Posterior apical view

Kuvaus:

Posterior apical view of the haptorid ciliate,Askenasia volvox (Eichwald,1852) Kahl, 1930. The cell is spherical posteriorly and the anterior is a truncate cone.The cytostome is at the anterior apex.The cytostome is surrounded by an undulating line of granules (seen only in silver impregnated specimens).Somatic cilia are arranged in three (anterior,middle and posterior)girdles.The posterior girdle consists of long stiff bristles (seen here).The anterior cilia are directed forward and the middle girdle cilia are longer,curving backwards in a "sickle" configuration.These cilia produce the saltatory locomotion typical of this genus (they are seen well in this image).The posterior of the cell is unciliated.The central macronucleus is C-shaped. There is a single subequatorial contractile vacuole (seen here to viewer's left). From a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.DIC.