Detail of somatic ciliature
Somatic ciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Rostrophrya camerounensis (Njine, 1979) Foissner, 1993. There are about 80 slightly spiraled somatic kineties consisting of ciliated dikinetids (seen well in this image. Collected from standing organically enriched roadside ditchwater near Boise, Idaho, March 2005. Stained by the silver carbonate technic (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991). 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).
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Rostrophrya camerounensis
From the collection
Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere
| Description of Rostrophrya camerounensis: (Njine, 1979) Foissner, 1993. 170-300 um L x 80-160 um W. Shape is similar to Chilodonella with a curved rostrum that is bent towards the left. The relatively large obliquely oriented elliptical oral aperture is located at the junction of the rostrum with the main body. There are about 80 slightly spiraled somatic kineties consisting of ciliated dikinetids. There is a paroral membrane with paired ciliary bases situated on the right of the oral aperture. This paraoral membrane curves around the posterior end of the oral aperture to reach its left side where it ends at a line of about 26 membranelles, which extends forward to the end of the rostrum extending slightly onto the dorsal surface. There are 20 membranelles along the left margin of the oral aperture. Although the original report (Njine, T. Protistologica. 15: 343-354, 1979) describes 11-18 membranelles between the end of the oral aperture and the tip of the rostrum only six were seen in this population. Otherwise the features of the Idaho population are those described for R. camerounensis. 8 to 10 somatic kineties terminate on the right border of the oral aperture. There are some shortened ciliary rows abutting the left margin of the oral aperture. The rounded macronucleus is centrally placed. The small elliptical micronucleus lies in the perinuclear space of the macronucleus beneath the macronuclear membrane. There is a posterior terminal contractile vacuole. This species was originally reported from temporary pools in Africa. Rostrophrya is most easily mistaken for Kuklikophrya in which genus the membranelles arise from the anterior end of the mouth and Rostrophryides, which is much smaller and has only 5-7 adoral membranelles in all. In Rostrophrya the membranelles arise from the posterior end of the oral aperture. R. camerounensis swims rather slowly, rotating about its long axis. |
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