portrait

Description:

Portrait of Metopus spinosus a polysaprobic ciliate (ventral view). Synonymous with Metopus caudatus. The body is elongate and slightly flattened dorsoventrally. The rounded anterior is twisted to the left and the posterior is drawn out to a tapered point. There is an anterior apical aggregate of refractile granules typical of metopids. Somatic kineties are longitudinal and uniform. The peristome slants obliquely across the ventral surface. There is a prominent adoral zone of membranelles on its left and several kineties of longer cilia along its right margin. The cytostome is at the right posterior end of the peristome. The large ellipsoid central macronucleus is not seen in this image. There is a posterior contractile vacuole.