Peritrichia

Scyphidia (sky-fid-ee-a) a peritrich ciliate, the body of Scyphidia constricta is narrowed below the peristome. The stalk takes up about a part of the cell. This specimen was collected in freshwater ponds near Konstanz, Germany. Differential interference contrast.

Scyphidia (sky-fid-ee-a) a peritrich ciliate, the body of Scyphidia constricta is narrowed below the peristome. The stalk takes up about a part of the cell. At higher magnification we can see the transverse striae of the cortex of Scyphidia constricta. This specimen was collected in freshwater ponds near Konstanz, Germany. Differential interference contrast.

Brightfield portrait of Campanella umbellaria, a large,colonial, sessile peritrich ciliate. Cell bodies are contractile with finely annulated surface. Branching stalks, lacking myonemes, are non-contractile. Collected in October 2002 from freshwater farm pond near Boise,

Described by Ehrenberg under the name Epistylis grandis.

Described by Ehrenberg under the name Epistylis grandis.

Described by Ehrenberg under the name Epistylis grandis.

Originally described by Ehrenberg under the name Epistylis flavicans 

Epistylis (ee-piss-still-iss), a peritrich ciliate. The organism has a bell-shaped body and a stalk. The stalk contains no contractile elements (unlike Vorticella or Zoothamnium), and it is by this characteristic that the genus is distinguished. The only cilia present in the trophic cell are the mouth cilia, which form a wreath around the top of the cell before descending into the narrowing buccal cavity. Food vacuoles are formed at the base of this cavity. Locomotor cilia are produced at the rear end of distressed cells which can then break away from the stalk. After division, one daughter cell has the posterior cilia and can swim - and is referred to as a telotroch larva. Differential interference contrast.

Epistylis (ee-piss-still-iss), a peritrich ciliate. The organism has a bell-shaped body and a stalk. The stalk contains no contractile elements (unlike Vorticella or Zoothamnium), and it is by this characteristic that the genus is distinguished. The only cilia present in the trophic cell are the mouth cilia, which form a wreath around the top of the cell before descending into the narrowing buccal cavity. Food vacuoles are formed at the base of this cavity. Locomotor cilia are produced at the rear end of distressed cells which can then break away from the stalk. After division, one daughter cell has the posterior cilia and can swim - and is referred to as a telotroch larva. This group of cells show that this species can have more than one bell associated with a stalk - i.e. is colonial. Differential interference contrast.

Epistylis (ee-pissed-ill-iss) is a colonial peritrich ciliate, distinguished from the other genera with a similar shape (such as Zoothamnium or Carchesium) because they do not have contractile elements (spasmonemes) in their stalks, and so the cells may contract but the stalks do not. Phase contrast micrograph.

Epistylis (ee-pissed-ill-iss) is a colonial peritrich ciliate, distinguished from the other genera with a similar shape (such as Zoothamnium or Carchesium) because they do not have contractile elements (spasmonemes) in their stalks, and so the cells may contract but the stalks do not. Phase contrast micrograph.

Epistylis (ee-pissed-ill-iss) is a colonial peritrich ciliate, distinguished from the other genera with a similar shape (such as Zoothamnium or Carchesium) because they do not have contractile elements (spasmonemes) in their stalks, and so the cells may contract but the stalks do not. Oral region of this species is narrowed, and the oral ciliature is shown clearly. Phase contrast micrograph.

Epistylis, a peritrich, in this case a species which forms branching (arborescent) colonies. This genus is distinguished from Carchesium and Zoothamnium (which form similar colonies) because the stalks of Epistylis cannot contract. This genus is very abundant in Lake Donghu, China. Dark ground micrograph.

Epistylis, a peritrich. This genus is distinguished from Vorticella, Carchesium and Zoothamnium because the stalks of Epistylis cannot contract. This micrograph shows that the stalks are homogeneous and there is no contractile spasmoneme inside them. This genus is very abundant in Lake Donghu, China. Phase contrast micrograph.

Epistylis, and interesting species. Rather large, usually seem on its own, but occasionally it was evident that this organism attached to the substrate by a hollow stalk and the stalk could develop a brown colour. the stalk is not contractile. The cell, when contracting, tends to develop folds. Differential interference contrast.

Epistylis, as if viewed from above the disc - the ciliature of the mouth forms a double wreath around the periphery of the disc, and waves pass along the ciliature driving food particles into the mouth. The waves are seen to the top of this image. Phase contrast.

Epistylis cysts. This peritrich ciliate encysts while still attached to the non-contracting stalks. Phase contrast optics.

Epistylis, a peritrich ciliate. May or may not be colonial, the stalks lack spasmonenes. Phase contrast optics.

It is not uncommon to find peritrich ciliates attached to the outer surface of metazoa, especially those that swim or feed on suspended particles. The ciliates benefit from access to more and better food. The metazoon oddly seems not to be affected. Dark ground illumination of living organisms.