Heleopera

Heleopera (from Ancient Greek helos 'a bog' and pera 'a bag')[1]: 162  is a genus of testate amoebae belonging to the order Arcellinida.

[4] The genus is characterized by an ovoid, laterally compressed test composed of a cancellated chitinoid membrane with a reticulate appearance of mostly dotted lines, often incorporating particles of sand.

[1]: 162 The conspicuous slit-like (laterally compressed) terminal opening found in this genus is what distinguishes the infraorder Volnustoma from other groups of Arcellinida.

[2] The validity of this family was questioned during the first years of molecular phylogenetic analyses of testate amoebae, because the genus itself was apparently paraphyletic.

As a consequence, Heleopera was considered an incertae sedis taxon within the order Arcellinida, containing most lobose testate amoebae.