portrait

Description:

Plagiopyla (play-gee-owe-pile-a) is usually found in the upper reaches of the thiobios - the anoxic region found some distance under the surface of sediments. It consumes sulphur bacteria such as Beggiatoa, the remnants of some are seen in three large food vacuoles near the centre of the cell. the large homogenous region bottom right is the macronucleus. The body is evenly ciliated, but cilia are densely packed within the mouth. With extrusomes under the cell surface. Differential interference contrast.