. reflexa Marsson (syn. Campylomonas reflexa Hill). In AlgaeBase, the closest taxon to the one mentioned is C. reflexa (M.Marsson) Skuja 1939, but I'm not certain. Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003) mention C. reflexa Skuja (1939), which may in fact be the same as C. reflexa (M.Marsson) Skuja 1939 in AlgaeBase (they also appear in the same original publication). In any case, Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003) indicate C. reflexa as another synonym of C. curvata, and therefore, it would have both cryptomorph and campylomorph. C. reflexa has about five names in AlgaeBase, and all of them are in an "unstable" state, meaning they are not fully accepted.

C. marssonii Skuja 1948 does have only a campylomorph (or rather, only that morph has been found), according to Hoef-Emden and Melkonian (2003). The problem is that this name is currently being debated...

But anyway. I think that covers the important points regarding the morphs.

Returning to Cryptomonas obovata, it's established that it only has the cryptomorph. Based on the general characteristics of the cryptomorph, I have represented its furrow with a stoma. The vestibule lacks a vestibular ligule. There are two nucleomorphs, one on each side of the nucleus.

The main difference from the general scheme of the cryptomorph is that C. obovata does not have pyrenoids; instead, it has those starch granules I mentioned earlier. The ejectisomes "envelop" the entire gullet. This is something that also occurs in other Cryptomonas species. I mention this because in the illustration of C. curvata I did some time ago, I didn't depict the ejectisomes surrounding the entire gullet. Why? For better visibility... I suppose. The contractile vacuole is located behind the chloroplasts and near the anterior region, according to what I see in Kreutz (2021). I haven't represented the periplast and its components.

I have drawn the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and the single reticulated mitochondrion. The shapes of these structures are speculative. In the case of the mitochondrion, it's a predicted reticulated shape based on what Santore and Greenwood (1977) explains, where it's mentioned that Cryptomonas has a single mitochondrion with numerous branches distributed throughout the cell, concentrated in areas like the gullet. It's assumed that these mitochondrial branches should have different thicknesses in various sections, but in my drawing, the width of these branches is almost uniform.

Finally, the flagella of C. obovata are of type 1 flagella according to Kugrens et al. (1987): the long (dorsal) flagellum has two opposing rows of mastigonemes, each with a single terminal filament. The short (ventral) flagellum also has a single row of mastigonemes, each with two terminal filaments of different lengths. Additionally, there are approximately three terminal hairs at the end of the dorsal flagellum.

Both the mastigonemes and the additional filaments and hairs can only be seen with an electron microscope. Don't expect to see them with a light microscope. Even the flagella are sometimes difficult to see with a light microscope. I almost forgot: both flagella are located on the right side of the vestibule. That's from a dorsal view. In a ventral view, they appear to be on the left, but that's just an illusion!

I could swear there was more to say, but the truth is I went off for a while to... I don't know, do something, the thing is I don't remember anymore. I hope I've covered everything.

Oh right, I almost forgot... the maupas bodies! Those two funny things way behind the chloroplasts and starch granules. C. obovata only has two maupas bodies. I don't know if you know this, but all the colors in these drawings are merely schematic and for educational purposes, and don't necessarily correspond to what you can see in real life. However, according to the images in Kreutz (2021), maupas bodies can be seen under a microscope as two shiny structures. What are they for? .... HAH, who knows?

16/02/26

ʀᴇʟɪᴇꜰ

Hypothetically, my face right now.

Hypothetically, my attitude right now.

HaHaHaHa (-‿◦☀)

This post is simply a confirmation that I've returned (and hopefully not "just for now") to my mental stability. By that, I mean I've stopped being sad or overthinking people who probably couldn't care less. I'm focusing on what's important.

Right now, I've just finished some corrections I've been meaning to do since last year. You know, while thoroughly reviewing Clay's (2015) text on cryptomonad algae, I came across a passage I'd overlooked: that these organisms are assumed to have only one reticulated mitochondrion. A detail I'd completely ignored, which resulted in me depicting the mitochondria incorrectly in the illustrations of cryptomonad algae I'd already posted on Wikimedia. I had to redraw the drawings (thankfully they were layered, so it wasn't too tedious), as well as rewrite the information. The change was applied to: Komma caudata, Cryptomonas curvata (Campylomonas rostratiformis), Goniomonas truncata, Pyrenomonas ovalis, and Pyrenomonas helgolandii.

