Prorodontida

Dorsal aspect of the Prostome ciliate, Plagiocampa rouxi (Kahl, 1926). Free-swimming cells are ovoid to cylindrical in shape. The oral aperture is an apical slit bordered dorsally by 8 finger-like protoplasmic projections (seen here) and ventrally by 3 short obliquely oriented adoral membranelles (not seen in this view). The finger-like projections bear extrusomes, which are not visible in vivo. The cytopharynx is supported by short fine trichites (not visible in this image). The longitudinal somatic kineties (13-18 in number) are uniform (not seen in this image). There is a single long caudal cilium (not seen in this image). The ovoid macronucleus and the adjacent micronucleus are located just posterior to the center (densely stained here). A single contractile vacuole (not seen in this image) is located at the posterior terminus. Plagiocampa feeds on bacteria, flagellates and other ciliates. Collected from a polysaprobic farm pond with abundant Anabaena near Boise, Idaho August 2004. Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Brightfield.

Portrait of the Prostome ciliate, Plagiocampa rouxi(Schewiakoff, 1892). This slightly squashed individual is one of the several Plagiocampa species that lack a long caudal cilium. Free-swimming cells are ovoid to cylindrical in shape. The oral aperture is an apical slit bordered on the right by multiple finger-like protoplasmic projections (seen well in this image). These projections bear extrusomes (not visible in vivo). The cytopharynx is supported by short fine trichites (seen well in this image). The longitudinal somatic kineties are uniform. The ovoid macronucleus and the adjacent micronucleus are located just posterior to the center. A single contractile vacuole (seen in this image) is located at the posterior terminus. Multiple food vacuoles are visible in the cytoplasm of this cell. Plagiocampa feeds on bacteria, flagellates and other ciliates. Collected from a freshwater agricultural irrigation canal near Boise, Idaho November 2003. DIC optics. 

Anterior detail of the Prostome ciliate, Plagiocampa rouxi(Schewiakoff, 1892). This slightly squashed individual is one of the several Plagiocampa species that lack a long caudal cilium. Free-swimming cells are ovoid to cylindrical in shape. The oral aperture is an apical slit bordered on the right by multiple finger-like protoplasmic projections (seen well in this image). These projections bear extrusomes (not visible in vivo). The cytopharynx is supported by short fine trichites (not seen here). The longitudinal somatic kineties are uniform. The ovoid macronucleus and the adjacent micronucleus are located just posterior to the center. A single contractile vacuole (not seen in this image) is located at the posterior terminus. Multiple food vacuoles are visible in the cytoplasm of this cell. Plagiocampa feeds on bacteria, flagellates and other ciliates. Collected from a freshwater agricultural irrigation canal near Boise, Idaho November 2003. DIC optics. 

Urotricha (your-owe-trike-a) This ciliate has cilia all over the body surface, typically has a long caudal cilium, and has an ingestion area at the anterior end of the cell. It eats detritus. Common, with many species which are hard to distinguish from each other. Phase contrast.

Urotricha (your-owe-trike-a) This ciliate has cilia all over the body surface, typically has a long caudal cilium, and has an ingestion area at the anterior end of the cell. It eats detritus. Common, with many species which are hard to distinguish from each other. Differential interference contrast.

Urotricha (your-owe-trike-a) This ciliate has cilia all over the body surface, typically has a long caudal cilium, and has an ingestion area at the anterior end of the cell. It eats detritus. Common, with many species which are hard to distinguish from each other. Phase contrast.

Urotricha (your-owe-trike-a) This ciliate has cilia all over the body surface, typically has a long caudal cilium, and has an ingestion area at the anterior end of the cell. It eats detritus. Common, with many species which are hard to distinguish from each other. Phase contrast.

Infraciliature of Urotricha platystoma (STOKES,1886).The yellow arrowhead indicates one of the obliquely oriented dikinetids surronding the oral aperture. The green arrowheads indicate the three obliquely oriented adoral organelles, each composed of two rows of kinetids. Collected from the margin of a slow-moving outflow stream of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.March 2007. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Posterior view of the infraciliature of Urotricha platystoma(STOKES,1886).The somatic kineties terminate in the posterior 1/4 of the cell (light blue arrowheads). The posterior end of the cell is unciliated (asterisk) except for the single long caudal cilium. the red arrowhead indicates the excentric pore of the contractile vacuole.Collected from the margin of a slow-moving outflow stream of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.March 2007. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Urotricha platystoma (STOKES,1886).Collected from the margin of a slow-moving outflow stream of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.March 2007. Phase contrast.

