micro*scope - version 6.0

Detail of the oral apparatus and surrounding infraciliature (anterior ventral aspect) of the hymenostome ciliate Paramecium caudatum (Ehrenberg, 1833). The preoral and postoral sutures (lines of convergence of kinetal fields) can be clearly seen. The kinetids with their kinetodesmal fibers are clearly visible. The kinetodesmal fibers are periodically striated bundles of fibrils arising near the base of somatic kinetids (the posterior one if kinetids are paired) in ciliates. The kinetodesmal fibers extend anteriorly and to the right of their kinety (this is the Law of desmodexy). This provides a means of determining an anterior, posterior and right/left orientation in ciliates. Here the kinetodesmal fibers are longer than the interkinetal distance and therefore overlap giving the appearance of a longitudinal interkinetal line. The macronucleus and the single large micronucleus are seen anterior to the oral aperture. Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Specimen collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho July 2004. Brightfield. This image was taken by William Bourland. He now uses a Zeiss Axioskop 2 with Spot Insight and Spot Flex CCD cameras (Diagnostic Instruments). Image copyright: William Bourland, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).

download the summary of this page as a pdf file

download as pdf file
play the video file

download large file
play the video file

classification page

comment image

Paramecium caudatum

From the collection Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere

Description of Paramecium caudatum: Peniculine ciliate, 120-330 micrometres long (usually 200-300 micrometres). Body elongate, somewhat stiff, with rounded anterior; posterior tapering to a blunt point. Tuft of longer cilia at posterior; somatic ciliation otherwise uniform. Long oral groove, leading to deep buccal cavity lined with cilia. Two contractile vacuoles with stellate appearance (radial canals). Numerous trichocysts. Single ovoid macronucleus. Bacterivorous. Very widespread and common in salt, brackish and freshwater.

Linkouts

images

Paramecium caudatum in this collection

Paramecium caudatum
Infraciliature

Paramecium caudatum
Oral infraciliature

Paramecium caudatum in other collections

Paramecium caudatum, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	Paramecium caudatum, from Images of Richard Allen	Paramecium caudatum, from Protsville	Paramecium caudatum, from Protsville	Paramecium caudatum, from Protsville
Paramecium caudatum, from Protsville	Paramecium caudatum, from Protsville drawings of freshwater protists	Paramecium caudatum, from Images from Schewiakoff, 1896	Paramecium caudatum, from Ciliates from Ehrenberg -- 1838	Paramecium caudatum, from Ciliates from Ehrenberg -- 1838
Paramecium caudatum, from Ciliates from Ehrenberg -- 1838	Paramecium caudatum, from Athens, Georgia, USA	Paramecium caudatum, from Athens, Georgia, USA	Paramecium caudatum, from Athens, Georgia, USA

micro*scope - version 6.0 - March, 2006
about this project | contributors | sponsors | site developed by