Umbröschla

The species of the genus Voithumbrea split from its ancestor, the luminus, being all them variants of one of its smallest members, the spherischla. The species of this genus are found mostly in underground waters or lakes surrounded by limestone. Some of them, like umbröschla and mallacyskella became smaller and lost the flagella, being unable to swim towards a light source, but will gather in large groups in the water surface in the few locations where a light spot is found. Species within this genus also developed some changes in the external membrane, giving them better adherence to rocky surfaces. Umbröschla acquired a double cell wall in order to protect from the lime formed inside it, which also strengths its protection from the environment. Mallacyskella, however, increased the external membrane, bending it in several layers under an outer gelatinous shell, giving extra protection and a larger area to trade nutrients. When underground, they rely on the chemosynthesis of carbon dioxide into oxygen, a waste product. Species of this genus can be found living inside other species, in symbiotic way, where both can benefit from the association.