Dorsal silverline system

Description:

Dorsal silverline system of of the colpodid ciliate, Exocolpoda augustini (Foissner, 1987) Foissner, Agatha and Berger, 2002. Foissner erected the family Exocolpodidae based on the life cycle of its members, namely, cell division in free-swimming individuals instead of reproduction in division cysts as seen in the Colpodidae. He felt this life cycle characteristic,the unique boomerang-shaped left oral polykinetid and the unique thick-walled resting cyst of this species warranted its transfer to the new genus, Exocolpoda. The silverline system is of the "cucullus" type.Collected near Boise, Idaho (43°38'21.10"N 116°11'10.78"W elev. 2908 ft.) from aan ice-covered temporary puddle containing leaf litter and dead grass.November, 2005.Stained by the dry silver nitrate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.