portrait

Description :

Paracondylostoma setigerum, a colpodid ciliate originally recovered from an alpine pond in central Austria and described by Foissner and Kreutz (Foissner, W., Kreutz, M.: Systematic position and phylogentic relationship of the genus Bursaridium, Paracondylostoma, Thylakidium, Bryometopus, and Bursaria (Ciliphora: Colpoda). Acta Protozoologica 37, 227 - 240 (1998). Overall shape is fusiform with truncate anterior. Oral aperture is anterior, funnel-shaped and extends about 1/3 the length of the cell. A line of membranelles extends completely along the margin of the aperture on the left. Somatic ciliature is uniform in longitudinal kineties. Prominent long bristle-like cilia radiate from the anterior end. The cells occupy a mucus sheath which is transparent and very difficult to see unless bacteria and debris adhere. Cells often flee the sheath when placed on the slide. This individual contains large numbers of zoochlorellae. Centrally located macronucleus is spherical. From freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield illumination.