portrait

Description:

Hastatella. Portrait of uncommon colorless peritrich ciliate H. radians. It has two girdles of spines which distinguishes it from H. aesculacantha, which has four. Swimming interrupted by intermittent jumping movements. Bacterivorous. Pellicle has annular ridges. Wreath of cilia around anterior peristomal disc. These individuals have a blunt posterior scopula but sometimes this may appear more spinous. Macronucleus is roughly equatorial and C-shaped. From freshwater aquaculture pond near Boise, Idaho.Thorough description and illustrations of H. radians can be found in: Foissner,W.,Berger,H. and Schaumberg,J:Identification and Ecology of Limnetic Plankton Ciliates. Bavarian State Office for Water Management; Munich,1999.