identifier: METPO:1007006
label: polytrichous flagellation
definition: A flagellar arrangement in which multiple flagella (typically a tuft)
  are present per cell, often combined with polar attachment.
trait_category: MORPHOLOGY
term_kind: CLASS
mapping_status: SEEDED
parent_traits:
- traitmech:000056
synonyms:
- synonym_text: polytrichous
  synonym_type: EXACT_SYNONYM
  source: metpo.owl
created_by: Marcin Joachimiak
curation_history:
- timestamp: '2026-09-11T08:45:09Z'
  curator: seed_from_metpo
  action: SEEDED_FROM_METPO
  changes: imported from data/raw/metpo.owl (CLASS)
- timestamp: '2026-09-11T08:46:00Z'
  curator: codex
  action: ENRICHED_FROM_LITERATURE
  changes: Enriched the seeded METPO polytrichous flagellation phenotype with DOI-backed
    polytrichous-flagella evidence after a repository-wide duplicate review covering
    ignored and hidden files.
  llm_assisted: true
definition_source: DOI:10.1128/AEM.64.10.3576-3583.1998
evidence:
- reference: DOI:10.1128/AEM.64.10.3576-3583.1998
  snippet: In transmission electron micrographs, isolate OC 1/4 exhibited monopolar
    polytrichous flagellation, with up to three flagella per cell (Fig. 4).
  notes: Huber et al. directly observed multiple flagella at one pole of Thermocrinis
    ruber OC 1/4.
- reference: DOI:10.1128/AEM.68.12.6310-6320.2002
  snippet: The cells have bipolar polytrichous flagella and exhibit a unique swimming
    pattern, rotating and translating along their short axis.
  notes: Thar and Kuhl describe a second bacterial polytrichous arrangement, with
    flagella present at both cell poles.
canonical_examples:
- taxon_id: NCBITaxon:75906
  taxon_label: Thermocrinis ruber
  note: Huber et al. directly observed up to three monopolar flagella per cell in
    the Thermocrinis ruber isolate OC 1/4.
  reference: DOI:10.1128/AEM.64.10.3576-3583.1998