Bryometopida

Bryometopus (bry-o-me-toe-puss) is a uniformly ciliated and the cell is rounded at both poles and is slightly reniform. The conspicuous peristome lies obliquely across the ventral surface. The single contractile vacuole is located approximately in the middle of the cell on the ventral side. The macronucleus may be oval or elongate with several micronuclei. Bryometopus can be confused with Balantidioides which does not have an undulating membrane and with Condylostoma which has a wide triangular peristome and a highly conspicuous undulating membrane. This cell with a buccal cavitiy up to the first third of the cell. The posterior half of the cell is filled with endosymbitic algae. Measuring 120 microns. This specimen was collected in freshwater ponds near Konstanz, Germany. Differencial interference contrast.

Thylakidium (thigh-lack-kid-ee-um) has an ovoid body that is uniformly ciliated, anteriorly truncated and posteriorly rounded. The cytoplasm is usually full of green endosymbiotic algae. The deep peristomial cavity opens apically and is lined out with membranelles which wind clockwise around the apex of the cell. The cytopharynx is bent towards the animal's left. The macronucleus is rounded and there is a single laterally placed contractile vacuole. Thylakidium can be confused with Bursaria and Bursaridium. This specimen was collected in freshwater ponds near Konstanz, Germany. This cell in ventral view with a truncated anterior end. The peristomial cavity extends up to the middle of the cell. Differential interference contrast.

Thylakidium (thigh-lack-kid-ee-um) has an ovoid body that is uniformly ciliated, anteriorly truncated and posteriorly rounded. The cytoplasm is usually full of green endosymbiotic algae. The deep peristomial cavity opens apically and is lined out with membranelles which wind clockwise around the apex of the cell. The cytopharynx is bent towards the animal's left. The macronucleus is rounded and there is a single laterally placed contractile vacuole. Thylakidium can be confused with Bursaria and Bursaridium. This specimen was collected in freshwater ponds near Konstanz, Germany. The contractile vacuole of Thylakidium pituitosum is located ventrally in the middle of the cell. The cell is filled up with green endosymbiotic algae. Differential interference contrast.

Right ventrolateral view of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus atypicus (Foissner,1980). Similar in overall shape to Colpoda maupasi. The dorsum of the cell is convex and the ventral surface straight. The subapical cytostome occupies the anterior 1/4 of the cell length.It is slightly oblique to the long axis of the cell. The somatic kineties (composed of dikinetids) are moderately spiralled curving around the cytostome to end on a short preoral suture.Approximately 7 postoral kineties terminate on the left border of the cytostome.There is a slightly curved right paraoral membrane and an adoral zone of membranelles on the left border of the cytostome.Rows of mucocysts occur between somatic kineties.The spherical macronucleus and adjacent single micronucleus is in the cell center.The posterior contractile vacuole has a distinctive large cylindrical excretory pore.Zoochlorellae are absent.Collected from an organically enriched rainwater pool with abundant decaying grass in Boise, Idaho. January 2006.DIC.

Ventral view of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus atypicus (Foissner,1980). Similar in overall shape to Colpoda maupasi. The dorsum of the cell is convex and the ventral surface straight. The subapical cytostome occupies the anterior 1/4 of the cell length.It is slightly oblique to the long axis of the cell. The somatic kineties (composed of dikinetids) are moderately spiralled curving around the cytostome to end on a short preoral suture.Approximately 7 postoral kineties terminate on the left border of the cytostome.There is a slightly curved right paraoral membrane and an adoral zone of membranelles on the left border of the cytostome.Rows of mucocysts occur between somatic kineties.The spherical macronucleus and adjacent single micronucleus is in the cell center.The posterior contractile vacuole has a distinctive large cylindrical excretory pore.Zoochlorellae are absent.Collected from an organically enriched rainwater pool with abundant decaying grass in Boise, Idaho. January 2006.DIC.

Right ventrolateral view of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus atypicus (Foissner,1980). Similar in overall shape to Colpoda maupasi. The dorsum of the cell is convex and the ventral surface straight. The subapical cytostome occupies the anterior 1/4 of the cell length.It is slightly oblique to the long axis of the cell. The somatic kineties (composed of dikinetids) are moderately spiralled curving around the cytostome to end on a short preoral suture.Approximately 7 postoral kineties terminate on the left border of the cytostome.There is a slightly curved right paraoral membrane and an adoral zone of membranelles on the left border of the cytostome.Rows of mucocysts occur between somatic kineties.The spherical macronucleus and adjacent single micronucleus is in the cell center.The posterior contractile vacuole has a distinctive large cylindrical excretory pore (yellow arrow).Zoochlorellae are absent.Collected from an organically enriched rainwater pool with abundant decaying grass in Boise, Idaho. January 2006.DIC.

