Phyllopharyngea

In vivo portrait of the dendrosomatid suctorian,Lernaeophrya capitata (Perez,1903). Some have recommended transfer of L. capitata to the genus Dendrosoma. The irregular cell body fastens to debris (as seen here) or to the surface of invertebrates as aan ectocommensal. The free surface of the cell has numerous, short knob-like protrusions (actinophores) which bear clusters of stout capitate tentacles (arrowheads). A ciliate has been captured by the tentacles of one of the actinophores (arrow). Collected from a freswater pond near Boise, idaho. March 2006. DIC.

In vivo portrait of the dendrosomatid suctorian,Lernaeophrya capitata (Perez,1903). Some have recommended transfer of L. capitata to the genus Dendrosoma. The irregular cell body fastens to debris (as seen here) or to the surface of invertebrates as aan ectocommensal. The free surface of the cell has numerous, short knob-like protrusions (actinophores) which bear clusters of stout capitate tentacles. A ciliate has been captured by the tentacles of one of the actinophores. Collected from a freswater pond near Boise, idaho. March 2006. DIC.

Portrait (ventral surface) of the chilodonellid ciliate Pseudochilodonopsis piscatoris (Blochmann, 1895) Foissner, 1979. The cell is drawn out to the left in a distinct pointed preoral beak. The posterior is broadly rounded. The cell is strongly dorsoventrally compressed. The dorsum is slightly domed and the ventral surface flat. The ciliature is reduced to the ventral surface except for a distinctive dorsal brush which is set back from the anterior edge of the cell and arches across the nearly its entire width. The ventral ciliature consists of right (5) and left (6) kineties separated by a wide bare postoral area. There are two circumoral kineties and a fragmented preoral kinety. The anterior ends of the left somatic kineties abut the transversely oriented fragments of the preoral kinety. These fragments ascend stair-step fashion to the tip of the beak. The cytostome, situated in the anterior 1/4 of the cell, is supported by nematodesmata forming a cyrtos. There are two contractile vacuoles. The nucleus is heteromerous. The genus Pseudochilodonopsis is distinguished from members of the similar genus, Chilodonella, by the fragmented preoral kinety and the long arched dorsal brush. Both features are difficult to appreciate without DIC optics or silver impregnation techniques. P. piscatoris feeds on green algae and diatoms. It is usually found in the surface film of samples collected from a freshwater pond near Boise,Idaho. February 2005. DIC.

Portrait (dorsal surface) of the chilodonellid ciliate Pseudochilodonopsis piscatoris (Blochmann, 1895) Foissner, 1979. The cell is drawn out to the left in a distinct pointed preoral beak. The posterior is broadly rounded. The cell is strongly dorsoventrally compressed. The dorsum is slightly domed and the ventral surface flat. The ciliature is reduced to the ventral surface except for a distinctive dorsal brush which is set back from the anterior edge of the cell and arches across the nearly its entire width(seen in this image). The ventral ciliature consists of right (5) and left (6) kineties separated by a wide bare postoral area. There are two circumoral kineties and a fragmented preoral kinety. The anterior ends of the left somatic kineties abut the transversely oriented fragments of the preoral kinety. These fragments ascend stair-step fashion to the tip of the beak. The cytostome, situated in the anterior 1/4 of the cell, is supported by nematodesmata forming a cyrtos. There are two contractile vacuoles. The nucleus is heteromerous. The genus Pseudochilodonopsis is distinguished from members of the similar genus, Chilodonella, by the fragmented preoral kinety and the long arched dorsal brush (visible here between arrows). Both features are difficult to appreciate without DIC optics or silver impregnation techniques. P. piscatoris feeds on green algae and diatoms. It is usually found in the surface film of samples Collected from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho February 2005. DIC.

Infraciliature (ventral surface) of the chilodonellid ciliate Pseudochilodonopsis piscatoris (Blochmann, 1895) Foissner, 1979. The cell is drawn out to the left in a distinct pointed preoral beak. The posterior is broadly rounded. The cell is strongly dorsoventrally compressed. The dorsum is slightly domed and the ventral surface flat. The ciliature is reduced to the ventral surface except for a distinctive dorsal brush which is set back from the anterior edge of the cell and arches across the nearly its entire width. The ventral ciliature consists of right (5) and left (6) kineties separated by a wide bare postoral area. There are two circumoral kineties and a fragmented preoral kinety. The anterior ends of the left somatic kineties abut the transversely oriented fragments of the preoral kinety. These fragments ascend stair-step fashion to the tip of the beak. The cytostome, situated in the anterior 1/4 of the cell, is supported by nematodesmata forming a cyrtos. There are two contractile vacuoles. The nucleus is heteromerous. The genus Pseudochilodonopsis is distinguished from members of the similar genus, Chilodonella, by the fragmented preoral kinety and the long arched dorsal brush. Both features are difficult to appreciate without DIC optics or silver impregnation techniques. P. piscatoris feeds on green algae and diatoms. It is usually found in the surface film of samples Collected from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho February 2005.Stained by the silver carbonate technic (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Brightfield.

