group portrait

Description:

Cafeteria (cafeteria) is probably the most abundant heterotrophic flagellate in marine ecosystems. It is a voracious bacterivore. Sessile feeding cells are D-shaped, 1.5 to 10 microns long, and laterally compressed. There is a ventral groove, and the flagella insert at the head of the groove. These cells have been disturbed, and are not feeding. The anterior flagella have the sine-wave beat pattern that is characteristic of stramenopiles. The posterior flagella are shorter. Phase contrast.