Frontonia vernalis
Frontonia vernalis, a species, or sub-species, of Frontonia very similar to Frontonia leucas, except for the presence of algal endosymbionts.
When first describing the species in 1838, C.G. Ehrenberg described seeing a ring of short bristles around its mouth, resembling "teeth." This feature can be seen in this view, along with the postoral suture that runs from the mouth toward the posterior of the cell. This image was taken by Bruce Taylor.
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Frontonia vernalis
From the collection
Animalcules from Turtle Pond (Wakefield, Quebec)
| Description of Frontonia vernalis: Peniculine ciliate, eats diatoms, green algae, and other large particles of food, but has symbiotic green algae. Members of the genus have postoral kineties usually to left of oral poykinetids. Left edge is more curved than right edge; cytopharynx with numerous strong fibrils; ectoplasm with numerous fusiform trichocysts; macronucleus oval; one to several micronulei. Widespread but usually in regions with limited or unreliable oxygen supply. Ecology: - B.J.Finlay, U.G.Berninger, L.J.Stewart, R.M.Hindle, and W.Davison; Some factors controlling the distribution of two pond-dwelling ciliates with algal symbionts (Frontonia vernalis and Euplotes daidaleos). J.Protozool. 34(4):349-356, 1987. |
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