Ventral infraciliature chlorelligerum

Description:

Ventral infraciliature of the colpodid ciliate, Paracondylostoma setigerum chlorelligerum(Foissner&Kreutz,1998). There are approximately 50 longitudinal somatic kineties. The anterior most kinetids of these are very closely spaced. Long stiff bristle-like cilia originate from these closely spaced kineties. The anterior vestibular opening is bordered by a narrow paraoral membrane except for an interruption adjacent to the sigmoid adoral zone of membranelles. The densely stained macronucleus and 3 adjacent micronuclei are visible in this image. Multiple zoochlorellae are visible in the cytoplasm. P. setigerum v. chlorelligerum is identical to P. setigerum except that it contains many zoochlorellae. Foissner feels this characteristic warrants separation as a subspecies. Stained by the silver carbonate technic (see Foissner, W.Europ. J. Protistol.27, 313-330;1991). Brightfield.