Haptoria

Portrait of the haptorid ciliate, Chaenea teres (Dujardin,1841). Probably synonymous with C. stricta (Dujardin 1841, Foissner, 1995) which is also found in freshwater habitats. The cell is elongate,ovoid in cross section,flexible but only slightly contractile. There is a short anterior snout with an inconspicuous apical cytostome. Small trichites support the cytopharynx. Longitudinal somatic kineties are widely spaced. The short snout has densely packed slightly spiral kineties with longer cilia. The cytoplasm of this individual contains highly refractile crystalline inclusions.This specimen was collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho May 2004. DIC optics.

Portrait of the haptorid ciliate, Chaenea teres (Dujardin,1841). Probably synonymous with C. stricta (Dujardin 1841, Foissner, 1995) which is also found in freshwater habitats. The cell is elongate,ovoid in cross section,flexible but only slightly contractile. There is a short anterior snout with an inconspicuous apical cytostome. Small trichites support the cytopharynx. Longitudinal somatic kineties are widely spaced. The short snout has densely packed slightly spiral kineties with longer cilia (seen well here). The cytoplasm of this individual contains highly refractile crystalline inclusions.This specimen was collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho May 2004. DIC optics.

Detail of the anterior end of the haptorid ciliate, Chaenea teres (Dujardin,1841). Probably synonymous with C. stricta (Dujardin 1841, Foissner, 1995) which is also found in freshwater habitats. The cell is elongate,ovoid in cross section,flexible but only slightly contractile. There is a short anterior snout with an inconspicuous apical cytostome. Small trichites support the cytopharynx. Longitudinal somatic kineties are widely spaced. The short snout has densely packed slightly spiral kineties with longer cilia (seen well here). The cytoplasm of this individual contains highly refractile crystalline inclusions.This specimen was collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho May 2004. DIC optics.

Enchelyodon (ench-elly-owe-don), a cylindrical predatory ciliate, body fairly flexible, mouth is a slit zone at anterior end, underlain by a number of extrusomes. Differential interference contrast.

Trachelophyllum, small predatory ciliate, with a wreath of flagella projecting from the front of the cell. This cell has two large macronuclei, one on each side of the small micronucleus. From Lake Donghu, China. Phase contrast micrograph.

Trachelophyllum, a predatory haptorid ciliate. The mouth is located at the anterior pole. Extrusomes lie internal to the mouth. Contractile vacuole located at posterior end. Differential interference contrast optics.

Trachelophyllum, a predatory haptorid ciliate. The mouth is located at the anterior pole. Extrusomes lie internal to the mouth. Contractile vacuole located at posterior end.

Amphileptus (am-fee-lep-tus) pleurosigma. The body of the members of the genus Amphileptus is laterally compressed and elongate. The oral aperture is a slit on the convex edge of the neck region, and extends less than halfway down the body. Ciliation is present on both lateral surfaces although there is a tendency to some reduction on the left surface. Ciliation on the right surface is extensive and forms longitudinal rows which converge on each other in the anterior region. Trichocysts are common - particularly in neck. Macronucleus in 2 to 4 spherical parts with single micronucleus placed between macronuclei. Many contractile vacuoles occur along both dorsal and ventral edges. Lives in fresh water ponds and lakes. Free swimming specimen of Amphileptus pleurosigma. The two macronuclei and the contractile vacuoles located at the edges are visible. The S-shaped body and the neck-like anterior end are characteristic. Measuring 228 microns. Differential interference contrast.

in vivo portrait of the pleurostomatid ciliate, Amphileptus pleurosigma (Stokes,1884) Foissner, 1984. DIC.

The green arrow indicates a uniform subpellicular layer of globular structures,probably mitochondria.The yellow arrow indicates the posterior end of the slit-like oral aperture.The pink arrow indicates the right perioral kinety.

The yellow arrow indicates the micronucleus in a membranous envelope between the two granular macroniclei. DIC.

The undischarged extrusomes (yellow arrow) are plentiful in the cytoplasm. They are 10-15 µm long,slender,curved with a small bulbar enlargement at one end. This is seen only with DIC. There is a small cluster of extrusomes at the anterior cell apex.

The discharged extrusomes have a long thread-like extension (black arrow).Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

The discharged extrusomes have a long thread-like extension.Stained by the silver carbonate technic (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

There are 25-35 right somatic kineties that converge anteriorly on a suture. There are 4-6 dorsal rows of bristle-like cilia. There is a single row of short cilia forming the dorsal brush.DIC.

Portrait of large haptorid ciliate Homalozoon vermiculare (STOKES,1887)STOKES,1890. Laterally flattened. Bluntly rounded anteriorly and tapered posteriorly. Contractile. Slit-like oral aperture with prominent oral bulge extrusomes. Multiple small contractile vacuoles along lateral margin. Macronucleus moniliform. Brightfield. From standing freshwater with abundant decomposing leaves near Boise, Idaho.

Detail of anterior of Homalozoon vermiculare (STOKES,1887) STOKES,1890 showing dense collection of oral bulge extrusomes. The characteristic dense anterior aggregate of pharyngeal granules is well seen. The function of these is unclear. Brightfield. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.

Homalozoon vermiculare (STOKES,1887) STOKES,1890 seen here preying on a peritrich ciliate. The characteristic dense aggregate of granules can be seen. This is displaced by the ingested prey and then disperses as the food vacuole proceeds distally. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield

This cell has been killed and then stained with Feulgen stain which shows up the nuclei. As with all ciliates, there are two kinds of nuclei, a large macronucleus which takes the form of a string of beads, and smaller micronuclei which in this species are numerous small structures located near the macronucleus.

Phase contrast micrograph of a living cell. The line of contractile vacuoles, lines of the kineties and the band of extrusomes just under the mouth are visible.

Infraciliature (right side) of Homalozoon vermiculare (STOKES,1887) STOKES,1890.Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise,Idaho June 2008.Stained by the Protargol A technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Infraciliature (ventral side) of Homalozoon vermiculare (STOKES,1887) STOKES,1890. the posterior portion of the moniliform macronucleus and one of the numerous micronuclei are seen here.Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise,Idaho June 2008.Stained by the Protargol A technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Infraciliature (right side) of Homalozoon vermiculare (STOKES,1887) STOKES,1890. CK=circumoral kinety.OA=oral aperture.RSK=right somatic kineties.Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise,Idaho June 2008.Stained by the Protargol A technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.