| Description of Carchesium polypinum: Colonial peritrich ciliates, cells 100-125 microns long. The typical inverted bell-shaped zooid has a wide opening. The cells either hang nodding on the stem or are held erect. The peristome fringe bulges out and the disc is prominent. The macronucleus is C-shaped, and the pellicle is smooth and unstriated. There is a single contractile vacuole. |
