portrait
Portrait of Loxophyllyum, large pleurostomatid ciliate, which is highly laterally, compressed. Glides with ribbon-like movement over substrate. Oral region is slit-like and oriented to the right in this image. Wart-like aggregates of extrusomes are seen at intervals along the dorsal (left) surface. Macronucleus is multinodal in this species. Many species. This species, from standing fresh water near Boise, Idaho, has been preying on rotifers. Oblique illumination. 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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Loxophyllum meleagris
From the collection
Freshwater and Terrestrial Microbes of Idaho (USA) and Elsewhere
| Description of Loxophyllum meleagris: This pleurostomatid ciliate is 100 to 500 microns long, mostly 350-400 microns. The cell is laterally compressed, elongate, and has an anterior neck-like region that bends towards the dorsal edge. This benthic ciliate always lies on its right side and is highly contractile. The slit-like oral region extends from the tip of the neck often to the posterior end, but may in some species it ends subtermanally. There are three perioral kineties running along the ventral slit that possess cilia equal in lenght to the somatic cilia: one kinety runs along the right margin and two on the left of the oral aperture. Somatic kineties run the entire length of the cell. The cilia on the left (upper) surface are reduced; those on the right surface (associated with the substrate) are longer. One to several specialised dorsal kineties, consisting of reduced cilia, can be seen under ideal conditions and in silver stained specimens. On the dorsal edge there are wart-like bumps, containing extrusomes. Typically many, and sometimes only two, macronuclei Found in benthic and interstitial sites in both marine and freshwater habitats. Contractile vacuole with canal running along the dorsal side of the cell. World-wide distribution. Common. |
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