portrait

Description:

Euplotes (you-p-low-tees) is a hypotrich ciliate. The hypotrichs form part of the spirotrichs, and most have a large adoral zone of membranelles curving around the front of the cells and terminating at the cytostome on the ventral surface. They are called hypotrichs because the cilia that are used for locomotion are located mostly on the ventral side of the cilia. The cilia are clustered into aggregates called cirri. Euplotids feed on suspended particles such as bacteria and algae. Common. Phase contrast.