Ventral view of the infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus atypicus (Foissner,1980). Similar in overall shape to Colpoda maupasi. The dorsum of the cell is convex and the ventral surface straight. The subapical cytostome occupies the anterior 1/4 of the cell length.It is slightly oblique to the long axis of the cell. The somatic kineties (composed of dikinetids) are moderately spiralled curving around the cytostome to end on a short preoral suture.Approximately 7 postoral kineties terminate on the left border of the cytostome.There is a slightly curved right paraoral membrane and an adoral zone of membranelles on the left border of the cytostome.Rows of mucocysts occur between somatic kineties.The spherical macronucleus and adjacent single micronucleus is in the cell center.The posterior contractile vacuole has a distinctive large cylindrical excretory pore.Zoochlorellae are absent.Collected from an organically enriched rainwater pool with abundant decaying grass in Boise, Idaho. January 2006.Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Dorsal view of the infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus atypicus (Foissner,1980). Similar in overall shape to Colpoda maupasi. The dorsum of the cell is convex and the ventral surface straight. The subapical cytostome occupies the anterior 1/4 of the cell length.It is slightly oblique to the long axis of the cell. The somatic kineties (composed of dikinetids) are moderately spiralled curving around the cytostome to end on a short preoral suture.Approximately 7 postoral kineties terminate on the left border of the cytostome.There is a slightly curved right paraoral membrane and an adoral zone of membranelles on the left border of the cytostome.Rows of mucocysts occur between somatic kineties.The spherical macronucleus and adjacent single micronucleus is in the cell center(both seen here).The posterior contractile vacuole has a distinctive large cylindrical excretory pore.Zoochlorellae are absent.Collected from an organically enriched rainwater pool with abundant decaying grass in Boise, Idaho. January 2006.Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Bryometopus (bry-o-me-toe-puss) is a uniformly ciliated and the cell is rounded at both poles and is slightly reniform. The conspicuous peristome lies obliquely across the ventral surface. The single contractile vacuole is located approximately in the middle of the cell on the ventral side. The macronucleus may be oval or elongate with several micronuclei. Bryometopus can be confused with Balantidioides which does not have an undulating membrane and with Condylostoma which has a wide triangular peristome and a highly conspicuous undulating membrane. This specimen was collected in freshwater ponds near Konstanz, Germany. Differencial interference contrast.

Right side view of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus pseudochilodon (Kahl, 1932). The cell shape and size is quite variable. This population has a shape like Colpoda maupasi. The anterior end is pointed and the posterior end broadly rounded.The ventral surface is relatively straight and the dorsal surface is convex. There are 20-25 slightly spiraled somatic kineties consisting of doubly ciliated dikinetids. The kineties lie in shallow pellicular grooves. Collected from a temporary rainwater pool with decaying grass near Boise, Idaho march 2005. DIC.

Right ventrolateral view of the infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus pseudochilodon (Kahl, 1932). The cell shape and size is quite variable. This population has a shape like Colpoda maupasi. The anterior end is pointed and the posterior end broadly rounded. The elliptical oral vestibulum is in the anterior 1/3. There is a curved line of adoral membranelles along the left side of the vestibulum and an undulating membrane on the right. There are 20-25 slightly spiraled somatic kineties consisting of doubly ciliated dikinetids. The ellipsoid macronucleus contains many small micronuclei. There are two relatively large micronuclei adhering to the macronucleus. Collected from a temporary rainwater pool with decaying grass near Boise, Idaho march 2005. Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991). Brightfield.

Left side of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus pseudochilodon (Kahl, 1932). The cell shape and size is quite variable. This population has a shape like Colpoda maupasi. The anterior end is pointed and the posterior end broadly rounded.The ventral surface is relatively straight and the dorsal surface is convex. There are 20-25 slightly spiraled somatic kineties consisting of doubly ciliated dikinetids. The kineties lie in shallow pellicular grooves. Collected from a temporary rainwater pool with decaying grass near Boise, Idaho march 2005. DIC.

Macronucleus and micronuclei of the colpodid ciliate, Bryometopus pseudochilodon (Kahl, 1932). The central ellipsoid macronucleus contains many small micronuclei (seen here). There are two relatively large micronuclei adhering to the macronucleus (seen here at 3 o'clock). Collected from a temporary rainwater pool with decaying grass near Boise, Idaho march 2005. Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991). Brightfield.

