micro*scope - version 6.0

Colpodella (col-poe-dell-a), this is the only genus of apicomplexa (the group that includes the causative agent of malaria) which is not a parasite. Rather it is a free-swimming flagellate which attacks other protists using the anterior beak or rostrum. This attaches to the prey and sucks cytoplasm from the prey - as is illustrated here. With two flagella. Phase contrast. This picture was taken by David Patterson, Linda Amaral Zettler, Mike Peglar and Tom Nerad from cultures and other materials maintained at the American Type Culture Collection during 2001. Image copyright: D. J. Patterson, L Amaral-Zettler, M. Peglar and T. Nerad, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).

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Colpodella

From the collection American Type Culture Collection

Description of Colpodella: Colpodellid apicomplexa, Colpodella pugnax is the type species of Colpodella; with seven distinguishable species (Simpson & Patterson, 1996) all of which have two flagella and are under 25 µm long; flagella insert opposed/ orthogonally in small pockets or grooves at the base of an anterior rostrum; rostrum attaches to prey cells and cytoplasm is drawn into the Colpodella; fed cells may form cysts in which the cells divide into two or four daughter cells. Notable ultrastructural features include: tubular/ vesicular mitochondrial cristae, cortical alveoli underlain by longitudinal microtubules subtending the outer plasma membrane, and micropores.

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Colpodella in this collection

Colpodella
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Colpodella in other collections

Colpodella angusta, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Colpodella edax, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Colpodella perforans, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Colpodella pugnax, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Colpodella turpis, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats
Colpodella unguis, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Colpodella vorax, from Heterotrophic flagellates of marine habitats	Colpodella edax, from Protozoan biomonitors in China	Colpodella unguis, from Drawings of flagellates	Colpodella perforans, from Images by Guy Brugerolle
Colpodella perforans, from Images by Guy Brugerolle	Colpodella vorax, from Images by Guy Brugerolle	Colpodella vorax, from Images by Guy Brugerolle	Colpodella vorax, from Images by Guy Brugerolle	Colpodella perforans, from Images by Guy Brugerolle
Colpodella perforans, from Images by Guy Brugerolle	Colpodella, from Protsville	Colpodella unguis, from Heterotrophic flagellates of Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia

micro*scope - version 6.0 - March, 2006
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