swarmer

Description:

Portrait of ciliated swarmer or larval form of the suctorian, Podophrya fixa (MUELLER, 1786) EHRENBERG, 1833. Cilia are seen interspersed with retracted capitate tentacles. The adult form is very similar in appearance to Prodiscophrya but swarmer form of Podophrya has only one contractile vacuole while that of Prodiscophrya has two. The swarmer secretes a long rigid hollow stalk, which attaches the adult to the substrate by an adhesive disc. In the adult form tentacles remain while cilia disappear. The spheroid macronucleus is seen here. . The ciliated larval or swarmer form develops by budding. Podophrya may form a unique transversely ringed stalked resting cyst. Found in sapropelic habitats. From organically enriched bottom sediment of freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.