Lynchellidae

Chamydonella alpestris (Foissner,1979), a small hypostome ciliate. The body is strongly curved dorsally and flattened ventrally as shown in this lateral view. The single round macronucleus is located in the mid-body. There are two contractile vacuoles, one anterior and one posterior. This individual has been consuming diatoms. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield illumination.

Chamydonella alpestris ( Foissner, 1979), a small hypostome ciliate. The body is strongly curved dorsally and flattened ventrally. Ciliature is limited to the ventral surface except for a small dorsal anterior tuft on the left (seen in this image). Kineties curve anterior to the cytostome on the right. More central kineties terminate at the cytostome. A flattened transverse Y-shaped kinety just anterior to the cytostome is considered distinctive. The circular oral aperture is supported by trichites. The single round macronucleus is located in the mid-body. There are two contractile vacuoles, one anterior and one posterior. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC.

Ventral surface of Chlamydonella alpestris (Foissner, 1979), a small hypostome ciliate. The body is strongly curved dorsally and flattened ventrally. The right side is convex and the left is straight. Ciliature is limited to the ventral surface except for a small dorsal anterior tuft on the left. Kineties curve anterior to the cytostome on the right. About 10 evenly spaced longitudinal kineties extend from the level of the cytostome to the posterior end. A flattened transverse Y-shaped kinety just anterior to the cytostome is considered distinctive. A second short curved kinety lies just anterior to this. The circular oral aperture is supported by trichites. The single round macronucleus is located in the mid-body. There are two contractile vacuoles, one anterior and one posterior. This individual has consumed a diatom and green alga. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho October 2003. DIC optics.

Ventral surface of Chlamydonella alpestris (Foissner, 1979), a small hypostome ciliate. The body is strongly curved dorsally and flattened ventrally. The right side is convex and the left is straight. Ciliature is limited to the ventral surface except for a small dorsal anterior tuft on the left. Kineties curve anterior to the cytostome on the right. About 10 evenly spaced longitudinal kineties extend from the level of the cytostome to the posterior end. A flattened transverse Y-shaped kinety just anterior to the cytostome is considered distinctive. A second short curved kinety lies just anterior to this. The circular oral aperture is supported by trichites. The single round macronucleus is located in the mid-body. There are two contractile vacuoles, one anterior and one posterior(both seen here). This individual has consumed a diatom and green alga. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho October 2003. DIC optics. 

Ventral surface of Chlamydonella alpestris (Foissner, 1979) in mid-division. C. alpestris is a small hypostome ciliate. The body is strongly curved dorsally and flattened ventrally. The right side is convex and the left is straight. The cell shape has been distorted by fixation. Ciliature is limited to the ventral surface except for a small dorsal anterior tuft on the left. Kineties curve anterior to the cytostome on the right. About 10 evenly spaced longitudinal kineties extend from the level of the cytostome to the posterior end. A flattened transverse Y-shaped kinety just anterior to the cytostome is considered distinctive (yellow arrowheads). A second short curved kinety lies just anterior to this. The circular oral aperture is supported by trichites. The single round macronucleus is located in the mid-body (not visible here). There are two contractile vacuoles, one anterior and one posterior. This individual has consumed a diatom and green alga. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho October 2003. Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Black and white.Brightfield optics.

Ventral surface of Chlamydonella alpestris (Foissner, 1979), a small hypostome ciliate. The body is strongly curved dorsally and flattened ventrally. The right side is convex and the left is straight. Ciliature is limited to the ventral surface except for a small dorsal anterior tuft on the left. Kineties curve anterior to the cytostome on the right. About 10 evenly spaced longitudinal kineties extend from the level of the cytostome to the posterior end. A flattened transverse Y-shaped kinety just anterior to the cytostome is considered distinctive. A second short curved kinety lies just anterior to this. The circular oral aperture is supported by trichites. The single round macronucleus is located in the mid-body. There are two contractile vacuoles, one anterior and one posterior(both seen here). This individual has consumed a diatom and green alga. Collected from freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho March 2007. DIC optics.

in vivo image of undescribed species of Chlamydonellopsis (BLATTERER & FOISSNER,1990).The yellow arrowheads indicate the two diagonally opposed contractile vacuoles. Collected from a slow-moving freshwater stream near Boise,Idaho.March 2007.DIC.

in vivo image of undescribed species of Chlamydonellopsis (BLATTERER & FOISSNER,1990).The yellow circle marks three nonmotile ventral protoplasmic protuberances. At first glance these can be mistaken for adherent bacteria.Usually visible only with DIC. This species differs from the other freshwater species ( C. pleurivacuolata and C. polonica) both of which have more numerous somatic kineties. C. pleurivacuolata has >2 contractile vacuoles and more numerous ventral protuberances. The ventral protuberances of C. polonica have probably been overlooked. Collected from a slow-moving freshwater stream near Boise,Idaho.March 2007.DIC.

