Ventral infraciliature

Description:

Ventral infraciliature of the nassophorean ciliate, Chilodontopsis depressa (Perty, 1852). The cell is dorsoventrally flattened. The right side is convex meeting the straight left side at a rostrum. The somatic ciliature is denser on the ventral side with an indistinct feathery hypostomial frange of cilia slanting posteriorly to the cytostome from the rostrum anteriorly to the right margin of the body (seen well here). The right ventral kineties curve around the anterior end to meet the straight left ventral kineties to the left of the cytostome at the line of the hypostomial frange. The cytopharyngeal basket or cyrtos is seen anteriorly. A distinctive large contractile vacuole fills the posterior end of the cell (not seen here). The central macronucleus and micronucleus are spherical (darkly stained in this image). C. depressa feeds on bacteria, diatoms and green algae. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho January 2005. Stained by a silver carbonate technic (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Brightfield.