Portreefotode

Portreefotode is a fictional genus of photosynthetic protists described in coastal marine environments of the Isle of Skye. The name combines Portree, the harbor village on the island, with the Greek root foto or phot- meaning light, and the suffix -ode, common in protist names.

Portreefotode organisms are small, typically 3 to 7 micrometers long, and have an oval to elongate shape. They possess chloroplast-like organelles that give them a greenish to brownish coloration and enable photosynthesis. They are presumed to be motile, using a single apical flagellum, and can form resting cysts during unfavorable conditions. Reproduction is described as binary fission.

In the fictional account, Portreefotode is found in shallow coastal sediments and brackish waters near Portree Bay, where light supports photosynthesis. Their ecology is described as primarily photoautotrophic, with potential uptake of dissolved organic matter in low-light situations.

Taxonomically, Portreefotode is placed in an uncertain position within photosynthetic protists, with placement awaiting molecular data. It is described in a hypothetical 2022 article by researchers A.N. Example and colleagues.

The term Portreefotode is used here for illustrative purposes and does not reflect a confirmed taxon in current biological classification. It serves as an example of how new protist lineages might be described in marine microbiology.