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Portrait of Platyophrya sphagni, a colpodid ciliate. Cells are flask shaped with an indistinct subapical oral aperture. The cells are very flexible and squirm about rather slowly along the substratum. When swimming they tend to rotate around their long axis. The right lateral surface is more densely ciliated than the left (best seen anteriorly here). The cytoplasm contains both large ingested algae and smaller symbiotic zoochlorellae which distinguish this species from other members of the genus. The central macronucleus and micronucleus are seen in this image. Many small extrusomes are also seen in this image. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Ventral view of Platyophrya sphagni, a colpodid ciliate. Cells are flask shaped with an indistinct subapical oral aperture (well seen in this image). The cells are very flexible and squirm about rather slowly along the substratum. When swimming they tend to rotate around their long axis. The oral aperture has a right paraoral membrane, and is bordered on the left by a row of adoral organelles and an outer "postoral pseudomembrane". The right lateral surface is more densely ciliated than the left. The cytoplasm contains both large ingested algae and smaller symbiotic zoochlorellae which distinguish this species from other members of the genus. Many small extrusomes are also seen in this image. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Right ventrolateral view of the infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles . There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties. The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows. The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43 41'45.09"N 116 13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.
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Ventral infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids (UM) and four rectangular left adoral membranelles (AZM). There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties (not well preserved in this specimen). The dark vertical band in the center of the cytostome probably represents densely staining pharyngeal fibers seen end-on (FIB).The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties (SK) lie in shallow cortical furrows. The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. Ingested diatoms are visible here.P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43�41'45.09"N 116�13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.
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In vivo portrait of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles. There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties. The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows (best seen by DIC in vivo). The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus (both seen in this image). The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43°41'45.09"N 116°13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. DIC.
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In vivo portrait of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. This slightly distressed individual is more globular than unstressed cells.The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical (seen here). There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles. There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties. The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows (seen here). The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43°41'45.09"N 116°13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. DIC.
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In vivo portrait of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. This slightly distressed individual is more globular than unstressed cells.The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical (seen here). There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles. There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties. The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows. The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43°41'45.09"N 116°13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. DIC.
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In vivo portrait of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). Theflask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles. There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties. The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows (seen here). The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43°41'45.09"N 116°13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. DIC.
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Ventral infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles (seen here). There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties (not well preserved in this specimen). The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The dark vertical band in the center of the cytostome probably represents densely staining pharyngeal fibers seen end-on.The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows. The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43°41'45.09"N 116°13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.
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Ventral infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles (seen here). There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties (not well preserved in this specimen). The dark vertical band in the center of the cytostome probably represents densely staining pharyngeal fibers seen end-on.The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows. The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. Ingested diatoms are visible here.P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43°41'45.09"N 116°13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.
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Right side infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane (seen here) composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles . There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties. The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows. The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43°41'45.09"N 116°13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.
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Right side infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Platyophrya vorax (Kahl,1926). The flask-shaped cells are very flexible. The relatively small ovoid anterior cytostome is subapical. There is a right paraoral membrane (seen here) composed of dikinetids and four rectangular left adoral membranelles . There is a postoral "pseudomembrane" consisting of closely spaced anterior dikinetids of somatic kineties. The right side is more densely ciliated than the left. The slightly spiralled somatic kineties lie in shallow cortical furrows. The central spherical macronucleus has a small central nucleolus and an adjacent micronucleus. The single contractile vacuole is subterminal posteriorly. P. vorax lacks endosymbiotic algae (present in P. sphagni which also has more numerous adoral membranelles and somatic kineties).Collected from temporary puddles with heavy growth of diatoms in a meadow near Boise, Idaho. 43 41'45.09"N 116 13'55.29"W elev.3191 ft. March 2006. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.
