Dorsal infraciliature

Description:

Infraciliature (dorsal view) of the oligohymenophorean ciliate, Lembadion magnum (Stokes,1887;Kahl,1931). Cell outline is oval. The ventral surface is concave and the dorsum convex. The very large scoop-like peristome occupies most of the ventral surface. The cytostome is at the posterior end of the peristome. There is a small undulating membrane on the right margin of the peristome. A large sheet-like adoral membranelle arises from the left margin of the peristome. The longitudinal somatic kineties (seen here) run between prominent pellicular striations. This feature helps differentiate L. magnum from L. bullinum which has an areolate cortex. There is usually a tuft of longer caudal cilia. The single contractile vacuole connects with its excretory pore by a long curved canal. The single macronucleus and micronucleus are posterior (densely stained here). Collected from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho May 2004. Stained by silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991).Brightfield.