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Collected by ATOL magnificent protist hunters at Cedar Swamp near to Woods Hole, Massachusetts, during the Protistology Workshop at MBL. October-November 2005. Isolation and art by Adrian Reyes-Prieto.
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Brachonella (brack-on-ella), a heterotrich ciliate, with an adoral zone of membranelles (not well imaged here) and normal cilia on the body. The anterior end of cell is twisted. Distinguished from Metopus by its spiralling adoral zone of membranelles as opposed to the obliquely oriented but not spiralling AZM of Metopus.These cells mostly found in anoxic sites. Phase contrast.
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Portrait of Brachonella spiralis. Heterotrich ciliate with twisted anterior end. Blunt posterior with terminal contractile vacuole. Often with longer tuft of caudal cilia. Densely packed dark granules are usually present in the anterior of the cell. This used to be called Metopus spiralis. From stagnant freshwater with decomposing leaves near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield.
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Optical section of the large metopid ciliate, Brachonella caduca (Kahl 1927, Jankowski, 1964). Synonym of Metopus caduca (Kahl, 1927). The cell is pyriform with a broadly domed anterior and tapered truncate posterior end. The long peristome spirals from the dorsum anteriorly around the circumference of the cell to terminate posteriorly at the cytostome (seen here just above contractile vacuole) on the same longitudinal line as the peristome origin. 2 to 3 kinities lie anterior and parallel to the peristome. Approximately 9 longitudinal somatic kineties occur posterior to the peristome. The anterior margin of the peristome is paralleled by a peristomal stripe of kineties, the posterior margin by an adoral zone of membranelles. The somatic kineties of the right and left side terminate anteriorly at a bare suture. There is a long tuft of caudal cilia. A single contractile vacuole is located at the posterior end. There is a single large eccentric spherical macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus. B. caduca is an obligate anaerobe. From stagnant freshwater sapropelic sediment rich in hydrogen sulfide near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Right side view of Metopus palaeformis (Kahl, 1927).Synonyms probably include Tesnospira alba (Jankowski,1964),M. hyalinus (Kahl,19270 and M. tenuis (Kahl,1927) among others.Morphology is highly variable probably explaining the large number of synonyms. The cell is flask-shaped to elongate (as in this example).The anterior end is twisted to the left resulting in a rounded lip that overhangs the peristome.The spiral peristome is bordered on the left by an adoral zone of membranelles and on the right by five closely spaced kineties,the "perizonal stripe".Just to the right of the posterior termination of the AZM is a short, inconspicuous undulating membrane(usually visible only in silver-stained preparations).The The right somatic kineties parallel the peristome anteriorly and the left somatic kineties terminate at the margin of the peristome.There is no long tuft of caudal cilia. The prominent ellipsoid macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus are in the anterior half. The contractile vacuole is at the posterior end.The cytoplasm contains endosymbiotic methanogenic bacilli (not seen here).There is an aggregate of brown refractile granules at the anterior end typical of the metopid ciliates.Collected from the bottom sediments of an organically enriched rain pool with abundant decaying grass contaminated by Canada goose (Branta canadensis) droppings.Boise, Idaho. January 2006. DIC.
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Logrono, La Rioja, Spain
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Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
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San Martin De Castaneda, Castille and Leon, Spain
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Luanco, Asturias, Spain
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Brachonella (brack-on-ella), a heterotrich ciliate, with an adoral zone of membranelles (not well imaged here) and normal cilia on the body. The anterior end of cell is twisted. Distinguished from Metopus by its spiralling adoral zone of membranelles as opposed to the obliquely oriented but not spiralling AZM of Metopus.These cells mostly found in anoxic sites. Phase contrast.
