portrait

Description:

Detail of the oral aperture and cytopharynx of Loxodes striatus (left surface), a medium-size karyorelict ciliate. Loxodes striatus is colorless to slightly brown. The cell body is elongate, rounded anteriorly and posteriorly and highly laterally compressed. The anterior is bent ventrally forming a short beak-like rostrum. Very flexible. Somatic ciliature on the left side is restricted to a marginal kinety. On the right surface there are regular longitudinal kineties. In this species there are longitudinal pellicular striations on the left surface. The slit shaped cytostome is located in a ventral concavity posterior to the rostrum. A thin cone of dark fibrils forms a primitive cytopharynx at the posterior end of the cytostome (seen here). Many food vacuoles are seen. Found in polysaprobic habitats. Feeds on cyanobacteria, algae, flagellates and other ciliates. From organically enriched freshwater pond sediment near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.