I'm glad I finished correcting all those aspects. Now I plan to write an article as a report to, you know, improve visibility, that sort of thing. I also have a project, which is currently secret, with Giardia intestinalis, which I'm really eager to write and finally publish. It's perhaps the illustration that has required the most research so far; I thought it would be easier.

If you're a new reader here, the whole timeline discussed here probably sounds like gibberish to you. I hope it stays that way, haha. That just adds to the "mystery." Or I don't know, maybe it'll end up being really cringeworthy.

Yes, Ellen Joe might be my favorite "waifu."

14/02/26

A phase has ended

Finally, it was the last day. Well, more accurately, yesterday was the last day I spent on university grounds. It wasn't an epic finale, nor one filled with hope or expectations. I suppose it was just an ending, and that's that.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

⌯⌲

Okay, now. Seriously.

It's strange, it's always strange for me, or rather, a bit unnerving, to have to start a new post for my blog.

This time, I'm here to explain that I simply feel like I'm adrift again.

No, I'm lying.

That never bothered me. I don't have that weight or that feeling of "what am I going to do with my life?" What I feel is loneliness, a loneliness that hasn't completely resolved. I already experienced it in high school and pre-university. Now, it's happening again. Many bad things (very bad), many good experiences (with moments that genuinely made me laugh), but in the end, isolated.

I'm not going to focus on, or rather, I don't want to emphasize too much, the fact that I've failed again to get a girlfriend during this time. The old college expectations meme probably comes to mind (you know the thing: improve, be more sociable, push boundaries, go out more often, and ultimately, live a wild life). Something I've partially achieved, but not completely. I feel like many of the experiences I could have had, or should have had, at this stage, like a kiss or holding hands with a girl, I just haven't been able to attain. And now I feel like it will be harder to achieve that in life. Not to mention almost impossible. You know. I'm not exactly handsome.

And that's something that's been roting me up inside. Because more than once I've felt excluded because of it. I don't know. It's a bit of a pain when you try to be closer to a girl. And you know, it used to be really hard for me. Because I stuttered a lot, I didn't know what to say, I generally acted weird. I haven't completely improved in that area, but at least I can crack jokes and be more fluent in conversation. But I feel like that's going to be my biggest social achievement.

Because when I've started trying to get closer, that is, to become more interested in a girl, to try to talk to her more, to help her... I feel like she magically senses it. And then she distances herself, leaving me with an awful feeling of, "Okay, so what am I doing wrong now?" ...... to exist?

I knew it was going to happen, but... The end of this phase means that I'll be without a real connection with anyone for a while again. I haven't felt like I've fully connected with my classmates either. There have been some really good moments. Like the field trips, even the more casual group outings. They weren't related to university projects, but were simply for having a good time together.

Then, I don't know if it's because I'm very sensitive, or if I actually overreact, but there have been jokes that were funny in context but left me thinking or feeling a little uncomfortable. I've been able to handle it, one way or another. Being able to more or less return the "attack" with a similar joke about the other person's character or some negative event in his/her life, and continue the group joke.

That means I've lost my former innocence, the one I had in school, when if someone said "p_ssy" I'd actually look incredibly goofy.

The other thing I've also felt, which is why I feel I haven't made truly accurate connections, is that I've overexposed my obsession with wanting to do things well. Actually, it's a pseudo-obsession.

Because I can start a project with a lot of energy and dedication. But then that enthusiasm fades. "It's no big deal" when it's just a drawing or something I'm writing. But it has been a problem when I've had to write monographs, essays, or papers for university. When a professor asked a question in online classes, since it was easy for me to overcome my fear behind the screen, I could come up with elaborate answers. And that was my mistake, I think. Demonstrating that I was completely capable in online classes.

⋆͛*͛ ͙͛ ⁑͛⋆͛*͛ ͙͛(๑•﹏•)⋆͛*͛ ͙͛ ⁑͛⋆͛*͛ ͙͛

Obviously, it all came crashing down when the COVID-19 pandemic ended.

It happened around the fifth semester.

Classes went back to being in person.

And I had to face the world head-on, people in real life.

( /・・)ノ ! !

In other words, I had to overcome my shyness again. It wasn't the same. Even if a professor asked a question and I answered well, most of the time I had to deal with the "yes, that's fine, BUT...", and that gave me a pang of feeling like I hadn't been good enough, like I'd made a fool of myself, especially compared to how confident and accurate I could answer when I wasn't there, in a classroom, with everyone listening, and potentially watching.