Ventral (right) view of Kreyella minuta (Foissner, 1979), one of the smallest known ciliates.Probably synonymous with K. muscicola. The body outline is obovoid to reniform. Flattened ventrally and distinctly convex dorsally. Somatic ciliature is markedly reduced on the left (dorsal) side to one row of anterior dikinetids, which lie in a pellicular notch. There are three concentric semicircular kineties on the right (ventral surface). Cilia are relatively long (about 6 microns). The ventrolateral oral aperture is relatively large extending from the posterior 1/3 to almost the posterior end. There is no cytopharyngeal basket of fibers or trichites. There is a paraoral mebrane on the right margin of the vestibulum and a group of about 7 adoral membranelles on the left margin (seen here). There is a single spherical macronucleus and one micronucleus. The contractile vacuole is located in the posterior half. Scurries rapidly back and forth over the substratum. Although described as being rare, Kreyella is found frequently in freshwater ponds and irrigation ditches in Idaho. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho in June 2003.Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Black and white.Brightfield optics. 

Infraciliature (right side) of the small colpodid ciliate, Kreyella minuta (Foissner,1979). The body outline is obovoid to reniform. The right side is flattened and the left distinctly convex. Somatic ciliature is markedly reduced on the left side to two rows of anterior dikinetids (two of the dikinetids are visible anteriorly here). There are two concentric semicircular kineties on the right surface. Cilia are relatively long (about 6 microns). The ventrolateral oral aperture in the posterior 1/3 is relatively large. There is no cytopharyngeal basket of fibers or trichites. A prominent curved paraoral membrane is located on the dorsal margin of the vestibulum. The adoral zone of membranelles is visible here as a series of short parallel lines opposite the paraoral membrane. The dark dots posterior to the oral aperture represent the short postoral kineties. There is a single spherical macronucleus and one micronucleus. The contractile vacuole is located in the posterior ½ (not seen here). This species may be synonymous with Kreyella musicale (Kahl, 1931). Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho in July 2004. Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27, 313-330;1991). Brightfield. 

Dorsal (left) view of Kreyella minuta (Foissner, 1979), one of the smallest known ciliates.Probably synonymous with K. muscicola. The body outline is obovoid to reniform. Flattened ventrally and distinctly convex dorsally. Somatic ciliature is markedly reduced on the left (dorsal) side to one row of anterior dikinetids, which lie in a pellicular notch. There are three concentric semicircular kineties on the right (ventral surface). Cilia are relatively long (about 6 microns). The ventrolateral oral aperture is relatively large extending from the posterior 1/3 to almost the posterior end. There is no cytopharyngeal basket of fibers or trichites. There is a paraoral mebrane on the right margin of the vestibulum and a group of about 7 adoral membranelles on the left margin (seen here). There is a single spherical macronucleus and one micronucleus. The contractile vacuole is located in the posterior half. Scurries rapidly back and forth over the substratum. Although described as being rare, Kreyella is found frequently in freshwater ponds and irrigation ditches in Idaho. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho in June 2003.Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Black and white.Brightfield optics.

Ventral view of Kreyella minuta (Foissner, 1979), one of the smallest known ciliates.Probably synonymous with K. muscicola. The body outline is obovoid to reniform. Flattened ventrally and distinctly convex dorsally. Somatic ciliature is markedly reduced on the left (dorsal) side to one row of anterior dikinetids, which lie in a pellicular notch. There are three concentric semicircular kineties on the right (ventral surface). Cilia are relatively long (about 6 microns). The ventrolateral oral aperture is relatively large extending from the posterior 1/3 to almost the posterior end. There is no cytopharyngeal basket of fibers or trichites. Two rows of cilia are located on the margin of the vestibulum. There is a single spherical macronucleus and one micronucleus. The contractile vacuole is located in the posterior half. Scurries rapidly back and forth over the substratum. Although described as being rare, Kreyella is found frequently in freshwater ponds and irrigation ditches in Idaho. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho in June 2003. DIC optics.

Ventral (right) view of Kreyella minuta (Foissner, 1979), one of the smallest known ciliates.Probably synonymous with K. muscicola. The body outline is obovoid to reniform. Flattened ventrally and distinctly convex dorsally. Somatic ciliature is markedly reduced on the left (dorsal) side to one row of anterior dikinetids, which lie in a pellicular notch. There are three concentric semicircular kineties on the right (ventral surface). Cilia are relatively long (about 6 microns). The ventrolateral oral aperture is relatively large extending from the posterior 1/3 to almost the posterior end. There is no cytopharyngeal basket of fibers or trichites. There is a paraoral mebrane on the right margin of the vestibulum and a group of about 7 adoral membranelles on the left margin (seen here). There is a single spherical macronucleus and one micronucleus. The contractile vacuole is located in the posterior half. Scurries rapidly back and forth over the substratum. Although described as being rare, Kreyella is found frequently in freshwater ponds and irrigation ditches in Idaho. Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho in June 2003.Silver carbonate stain (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27,313-330;1991). Black and white.Brightfield optics.