Grossglockneria hyalina Foissner 1985

Colpodid ciliate, 25-40 x 10-20 microns. Shape rather characteristic with theanterior end obliquely truncate, usually widest at level of oral apparatus, posteriiorly tapering and narrowly rounded. Some populations easily confused with Pseudoplatyophrya nana because of similar size and shape. Starved specimens about 2:1, overnourished only slightly flattened laterally. Macronucleus spherical to ellipsoid, in vivo very hyaline, with large nucleolus often arranged like a ribbon or a cross. Micronucleus lenticular, about 5 x 2 microns. Cortex shiny, distinctly furrowed by somatic kineties. Cortical granules in vivo and even after protargol impregnation not recognizable in type population, infraciliature thus clearly visible. Contractile vacuole at posterior end. Cytoplasm hyaline shiny, depending on feeding conditions filled with few to many large, often gigantic lumpy inclusions. Such large inclusions (very likely food vacuoles) are sometimes also found in Pseudoplatyophrya terricola and P. saltans, but never in G. acuta and P. nana. Movement rapidly gliding or by rotation about main axis, also creeping hastily on soil particles. Cilia about 10 microns, rather stiff. Usually 9 strongly spirally coursing somatic kineties, dikinetids distinctly wider spaced than in G. acuta. About half of kineties commence along left vestibular margin. Paroral membrane C-shaped to semicircular. Adoral organelle consists of 3 kineties with 2, 3, 2 basal bodies: Cilia of paroral membrane and of adoral organelle about 3 microns long.