[1] Imasa heleensis was isolated from a marine shallow lagoon.

Like the other two accepted species of malawimonads Gefionella okellyi and Malawimonas jakobiformis, which were isolated from soil and freshwater respectively, Imasa is ecologically associated with a particulate substrate.

[1] An additional characteristic of Imasa is its shorter flagellar vane compared to other malawimonads.

The vanes end abruptly in a steeper angle with the axoneme, which may result in the generation of fluid movement from a shorter length of the posterior flagellum.

According to phylogenetic analyses based on SSU rRNA genes, it is the sister taxon to the rest of malawimonads, the Gefionella+Malawimonas clade.