Even so, I still had the field of writing, whether by hand or digitally. And above all, my drawing skills, something that stood out, but only slightly (too bad it wasn't enough to attract the girl I liked/liked). I think all of that already framed me as someone who could be useful. For that reason, I think I managed to end up in a group (the group of classmates I was with for the rest of university).

Even if they found me funny, or at least tolerated me, ultimately I felt that my true key role was simply being able to solve homework assignments or projects, and helping them with that too. A mistake meant noticeable anger or annoyance from the group. I didn't feel very free. I had to be "useful." But I was already getting tired of it being like that. I longed to also be someone who didn't have a clue, who could trust another person and calmly ask for opinions, someone who could solve some crap two by two without the burden of "I'm asking for help, but they really expect me to solve everything, and perfectly."

The part about "not including me, in the end and throughout all this time, in parties or more social gatherings" is understandable. But I think it was very, very justifiable. Aside from my odd personality and lack of confidence in crowded environments, I also lived far away.

Very far away, from the capital where the university was located.

Because of that, I felt that forming relationships or strengthening pseudo-friendships was going to be impossible. Public transportation stopped at night after 9 pm. How was I going to get home? Whose house could I stay at? What if they really didn't care so much that in that situation they would have preferred to send me home in an Uber or some other shady ride, instead of being willing to put me up for the night, as they would do for their friends?

And of course, my mom, who has always been a control freak, wasn't going to let me go to a party and enjoy myself. And since she had the operation in December and can't do any physical activity due to her recovery, I now have to deal with the entire burden of the household chores. Much less energy, much less strength, and far fewer opportunities to go out.

꜀( ˊ̠˂˃ˋ̠ )꜆

I think I have, at the very least, two main interactions. One is more like a friendship with a classmate who, frankly, has helped me a lot with drives and, in general, with not being a total social outcast. We have a good sense of humor. So... yeah, I don't have to abandon him, at least not so suddenly, because since there's no more university, well, I don't know how things will develop. I don't know if the interaction will really survive based solely on sending memes, and maybe some life problem that comes up for him.

The other interaction is recent; it's with girl M, the one I fell for. And this is, painfully, the one I'm most certain will end. Half an hour ago, she sent me a TikTok about... something. But the important thing is that I have to accept that it simply means she sees me as a good classmate, in the best possible way. But I get jealous when I see her getting along better with other guys around me, when she seems to avoid being near me for very long in person. I don't know if it's because of what she once told me, that I seem too serious. Or if she simply doesn't like me.

That's it. BUT, I'll stop overthinking, like I try to promise myself every time. And admit that... the interaction with girl M might not have much of a future. Maybe it will last as long as the need and desire to keep interacting with her university classmates lasts. Maybe her messages will become more occasional. Maybe I'll want to reciprocate and keep the interaction alive, but then I might overdo it and send a lot of messages, bothering her. Tell her I like her? Well, ChatGPT asked me a question about that.

If I did, would it be because that's how I could truly close this chapter with her? Or would it actually be selfish, and I'd only be doing it as a pointless attempt to change things? And potentially leaving things awkward between us, of course. "Ruining a friendship for the selfish desire to h___ with her," although my goal isn't just to h_____ with her and that's it (that would disgust me enough), but to have a full relationship. Considering I'm not that much of a "friend" with her.

I think.

I suppose...

I suppose that the best thing would be... not to get too involved. Maybe send occasional TikToks. Think about how it will get weirder, until the memory of the chats about homework and monographs with girl M becomes a bitter, hazy memory of when I thought I might have a chance with her, or that it meant something to her beyond mere help.

((유∀유|||))

I'd be curious to read these words again. Will I have a partner? Haha, I doubt it. Will I be in love with someone else again, and will I try to read what I wrote in this post? Or will I still be with girl M, hoping that the situation will be better? With her already being someone else? Or just an almost ghostly contact?

I guess I'll immerse myself in music. It won't be so bad after all.

Especially since I'm not sure how to go on now.

Living a monotonous, solitary life isn't fun.

Drawing could be an escape. While I maintain this pseudo-friendly interaction with guy R (I have to admit, I'm afraid to think of him as a "just in case" friend, you know, betrayals, that kind of thing).

And with girl M? Well... I don't know.

I guess, at the very least, it's proof that I don't know how to make friends, or keep them.