Infraciliature (ventral surface) of the chilodonellid ciliate Pseudochilodonopsis piscatoris (Blochmann, 1895) Foissner, 1979 in early division. Stomatogenesis is of the telokinetal type in which the oral apparatus of the posterior daughter cell (opisthe) derives from fragments of several left sided kineties. As can be seen here, stomatogenesis precedes cytokinesis. Collected from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho February 2005.Stained by the silver carbonate technic (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Brightfield.

n vivo view of the swarmer of the suctorian, Parapodophrya soliformis (LAUTERBORN,1908) KAHL,1931. The swarmers have numerous capitate tentacles arising randomly from the body posterior to the anterior subapical ciliary wreath. The body has longitudinal irregular pellicular wrinkles. Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a stagnant freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho 43°40’ 57.20” N 116° 15’ 15.44” W . September, 2006.DIC.

Portrait of the exogenid suctorian, Parapodophrya soliformis (Lauterborn,1908)Kahl,1931.This is a tentative identification.Members of this genus usually have a very fine stalk but sometimes this is absent (as in this example).A firm diagnosis requires identification of the swarmer cell which is elongate, the anterior end wider than the posterior. There is an anterior wreath of cilia in the swarmer.The cell body is roughly spherical with tentacles distributed over the entire surface rather than in fascicles. The tentacles widen at their bases giving the cell a serrated outline. Only the extended tentacles are capitate. When they contract they appear as short wide-based spines Seen best here at 12 o'clock). These features are also typical of this species of Parapodophrya.The single contractile vacuole is seen at 8 o'clock here. The spherical macronucleus (not well seen here) is central. Parapodophrya species are free-living and never parasitic unlike Podophrya.Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a freshwater aquaculture tub near Boise, Idaho.December 2005.DIC.

Portrait of the exogenid suctorian, Parapodophrya soliformis (Lauterborn,1908)Kahl,1931.This is a tentative identification.Members of this genus usually have a very fine stalk but sometimes this is absent (as in this example).A firm diagnosis requires identification of the swarmer cell which is elongate, the anterior end wider than the posterior. There is an anterior wreath of cilia in the swarmer.The cell body is roughly spherical with tentacles distributed over the entire surface rather than in fascicles. The tentacles widen at their bases giving the cell a serrated outline. Only the extended tentacles are capitate. When they contract they appear as short wide-based spines Seen best here at 10 o'clock). These features are also typical of this species of Parapodophrya.The single contractile vacuole is eccentric (not seen here). The spherical macronucleus (not well seen here) is central. Parapodophrya species are free-living and never parasitic unlike Podophrya.Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a freshwater aquaculture tub near Boise, Idaho.December 2005.DIC.

Portrait of the exogenid suctorian, Parapodophrya soliformis (Lauterborn,1908)Kahl,1931.This is a tentative identification.Members of this genus usually have a very fine stalk but sometimes this is absent (as in this example).A firm diagnosis requires identification of the swarmer cell which is elongate, the anterior end wider than the posterior. There is an anterior wreath of cilia in the swarmer.The cell body is roughly spherical with tentacles distributed over the entire surface rather than in fascicles. The tentacles widen at their bases giving the cell a serrated outline. Only the extended tentacles are capitate. When they contract they appear as short wide-based spines. These features are also typical of this species of Parapodophrya.There is a single contractile vacuole. The spherical macronucleus (not well seen here) is central. Parapodophrya species are free-living and never parasitic unlike Podophrya.Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a freshwater aquaculture tub near Boise, Idaho.December 2005.DIC.

In vivo view of the swarmer of the suctorian, Parapodophrya soliformis (LAUTERBORN,1908) KAHL,1931. The swarmers have numerous capitate tentacles arising randomly from the body posterior to the anterior subapical ciliary wreath. The body has longitudinal irregular pellicular wrinkles. Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a stagnant freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho 43°40’ 57.20” N 116° 15’ 15.44” W . September, 2006.DIC.

