macrostome

Description:

Portrait of the glaucomid ciliate, Espejoia mucicola. Espejoia is found in two morphologic forms, the macrostome (pictured here) and the microstome. Macrostome individuals are larger and the oral aperture occupies the anterior ? of the cell often reaching the anterior apex. There are three well-developed oral membranelles. The macronucleus is round to irregular. The contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3. Somatic ciliation is uniform with a preoral suture in the microstome form. E. mucicola is often found in association with the mucus coating of dipteran egg cases and the mucilaginous coat of algal thalli. Collected from slow moving freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho in May 2003. DIC optics.