Haptorida

Originally described as Dinophrya lieberkuhnii (Butschli)  Shown with the posterior extended to a tail-like appendage.  a -- Anus cv -- Contractile vacuole ek -- Ectoplasm N -- Macronucleus nk -- Food particle st -- Cytopharyngeal basket W -- Ciliated ring

Originally described as Dinophrya lieberkuhnii (Butschli).  Oral view.  cl -- Cilia N -- Macronucleus nk -- Fppd particle 0 -- Mouth st -- Cytopharyngeal basket W -- Ciliated ring

Surface view of Pithothorax processus a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.

Saggital optical section of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.

Surface view of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926) a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.

In vivo portrait of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. June 2005. DIC optics.

Portrait of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by pointed projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a funnel shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (visible here). The round macronucleus is anterior. The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. Although this specimen was stained by the silvercarbonate technic (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991, the somatic kinetids did not impregnate. Short rod shaped partially discharged extrusomes (stained brown here) are visible anteriorly. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Brighfield.

In vivo portrait of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes (seen here). The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery (seen here). The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. June 2005. DIC optics.

Cross-sectional view of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926) a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing giving it a fluted appearance. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.June 2005. DIC.

Lasteral view of Pithothorax processus (Kahl, 1926), a small haptorid ciliate found in polysaprobic habitats. The body is a slightly flattened cylinder. The pellicle is rigid with longitudinal ribbing. The oral aperture is at the anterior apex surrounded by projections of the pellicular ridges. There is a curved funnel-shaped posterior process from which a long caudal cilium protrudes. The round macronucleus is anterior and the contractile vacuole is located in the posterior 1/3 at the periphery. The somatic ciliature is confined to the anterior and posterior quarters of the body. From stagnant organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. June 2005. DIC optics.

Spathidium (spa-thid-ee-um) moniliforme, the body is elongate, the posterior end is bluntly pointed or rounded but the anterior end is distinctively swollen - often fan-shaped and obliquely truncated. There is an ciliated apical ridge which is lined by toxicysts. The oral aperture is a slit that lies along the length of this ridge. The cilia are uniformly distributed in longitudinal parallel rows on both lateral surfaces. The macronucleus is highly variable, often elongate, ribbon-like or moniliform. The contractile vacuole is single and at the end of the cell. Spathidium feeds on other ciliates. It lives in fresh water ponds and lakes. This specimen was collected in a freshwater pond near Konstanz, Germany. This swimming cell is 250 microns long. Differential interference contrast.

Spathidium (spa-thid-ee-um) moniliforme, the body is elongate, the posterior end is bluntly pointed or rounded but the anterior end is distinctively swollen - often fan-shaped and obliquely truncated. There is an ciliated apical ridge which is lined by toxicysts. The oral aperture is a slit that lies along the length of this ridge. The cilia are uniformly distributed in longitudinal parallel rows on both lateral surfaces. The macronucleus is highly variable, often elongate, ribbon-like or moniliform. The contractile vacuole is single and at the end of the cell. Spathidium feeds on other ciliates. It lives in fresh water ponds and lakes. This cell is squashed allowing ribbon-like macronucleus and the fan-like arrangement of toxicysts at the front of the cell to be seen. Differential interference contrast.

Two of the three types of lepidosomes of Luporinophrys micelae (FOISSNER,2005). The type II are not seen in this image.Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Luporinophrys micelae (FOISSNER,2005). Collected from an ephemeral puddle on a flood-irrigated grass lawn in Boise, Idaho, 2007.Phase contrast.

Luporinophrys micelae (FOISSNER,2005). Collected from an ephemeral puddle on a flood-irrigated grass lawn in Boise, Idaho, 2007.Phase contrast.

Enchelyodon armatus (KAHL,1926) KAHL,1930 from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Oblique illumination.

Enchelyodon armatus (KAHL, 1926) KAHL, 1930.DIC.

In vivo portrait of Enchelyodon armatus (KAHL,1926),KAHL,1930 demonstrating the band-form macronucleus.

The long oral bulge (~50% of cell length) is one of the main distinguishing features of this subspecies of A. cultriforme. This specimen is somewhat stouter than the cells described by Foissner (Protistology 4 (1), 5-55 (2005) probably due to contraction after transfer from the culture dish to the slide. When observed undisturbed under the dissecting microscope the cells appear more slender.Phase contrast.

Six of the multiple (7-18) micronuclei are in the focal plane of this image. Stained by the methylgreen-pyroninY technique (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Band-form macronucleus of Arcuospathidum cultriforme scalpriforme (KAHL,1930) FOISSNER,2003.Stained by the methylgreen-pyroninY technique (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.