In vivo view of the swarmer of the suctorian, Parapodophrya soliformis (LAUTERBORN,1908) KAHL,1931. The swarmers have numerous capitate tentacles (pink arrowhead) arising randomly from the body posterior to the anterior subapical ciliary wreath (yellow arrowhead). The body has longitudinal irregular pellicular wrinkles. The ellipsoid nucleus is seen in cross-section here (light blue arrowhead).Collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of a stagnant freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho 43°40’ 57.20” N 116° 15’ 15.44” W . September, 2006.DIC.

In vivo views of the swarmer (left) and the adult form, recently divided (right) of the suctorian, Parapodophrya soliformis (LAUTERBORN,1908) KAHL,1931. Both collected from sapropelic bottom sediments of the same stagnant freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho 43°40’ 57.20” N 116° 15’ 15.44” W . September, 2006.DIC.

Portrait of the marine Phyllopharyngeid ciliate, Dysteria brasiliensis (Da Cunha, De Faria & Pinto, 1922). This is one of the largest species of this genus (100-130 um). The cell is elongate and dorsoventrally flattened. The dorsum is arched. The anterior end is truncate and curves dorsally. The posterior terminates in a sharp spinous process (seen here) not to be confused with the ventral posterior podite by which the cell attaches to the substrate (not seen in this image)The pellicle is rigid and colorless. The ciliature is reduced to the ventral surface with 3 longitudinal kineties on the right and 7-8 on the left. There are 2 frontoventral kineties. The cytostome is supported by two stout obliquely situated rods with anterior tooth-like projections. The cytoplasm contains food vacuoles brightly colored with green algae and purple sulfur bacteria. There are two contractile vacuoles. There is a central ellipsoid macronucleus. Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho. March 2004. DIC optics.

Portrait of the marine Phyllopharyngeid ciliate, Dysteria brasiliensis Da Cunha, De Faria & Pinto, 1922. This is one of the largest species of this genus (100-130 um). The cell is elongate and dorsoventrally flattened. The dorsum is arched. The anterior end is truncate and curves dorsally. The posterior terminates in a sharp spinous process (seen here) not to be confused with the ventral posterior podite by which the cell attaches to the substrate (not seen in this image)The pellicle is rigid and colorless. The ciliature is reduced to the ventral surface with 3 longitudinal kineties on the right and 7-8 on the left. There are 2 frontoventral kineties. The cytostome is supported by two stout obliquely situated rods with anterior tooth-like projections. The cytoplasm contains food vacuoles brightly colored with green algae and purple sulfur bacteria. There are two contractile vacuoles. There is a central ellipsoid macronucleus. Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho. March 2004. DIC.

Surface detail of the marine Phyllopharyngeid ciliate, Dysteria brasiliensis Da Cunha, De Faria & Pinto, 1922. This is one of the largest species of this genus (100-130 um).The posterior terminates in a sharp spinous process (slightly out of focus here) not to be confused with the ventral posterior podite by which the cell attaches to the substrate. The podite is angled anteriorly in this image (the the viewer's right).Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho. March 2004. DIC. 

Image of the stalkless parasitic suctorian, Sphaerophrya insolita (Jankowski, 1973) infesting the large colpodid ciliate, Bursaria truncatella (Muller, 1773). The Sphaerophrya cells are ellipsoid and approximately 35 u in diameter. One suctorian can be seen adhering to the right lip of the vestibulum of the host cell. At least 7 others can be seen adhering to the pellicle where they may be mistaken for food vacuoles on cursory examination. Sphaerophrya is thought to have lost its stalk during the transition to a parasitic mode of existence. The cells have capitate tentacles by which they adhere to the pellicle of the host cell. There is a central ellipsoid granular nucleus (the micronuclei have not been characterized). There is a single peripheral contractile vacuole. These individuals were found on B. truncatella collected from a temporary rainwater pool containing decaying grass near Boise, Idaho March 2005. DIC.

Detail view stalkless parasitic suctorians, Sphaerophrya insolita (Jankowski, 1973) infesting the large colpodid ciliate, Bursaria truncatella (Muller, 1773). The Sphaerophrya cells are ellipsoid and approximately 35 u in diameter. Two suctorians can be seen on the left side (viewer's right) of the vestibular cleft of the host cell and one on the right. There are several posterior to the cleft. Sphaerophrya is thought to have lost its stalk during the transition to a parasitic mode of existence. The cells have capitate tentacles by which they adhere to the pellicle of the host cell. There is a central ellipsoid granular nucleus (the micronuclei have not been characterized). There is a single peripheral contractile vacuole (seen well in a number of these cells). These individuals were found on B. truncatella collected from a temporary rainwater pool containing decaying grass near Boise, Idaho March 2005. DIC.

