Detail of somatic kineties

Description :

Anterolateral view of the infraciliature 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 kineties are arranged in three (anterior,middle and posterior)girdles seen in this image.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.The middle ciliary girdle kineties have a zig-zag configuration (best seen here to the viewer's right).The posterior girdle consists of long stiff bristles (the three kinetids of these bristles are seen immediately posterior to the middle ciliary girdle kineties).The posterior of the cell is unciliated.Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991). From a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.Brightfield.