Urotricha platystoma (STOKES,1886). The long caudal cilium is out of the focal plane in this image.Collected from the margin of a slow-moving outflow stream of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.March 2007.DIC

Urotricha platystoma (STOKES,1886). Collected from the margin of a slow-moving outflow stream of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.March 2007.DIC

Urotricha platystoma (STOKES,1886). The yellow arrowhead indicates the single long caudal cilium.The pink arrowhead indicates the subcortical layer of fusiform extrusomes.Collected from the margin of a slow-moving outflow stream of a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.March 2007.DIC

Urotricha (your-owe-trike-a) farcta: the anterior half of the body is conical and the posterior half trapeziform. The oral opening is at the anterior end of the cell. The contractile vacuole is located in the posterior end and the round macronucleus is in the middle of the body. The caudal cilium is slightly eccentric. This is a fast swimming cilate, the motion of which is interrupted by jumps. The species is mostly 15 - 30 microns long, this cell 22 microns. Differential interference contrast.

Oral infraciliature of Urotricha farcta (CLAPARÈDE&LACHMAN,1859). The pink arrowheads mark dikinetids of the undulating membrane (oral flaps).The yellow arrowheads mark the three minute adoral organelles. Collected from submerged dead leaves at the margin of a slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho.March 2007.Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Infraciliature of Urotricha farcta (CLAPARÈDE&LACHMAN,1859). The yellow arrowheads mark the three minute adoral organelles. Collected from submerged dead leaves at the margin of a slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho.March 2007.Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Urotricha farcta (CLAPARÈDE&LACHMAN,1859). Collected from submerged dead leaves at the margin of a slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho.March 2007.DIC.

Urotricha farcta (CLAPARÈDE&LACHMAN,1859).This is a larger individual,slightly compressed.The yellow arrowhead marks the undulating membrane (oral flaps) that surrounds the anterior apical cytostome.The green arrowhead marks the single long eccentric posterior cilium.The red arrowhead marks the single subterminal posterior contractile vacuole.The light blue arrowhead marks the inconspicuous subpellicular extrusomes.Collected from submerged dead leaves at the margin of a slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho.March 2007.DIC.

Key to Schewiakoff's abbreviations   a -- Anus b -- Sensory bristle c.v -- Contractile vacuole ek -- Ectoplasm oe -- Throat  N -- Macronucleus ncl -- Micronucleus o - Mouth nk -- Food particle 

Placus (plake-us) is a barrel-shaped ciliate. Kineties of cilia run in a slightly spiral course from the anterior end - which is where the mouth is, to the posterior end of the body. Kineties have adjacent sharp-walled gutters. Eats detritus, such as algae. Differential interference contrast.

Placus (plake-us) is a barrel-shaped ciliate. Kineties of cilia run in a slightly spiral course from the anterior end - which is where the mouth is, to the posterior end of the body. Kineties have adjacent sharp-walled gutters. Eats detritus, such as algae. Differential interference contrast.

Portrait (right lateral view) of the prorodontid ciliate, Placus luciae (Kahl,1926) Kahl,1930. The cell is ovoid and slightly laterally compressed. The pellicle has broad slightly spiral ridges separated by narrow furrows. The small oval oral aperture is apical anterior, surrounded by a ring of unciliated kinetosomes. The cytopharynx is supported by fine trichites. The somatic ciliature uniform, with cilia.There is a "brush" composed of a double parallel row of kinetosomes bearing longer cilia. This is about 1/4 to 1/3 cell length arising adjacent to the oral aperture. It terminates at a ventral circular "pit" (seen here as a slight depression anteriorly on viewer's right) which has a supporting ring of transversely oriented trichites. The function of this structure is unknown. The ovoid macronucleus is centrally located. The contractile vacuole is poster lateral. Collected from a slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho. DIC.

Optical section (right lateral view) of the prorodontid ciliate, Placus luciae (Kahl,1926) Kahl,1930. The cell is ovoid and slightly laterally compressed. The pellicle has broad slightly spiral ridges separated by narrow furrows. The small oval oral aperture is apical anterior, surrounded by a ring of unciliated kinetosomes. The cytopharynx is supported by fine trichites. The somatic ciliature uniform, with cilia. There is a "brush" composed of a double parallel row of kinetosomes bearing longer cilia. This is about 1/4 to 1/3 cell length arising adjacent to the oral aperture. It terminates at a ventral circular "pit" (seen here as a slight depression anteriorly on viewer's right) which has a supporting ring of transversely oriented trichites (faintly visible here). the function of this structure is unknown . The ovoid macronucleus is centrally located. The contractile vacuole is posterolateral (seen in this image). Collected from a slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho. DIC.