in Beggiatoa

Description:

Tracheloraphis (track-ell-owe-ray-fiss) is a karyorelict ciliate. It is one of several genera in which most species have adopted a long thin contractile body form and the identification of this cell is tentative. Mostly found in marine sediments, living within the spaces between sand grains. The anterior end is slightly expanded and thought by most but not all to the site of the mouth, others think these cells feed through the ventral surface. Phase contrast.