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Dorsal surface of the metopid ciliate, Brachonella spiralis. The body is broadly conical anteriorly with a narrower obliquely truncate posterior. The long S-shaped peristome winds around the entire circumference of the cell terminating in the cytostome. This spiraling cytostome distinguishes Brachonella (Jankowski 1964) from similar genus Metopus in which the peristome runs obliquely from anterior to posterior but does not spiral around the long axis. The cytostome is paralleled on the right by a perizonal stripe of kineties and on the left an adoral zone of membranelles. The uniform longitudinal dorsal kineties and the posterior end of the perizonal stripe of kineties are seen well in this image
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Ventral view of the large metopid ciliate, Brachonella caduca (Kahl 1927, Jankowski, 1964). Synonym of Metopus caduca (Kahl, 1927). The cell is pyriform with a broadly domed anterior and tapered truncate posterior end. The long peristome spirals from the dorsum anteriorly around the circumference of the cell to terminating posteriorly at the cytostome on the same longitudinal line as the peristome origin. 2 to 3 kinities lie anterior and parallel to the peristome. Approximately 9 longitudinal somatic kineties occur posterior to the peristome. The anterior margin of the peristome is paralleled by a peristomal stripe of kineties, the posterior margin by an adoral zone of membranelles. The somatic kineties of the right and left side terminate anteriorly at a bare suture. There is a long tuft of caudal cilia. A single contractile vacuole is located at the posterior end. There is a single large eccentric spherical macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus. B. caduca is an obligate anaerobe. From stagnant freshwater sapropelic sediment rich in hydrogen sulfide near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Left lateral view of Metopus palaeformis (Kahl, 1927).Synonyms probably include Tesnospira alba (Jankowski,1964),M. hyalinus (Kahl,19270 and M. tenuis (Kahl,1927) among others.Morphology is highly variable probably explaining the large number of synonyms. The cell is flask-shaped to elongate (as in this example).The anterior end is twisted to the left resulting in a rounded lip that overhangs the peristome.The spiral peristome is bordered on the left by an adoral zone of membranelles and on the right by five closely spaced kineties,the "perizonal stripe".Just to the right of the posterior termination of the AZM is a short, inconspicuous undulating membrane(usually visible only in silver-stained preparations).The The right somatic kineties parallel the peristome anteriorly and the left somatic kineties terminate at the margin of the peristome.There is no long tuft of caudal cilia. The prominent ellipsoid macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus are in the anterior half. The contractile vacuole is at the posterior end.The cytoplasm contains endosymbiotic methanogenic bacilli (not seen here).There is an aggregate of brown refractile granules at the anterior end typical of the metopid ciliates.Collected from the bottom sediments of an organically enriched rain pool with abundant decaying grass contaminated by Canada goose (Branta canadensis) droppings.Boise, Idaho. January 2006. DIC.
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Brachonella (brack-on-ella), a heterotrich ciliate, with an adoral zone of membranelles (not well imaged here) and normal cilia on the body. The anterior end of cell is twisted. Distinguished from Metopus by its spiralling adoral zone of membranelles as opposed to the obliquely oriented but not spiralling AZM of Metopus.These cells mostly found in anoxic sites. Phase contrast.
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Portrait of the metopid ciliate, Brachonella spiralis. The body is broadly conical anteriorly with a narrower obliquely truncate posterior. The long S-shaped peristome winds around the entire circumference of the cell terminating in the cytostome (the anterior end of the peristome is seen at the right anteriorly and the termination at the right posteriorly in this image). This spiraling cytostome distinguishes Brachonella (Jankowski 1964) from similar genus Metopus in which the peristome runs obliquely from anterior to posterior but does not spiral around the long axis. The cytostome is paralleled on the right by a perizonal stripe of kineties. On the left is an adoral zone of membranelles. There are uniform longitudinal dorsal kineties with a tuft of longer caudal cilia. A distinctive aggregate of brownish refractile granules typical of most metopids is noted anteriorly. There is spherical anterior macronucleus. The micronucleus is not seen here. There is a posterior terminal contractile vacuole. Brachonella is found in sapropelic habitats and contains methanogenic symbionts in the cytoplasm. From stagnant freshwater source with rotting vegetation near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Dorsolateral view of the large metopid ciliate, Brachonella caduca (Kahl 1927, Jankowski, 1964). Synonym of Metopus caduca (Kahl, 1927). The cell is pyriform with a broadly domed anterior and tapered truncate posterior end. The long peristome spirals from the dorsum anteriorly around the circumference of the cell to terminating posteriorly at the cytostome on the same longitudinal line as the peristome origin (seen well in this image). 2 to 3 kinities lie anterior and parallel to the peristome. Approximately 9 longitudinal somatic kineties occur posterior to the peristome. The anterior margin of the peristome is paralleled by a peristomal stripe of kineties, the posterior margin by an adoral zone of membranelles. The somatic kineties of the right and left side terminate anteriorly at a bare suture. There is a long tuft of caudal cilia. A single contractile vacuole is located at the posterior end. There is a single large eccentric spherical macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus. B. caduca is an obligate anaerobe. From stagnant freshwater sapropelic sediment rich in hydrogen sulfide near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Right side view of Metopus palaeformis (Kahl, 1927).Synonyms probably include Tesnospira alba (Jankowski,1964),M. hyalinus (Kahl,19270 and M. tenuis (Kahl,1927) among others.Morphology is highly variable probably explaining the large number of synonyms. The cell is flask-shaped (as in this example)to elongate .The anterior end is twisted to the left resulting in a rounded lip that overhangs the peristome.The spiral peristome is bordered on the left by an adoral zone of membranelles and on the right by five closely spaced kineties,the "perizonal stripe".Just to the right of the posterior termination of the AZM is a short, inconspicuous undulating membrane(usually visible only in silver-stained preparations).The The right somatic kineties parallel the peristome anteriorly and the left somatic kineties terminate at the margin of the peristome. The prominent ellipsoid macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus are in the anterior half. The contractile vacuole is at the posterior end.The cytoplasm contains endosymbiotic methanogenic bacilli (not seen here).There is an aggregate of brown refractile granules at the anterior end typical of the metopid ciliates.Collected from the bottom sediments of an organically enriched rain pool with abundant decaying grass contaminated by Canada goose (Branta canadensis) droppings.Boise, Idaho. January 2006. DIC.
