Journal of Global Ecology and Environment

Testate amoebae are shell-bearing protists that occur in a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats and can provide useful information on microbial diversity and environmental conditions. This pilot study documents moss-dwelling testate amoebae from Patratu Valley, Jharkhand, India, where information on these organisms has been limited. Moss samples were collected from soil- and wall-associated microhabitats on 22 February 2026 and processed using the non-flooded Petri dish method. Permanent slide preparations were examined microscopically for species-level identification, and registered slides were deposited in the National Zoological Collections of the Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Patna. The survey recorded 12 species belonging to five genera and five families. The recorded taxa included species of Cyclopyxis, Difflugia, Centropyxis, Euglypha, and Trinema. These observations provide a preliminary inventory of testate amoebae associated with moss microhabitats in the study area and extend baseline information on their regional occurrence. Because the investigation was based on a single pilot survey and did not quantify abundance or environmental variables, the recorded species richness should not be interpreted as a complete assessment of the local assemblage or as evidence of ecosystem condition. Broader spatial and seasonal sampling, together with standardised measurements of environmental variables, will be required to evaluate patterns of assemblage composition and their potential value in environmental monitoring.