Atopochilodon distichum (Deroux,1976). Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho. February 2006.Phase contrast.

Atopochilodon distichum (Deroux,1976). Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho. February 2006.DIC.

Atopochilodon distichum (Deroux,1976). Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho. February 2006.DIC.

Ventral surface of the marine phyllopharyngiid ciliate, Coeloperix sleighi (Gong and Song,2004).The cell is broadly ovoid in outline and strongly dorsoventrally flattened. The dorsum is slightly convex and the ventral surface flattened. Ciliature is restricted to the ventral surface. The preoral and postoral kineties are separated by a transverse suture and the preoral kineties are transversely oriented. The postoral kineties are continuous , lacking the central bare gap seen in Chlamydodon. There is a peripheral cross-striated band (CSB) similar to that seen in Chlamydodon however the CSB in Coeloperix is interrupted on the right and left sides by two slightly offset gaps. There are 3or 4 short "tentacles" on the posteromedial ventral surface. These are about 5 µm long and are quite difficult to see even with DIC. The anterior ventral cytostome is supported by prominent nematodesmata. There is a central heteromerous macronucleus. There are two contractile vacuoles situated diagonally. They empty through single pores on the ventral surface. Collected from a commercial marine aquarium in Boise, Idaho.  pH 7.93. January 2004. DIC.

Ventral surface of the marine phyllopharyngiid ciliate, Coeloperix sleighi (Gong and Song,2004).The cell is broadly ovoid in outline and strongly dorsoventrally flattened. The dorsum is slightly convex and the ventral surface flattened. Ciliature is restricted to the ventral surface. The preoral and postoral kineties are separated by a transverse suture and the preoral kineties are transversely oriented. The postoral kineties are continuous , lacking the central bare gap seen in Chlamydodon. There is a peripheral cross-striated band (CSB) similar to that seen in Chlamydodon however the CSB in Coeloperix is interrupted on the right and left sides by two slightly offset gaps. There are 3or 4 short "tentacles" on the posteromedial ventral surface. These are about 5 µm long and are quite difficult to see even with DIC. The anterior ventral cytostome is supported by prominent nematodesmata. There is a central heteromerous macronucleus. There are two contractile vacuoles situated diagonally. They empty through single pores on the ventral surface. Collected from a commercial marine aquarium in Boise, Idaho.  pH 7.93. January 2004. DIC.

Optical section of the marine phyllopharyngiid ciliate, Coeloperix sleighi (Gong and Song,2004).The cell is broadly ovoid in outline and strongly dorsoventrally flattened. The dorsum is slightly convex and the ventral surface flattened. Ciliature is restricted to the ventral surface. The preoral and postoral kineties are separated by a transverse suture and the preoral kineties are transversely oriented. The postoral kineties are continuous , lacking the central bare gap seen in Chlamydodon. There is a peripheral cross-striated band (CSB) similar to that seen in Chlamydodon however the CSB in Coeloperix is interrupted on the right and left sides by two slightly offset gaps. There are 3or 4 short "tentacles" on the posteromedial ventral surface. These are about 5 µm long and are quite difficult to see even with DIC. The anterior ventral cytostome is supported by prominent nematodesmata. There is a central heteromerous macronucleus. There are two contractile vacuoles situated diagonally. They empty through single pores on the ventral surface. Collected from a commercial marine aquarium in Boise, Idaho.  pH 7.93. January 2004. DIC.

Optical section of the marine phyllopharyngiid ciliate, Coeloperix sleighi (Gong and Song,2004).The cell is broadly ovoid in outline and strongly dorsoventrally flattened. The dorsum is slightly convex and the ventral surface flattened. Ciliature is restricted to the ventral surface. The preoral and postoral kineties are separated by a transverse suture and the preoral kineties are transversely oriented. The postoral kineties are continuous , lacking the central bare gap seen in Chlamydodon. There is a peripheral cross-striated band (CSB) similar to that seen in Chlamydodon however the CSB in Coeloperix is interrupted on the right and left sides by two slightly offset gaps. There are 3or 4 short "tentacles" on the posteromedial ventral surface. These are about 5 ?m long and are quite difficult to see even with DIC. The anterior ventral cytostome is supported by prominent nematodesmata. There is a central heteromerous macronucleus. There are two contractile vacuoles situated diagonally. They empty through single pores on the ventral surface. Collected from a commercial marine aquarium in Boise, Idaho.  pH 7.93. January 2004. DIC.