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Brachonella (brack-on-ella), a heterotrich ciliate, with an adoral zone of membranelles (not well imaged here) and normal cilia on the body. The anterior end of cell is twisted. Distinguished from Metopus by its spiralling adoral zone of membranelles as opposed to the obliquely oriented but not spiralling AZM of Metopus.These cells mostly found in anoxic sites. Phase contrast.
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Ventral surface of the metopid ciliate, Brachonella spiralis. The body is broadly conical anteriorly with a narrower obliquely truncate posterior. The long S-shaped peristome winds around the entire circumference of the cell terminating in the cytostome. This spiraling cytostome distinguishes Brachonella (Jankowski 1964) from similar genus Metopus in which the peristome runs obliquely from anterior to posterior but does not spiral around the long axis. The cytostome is paralleled on the right by a perizonal stripe of kineties and on the left an adoral zone of membranelles (both seen well in this image). There are uniform longitudinal dorsal kineties with a tuft of longer caudal cilia. A distinctive aggregate of brownish refractile granules typical of most metopids is noted anteriorly. There is a spherical anterior macronucleus. The micronucleus is not seen here. There is a posterior terminal contractile vacuole. Brachonella is found in sapropelic habitats and contains methanogenic symbionts in the cytoplasm. From stagnant freshwater source with rotting vegetation near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Dorsolateral view of the large metopid ciliate, Brachonella caduca (Kahl 1927, Jankowski, 1964). Synonym of Metopus caduca (Kahl, 1927). The cell is pyriform with a broadly domed anterior and tapered truncate posterior end. The long peristome spirals from the dorsum anteriorly around the circumference of the cell to terminating posteriorly at the cytostome on the same longitudinal line as the peristome origin (seen well in this image). 2 to 3 kinities lie anterior and parallel to the peristome. Approximately 9 longitudinal somatic kineties occur posterior to the peristome. The anterior margin of the peristome is paralleled by a peristomal stripe of kineties, the posterior margin by an adoral zone of membranelles. The somatic kineties of the right and left side terminate anteriorly at a bare suture. There is a long tuft of caudal cilia. A single contractile vacuole is located at the posterior end. There is a single large eccentric spherical macronucleus and adjacent micronucleus. B. caduca is an obligate anaerobe. From stagnant freshwater sapropelic sediment rich in hydrogen sulfide near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Ventral view of the infraciliature of Metopus palaeformis (Kahl,1927) contracted by fixation and compressed to display details.Synonyms probably include Tesnospira alba (Jankowski,1964),M. hyalinus (Kahl,19270 and M. tenuis (Kahl,1927) among others.Morphology is highly variable probably explaining the large number of synonyms. The cell is flask-shaped (as in this example)to elongate .The anterior end is twisted to the left resulting in a rounded lip that overhangs the peristome.The spiral peristome is bordered on the left by an adoral zone of membranelles (arrow) and on the right by five closely spaced kineties,the "perizonal stripe" (large arrowhead).Just to the right of the posterior termination of the AZM is a short, inconspicuous undulating membrane(small arrowhead).The cytoplasm contains endosymbiotic methanogenic bacilli (not seen here).Collected from the bottom sediments of an organically enriched rain pool with abundant decaying grass contaminated by Canada goose (Branta canadensis) droppings.Boise, Idaho. January 2006.Stained by the silver carbonate technique (see Foissner, W. Europ. J. Protistol., 27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.
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Brachonella is a ciliate. The cilia, used for movement, are arranged in rows called kineties. In addition, cilia near the back of the cell are used for feeding
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Portrait of the metopid ciliate, Brachonella spiralis. The body is broadly conical anteriorly with a narrower obliquely truncate posterior. The long S-shaped peristome winds around the entire circumference of the cell terminating in the cytostome. This spiraling cytostome distinguishes Brachonella (Jankowski 1964) from similar genus Metopus in which the peristome runs obliquely from anterior to posterior but does not spiral around the long axis. The cytostome is paralleled on the right by a perizonal stripe of kineties. On the left is an adoral zone of membranelles. There are uniform longitudinal dorsal kineties with a tuft of longer caudal cilia. A distinctive aggregate of brownish refractile granules typical of most metopids is noted anteriorly. There is a spherical anterior macronucleus. The micronucleus is not seen here. There is a posterior terminal contractile vacuole. Brachonella is found in sapropelic habitats and contains methanogenic symbionts in the cytoplasm. From stagnant freshwater source with rotting vegetation near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Detail of the well-developed adoral zone of membranelles along the left border of the large buccal cavity of Bothrostoma undulans, a metopid ciliate that is the type species for the genus. From sapropelic sediments in freshwater aquaculture pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.