Colpodellida

Dinomonas tuberculatus Kent, 1880. Body irregularly ovate, somewhat variable in form, but not metabolic, most usually narrowing posteriorly, the ventral border flattened, the dorsal one convex, endoplasm very clear and transparent, with irregular inclusions, many of these located on or close to the surface, and imparting to it a tuberculate aspect, flagella subequal, the anterior slightly the longer, exceeding the body in length, nucleus spherical, subcentral, contractile vacuole posteriorly situated. Length of body 10.2 microns

Colpodella (col-poe-dell-a), this is the only genus of apicomplexa (the group that includes the causative agent of malaria) which is not a parasite. Rather it is a free-swimming flagellate which attacks other protists using the anterior beak or rostrum. This attaches to the prey and sucks cytoplasm from the prey. With two flagella. Phase contrast.

Colpodella (col-poe-dell-a), this is the only genus of apicomplexa (the group that includes the causative agent of malaria) which is not a parasite. Rather it is a free-swimming flagellate which attacks other protists using the anterior beak or rostrum. This attaches to the prey and sucks cytoplasm from the prey - as is illustrated here. With two flagella. Phase contrast.

Video of Colpodella, cells isolated from commercial Dunaliella production ponds near Adelaide in Australia.

Colpodella perforans (Hollande, 1938) Patterson & ZÜllfel, 1991. Cells are 4-6 x 2-4.5 microns rather elongated, narrowed anteriorly and rounded at the posterior end. The ventral side of the cell is rather concave. Two flagella insert sub-apically. The anterior flagellum is about 0.5 times the cell length and the posterior flagellum is slightly longer (about 2.5 times cell length) and acronematic. Swimming is rapid and rather similar to the swimming in some species of Bodo, with the anterior flagellum coiling around the top of the cell, the posterior flagellum trailing, and rotation about the longitudinal axis. Cells were commonly seen to attach to Paraphysomonas cells, but did not appear to feed. Feeding was observed on a larger cell of unknown identity. Individuals (up to three at one time) attached at their apex to the prey item, with their flagella coiled around the cell.

Colpodella perforans (syn. Bodo perforans Hollande) attached at the base of the flagella of Cryptomonas (Chilomonas) paramecium (interference contrast).

Colpodella perforans (syn. Bodo perforans Hollande) attached at the base of the flagella of Cryptomonas (Chilomonas) paramecium (interference contrast).

Transmission EM showing two cell attached to Cryptomonas paramecium before penetration.

Colpodella perforans cell cycle showing the adhesion, penetration and phagocytosis of the cytoplasm of Cryptomonas paramecium cell, also the two divisions inside the cyst giving swimming flagellated cells.

Colpodella edax (Klebs, 1893) Simpson and Patterson, 1996. Cells at the front end are pointed or beak-shaped, at the posterior end rounded off, 11-15 microns long and 5-7 microns wide. Flagella inserted subapically. Posterior flagellum somewhat longer than anterior flagellum. Nucleus in the center, contractile vacuole close of the position which the flagella inserted. Predatory on other flagellates.

ATCC 50640.

Colpodella angusta (Dujardin) Simpson & Patterson 1986. Cell elongate, linear, compressed, more or less pointed at the two ends, five or six times as long as broad, teisted spirally or in a screw-like manner on its longitudinal axis, flagella slender, subequal, inserted close to each other at the apex of the anterior end, equaling the body in length, both directed forwards and active when the cell is swimming, the posterior one sometimes used for the temporary attachment of the cell, contractile vacuole posteriorly located, nucleus inconspicuous. Length of body 10 microns