Stichotrichia

Stylonychia, a widely distributed hypotrich ciliate. The dorsoventrally flattened body is elongate and broadly rounded anteriorly, narrowing posteriorly. The adoral zone of membranelles is strongly developed and rests on an anteriorly protruding collar. The two rows of marginal cirri are slightly out of the focal plane in this image. They do not meet posteriorly. The three characteristic caudal cirri are seen here. There are short dorsal cilia (not seen here). Two ellipsoid macronuclei are visible in this image. One of two small spherical micronuclei is seen at the inferior margin of the posterior macronucleus. This individual has been feeding on diatoms and green algae. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield illumination.

Inflexible, elongate, oval, dorso-ventrally flattened body with a large and powerful AZM. There are rows of marginal cirri that are not continuous posteriorly. Three long, strong and prominent caudal cirri help to distinguish members of this genus.

Originally described by Ehrenberg under the name Stylonychia silurus

Ventral infraciliature of Stylonychia pustulata (MUELLER, 1786) EHRENBERG, 1835. Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho. June 2008. Protargol A (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Ventral view of Stylonychia pustulata (MUELLER, 1786) EHRENBERG, 1835. Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho. June 2008. DIC.

Ventral view of Stylonychia pustulata (MUELLER, 1786) EHRENBERG, 1835. Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho. January 2001. Oblique illumination.

Dorsal infraciliature of Stylonychia pustulata (MUELLER, 1786) EHRENBERG, 1835.1-6+dorsal kineties. Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho. June 2008. Protargol A (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Ventral infraciliature of Stylonychia pustulata (MUELLER, 1786) EHRENBERG, 1835.FC=frontal cirri.FVC=frontoventral cirri.BC=buccal cirrus.AZM=adoral zone of membranelles.EOM=endoral membrane.POM=paroral membrane.RMR,LMR=right and left marginal cirral rows.POv+PTV=postoral and pretransverse ventral cirri.TC=transverse cirri. Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho. June 2008. Protargol A (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Ventral infraciliature of Stylonychia pustulata (MUELLER, 1786) EHRENBERG, 1835. Collected from a eutrophic freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho. June 2008. Protargol A (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Ventral infracilature of Oxytricha fallax (STEIN,1859).FC=frontal cirri,FVC=frontoventral cirri.PTC=pretransverse ventral cirri,TC=transverse cirri.RMR/LMR=right and left marginal cirral rows,AZM=adoral zone of membranelles,EM=endoral membrane,POM=paraoral membrane.Collected from a eutrophic artificial freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho.May 2008.Stained by the protargol technique (Wilbert modification). See Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991.Brightfield. 

Ventral infracilature of Oxytricha fallax (STEIN,1859).Collected from a eutrophic artificial freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho.May 2008.Stained by the protargol technique (Wilbert modification). See Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991.Brightfield.

Oxytricha fallax (STEIN,1859).Ventral view.FC=frontal cirrus,RMR/LMR=right and left marginal cirral rows,FVC=frontoventral cirri,TC-transverse cirri.Collected from a eutrophic artificial freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho.May 2008.DIC.

Oxytricha fallax (STEIN,1859).The cytoplasm contains many highly refractile crystals which appear yellow-orange in this image.Under brightfield illumination they appear dark.Collected from a eutrophic artificial freshwater pond in Boise, Idaho.May 2008.DIC.

Halteria (halt-ear-ee-a) an oligotrich ciliate found in fresh-water habitats, with an anterior zone of membranelles. Halteria uses equatorial cirri to move with a bounding motion. Consumes bacteria, small algae and small detrital particles. Phase contrast.

Halteria (halt-ear-ee-a) an oligotrich ciliate found in fresh-water habitats, with an anterior zone of membranelles and an equatorial band of sparse, long, stiff cirri. Moves with a bounding motion. Consumes bacteria, small algae and small detrital particles. Phase contrast.

Halteria (halt-ear-ee-a) an oligotrich ciliate found in fresh-water habitats, with an anterior zone of membranelles which is emphasized in this image. Uses equatorial cirri to move with a bounding motion. Consumes bacteria, small algae and small detrital particles. Differential interference contrast.

Halteria (halt-ear-ee-a) is a small oligotrich ciliate with an adoral zone of membranelles extending around the anterior of the cell. This cell has been photographed from the anterior apex, and this image shows the array of membranelles. Phase contrast. Material from Nymph Creek and Nymph Lake, thermal sites within Yellowstone National Park, photograph by Kathy Sheehan and David Patterson.

Halteria (halt-tear-ee-a) grandinella. The somatic ciliature of this ciliate is very reduced. The body is globular or ellipsoidal. The posterior end often depressed. The oral apparatus consists of an almost circular zone of adoral membranelles. The macronucleus is ellipsoidal and located centrally. The contractile vacuole in the posterior third of the cell, located near the buccal cavity. The long bristles (jumping bristles) arise equatorially; these cause a jumping movement that is characteristic of the genus Halteria. Big jumps followed by periods of forward swimming in spirals. Common in the plankton of fresh water. This specimen was collected in the plankton of freshwater ponds near Konstanz, Germany. Differential interference contrast.