portrait

Description:

Portrait of the sapropelic armophorid ciliate, Caenomorpha uniserialis. The cell body is parachute-shaped with a smooth broad anterior shield. The anterior shield bears a single file of cirri (not seen here). The body terminates posteriorly in two spinous processes, a short simple one and a complex longer spine with folds and projections. The perizonal ciliary stripe winds along the spiraling peristome and terminates on the large posterior spine (seen well here). The area of the cytostome is seen between the two spinous processes at the posterior end of the peristome. An adoral zone of membranelles parallels the spiral peristome. The single large spherical macronucleus and the overlying micronucleus are seen well here. The yellowish refractile droplets in the cytoplasm may represent lipid. Many food vacuoles are present. The cytoplasm contains several forms of endosymbiotic bacteria. The contractile vacuole (not seen here) is located at the base of the large spine. C. uniserialis is bactiverous. Collected from stagnant freshwater bottom sediment with rotting leaves and rich in hydrogen sulfide near Boise, Idaho January 2004. DIC optics