Eukaryotic microbial diversity is known to be extensive but remains largely undescribed and uncharted. While much of this unknown diversity is composed of inconspicuous flagellates and parasites, larger and morphologically distinct protists are regularly discovered, most notably from poorly studied regions.

Here we report a new flagship species of hyalospheniid (Amoebozoa; Arcellinida; Hyalospheniformes) testate amoeba from New Zealand and an unusual story of overlooked description under a pre-occupied name and subsequent oversight for nearly one century. Through a process involving The Māori Language Commission, we named the species Apodera angatakere, meaning “a shell with a keel”. This species resembles Apodera vas but differs by the presence of a distinctive hollow keel. Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit 1 (COI) sequence data shows that this species forms a distinct clade nested within genus Apodera.

This conspicuous species is so far known only from New Zealand and is restricted to peatlands. It is one of the few examples of endemic microorganisms from this biodiversity hotspot and biogeographer’s paradise. As over 90% of New Zealand’s peatlands have been lost since European colonisation and much of the remaining surfaces are threatened, Apodera angatakere could be a flagship species not only for microbial biogeography but also for island biodiversity conservation.