micro*scope - version 6.0

Nassulopsis (nass-you-lop-sis). Nassulopsis elegans is a conspicuous pink- or blue coloured nassulid found in pond and lake plankton. This cell was collected from floating colonies of Oscillatoria in a freshwater pond near Konstanz, Germany. The body is cylindrical in shape and measures 150 - 300 X 50 - 100 microns. Nassulopsis can be distinguished from Nassula and Obertrumia by 5-7 contractile vacuoles arranged in a ventral row. The macronucleus is cylindrical with rounded ends. The cytopharyngeal basket is located in the anterior third of the cell. The cells fill up with food vacuoles of different colour (green, orange), depending on stage of digestion. This image shows a compressed specimen of Nassulopsis elegans with a view of a row of contractile vacuoles. Differential interference contrast. This picture was taken by Martin Kreutz using an Olympus microscope. Image copyright: Martin Kreutz, image used under license to MBL (micro*scope).

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Nassulopsis elegans

From the collection Freshwater ponds of Konstanz (Germany)

Description of Nassulopsis elegans: Synhymeniid ciliate, 200-300 micrometres in length. Body elongate ovoid, cylindrical, rounded at both ends, narrower in the anterior. With anterior blue or violet pigmented spot. Long cytopharyngeal basket, diagonally positioned in anterior third. Somatic ciliation uniform, with transverse synhymenium (hypostomial frange) slightly behind the oral aperture, crossing the entire ventral surface and almost encircling the cell. Multiple contractile vacuoles, usually 5 or more in longitudinal series behind the cytostome. Single macronucleus, large and ellipsoid in posterior half. Feeds on cyanobacteria. Freshwater and marine.

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Nassulopsis elegans in this collection

Nassulopsis elegans portrait	Nassulopsis elegans portrait	Nassulopsis elegans anterior	Nassulopsis elegans cortex	Nassulopsis elegans anterior with mouth	Nassulopsis elegans feeding
Nassulopsis elegans feeding

Nassulopsis elegans in other collections

Nassulopsis elegans, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Nassulopsis elegans, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Nassulopsis elegans, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Nassulopsis elegans, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere	Nassulopsis elegans, from Images from Schewiakoff, 1889
Nassulopsis elegans, from Images from Schewiakoff, 1889	Nassulopsis elegans, from Images from Schewiakoff, 1889	Nassulopsis elegans, from Images from Schewiakoff, 1896	Nassulopsis elegans, from Ciliates from Ehrenberg -- 1838	Nassulopsis elegans, from Ciliates from Ehrenberg -- 1838
Nassulopsis elegans, from Ciliates from Ehrenberg -- 1838	Nassulopsis elegans, from Ciliates from Ehrenberg -- 1838	Nassulopsis elegans, from Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere

micro*scope - version 6.0 - March, 2006
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