Sphaerophrya insolita (Jankowski, 1973) infesting the large colpodid ciliate, Bursaria truncatella (Muller, 1773). The Sphaerophrya cells are ellipsoid and approximately 35 u in diameter. Sphaerophrya is thought to have lost its stalk during the transition to a parasitic mode of existence. The cells have capitate tentacles by which they adhere to the pellicle of the host cell (several of these are visible on the viewer's left). There is a central ellipsoid granular nucleus seen well here (the micronuclei have not been characterized). There is a single peripheral contractile vacuole (seen well in this cell). These individuals were found on B. truncatella collected from a temporary rainwater pool containing decaying grass near Boise, Idaho March 2005. DIC.

This is the ventral face of the ciliate showing kineties running around the mouth. A few somatic kineties run uninterrupted to the right of the cytostome (left in this picture as we are looking at the ventral face) arching around the anterior of the cell. Several right somatic kineties are interrupted by the cytostome. A long membrane of cilia lies anterior to the mouth. Gastronauta feeds mainly on diatoms. Phase contrast illumination

Gastronauta membranaceus (Engelmann in Bütschli,1889), a hypostome ciliate, distinguished by its long transversely oriented cytostome. The cytostome lacks trichites. The body is ovoid in outline and strongly dorsoventrally flattened. Ciliature is restricted to the ventral surface except for two short dorsal kineties anteriorly. A few somatic kineties run uninterrupted to the right of the cytostome arching around the anterior of the cell. Several right somatic kineties are interrupted by the cytostome. The left somatic kineties terminate at the cytostome. A single kinety runs around the circumference of the cytostome. An unciliated bare are overlies the region of the macronucleus posterior to the cytostome. The macronucleus is oblong and heteromerous (i.e. containing areas with markedly differing RNA and DNA contents resulting in irregular staining and optical characteristics). The single micronucleus is quite prominent. Two contractile vacuoles are present, one in the anterior half and one posteriorly. Gastronauta feeds mainly on diatoms. From a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC. This image was taken by William Bourland. He now uses a Zeiss Axioskop 2 with a Spot Insight CCD camera (Diagnostic Instruments).

Gastronauta membranaceus (Engelmann in Bütschli,1889), a hypostome ciliate, distinguished by its long transversely oriented cytostome. The cytostome lacks trichites. The body is ovoid in outline and strongly dorsoventrally flattened. Ciliature is restricted to the ventral surface except for two short dorsal kineties anteriorly. A few somatic kineties run uninterrupted to the right of the cytostome arching around the anterior of the cell. Several right somatic kineties are interrupted by the cytostome. The left somatic kineties terminate at the cytostome. A single kinety runs around the circumference of the cytostome. An unciliated bare are overlies the region of the macronucleus posterior to the cytostome. The macronucleus is oblong and heteromerous (i.e. containing areas with markedly differing RNA and DNA contents resulting in irregular staining and optical characteristics). The single micronucleus is quite prominent. Two contractile vacuoles are present, one in the anterior half and one posteriorly. Gastronauta feeds mainly on diatoms. From a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Phase contrast illumination.

Gastronauta membranaceus (Engelmann in Bütschli,1889), a hypostome ciliate, distinguished by its long transversely oriented cytostome. The cytostome lacks trichites. The body is ovoid in outline and strongly dorsoventrally flattened. Ciliature is restricted to the ventral surface except for two short dorsal kineties anteriorly. A few somatic kineties run uninterrupted to the right of the cytostome arching around the anterior of the cell. Several right somatic kineties are interrupted by the cytostome. The left somatic kineties terminate at the cytostome. A single kinety runs around the circumference of the cytostome. An unciliated bare are overlies the region of the macronucleus posterior to the cytostome. The macronucleus is oblong and heteromerous (i.e. containing areas with markedly differing RNA and DNA contents resulting in irregular staining and optical characteristics). The single micronucleus is quite prominent. Two contractile vacuoles are present, one in the anterior half and one posteriorly. Gastronauta feeds mainly on diatoms. From a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Phase contrast illumination.

Gastronauta membranaceus (Engelmann in Butschli, 1889). Seen from the side, the body is dorso-ventrally flattened.