Condylostomatidae

Condylostoma patens.

Condylostoma patens (Duj.), magnified....

Anterior detail of the marine heterotrich ciliate, Condylostoma arenarium (Spiegel, 1926). The dorsoventrally flattened elongate cell body is very contractile (this cell is partly contracted). Contraction is probably mediated by calcium dependent subcortical myonemes and cell extension by interaction of cortical postciliary microtubular ribbons. The broad anterior V-shaped peristome is bordered on the right by a large undulating membrane. An adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) winds from right anterior clockwise around the left margin of the peristome. Several cirri are located at the right-most end of the AZM (seen well here). Uniform longitudinal somatic kineties are separated by strips of yellowish cortical granules (pigmentocysts). Pigmentocysts are extrusomes containing toxic substances. They play a role in cell defense against predators and may also function in photoreception. Pigmentocysts are also found in other heterotrichs (e.g. Blepharisma and Stentor species). The long moniliform macronucleus extends along the right cell margin (faintly visible here). No contractile vacuole. Brownish food vacuoles throughout the cytoplasm in this individual contain ingested dinoflagellates (Amphidinium). Collected from a seawater aquarium in Boise, Idaho January 2004. DIC optics.

Portrait of the marine heterotrich ciliate, Condylostoma arenarium (Spiegel, 1926). The dorsoventrally flattened elongate cell body is very contractile. Contraction is probably mediated by calcium dependent subcortical myonemes and cell extension by interaction of cortical postciliary microtubular ribbons. The broad anterior V-shaped peristome is bordered on the right by a large undulating membrane. An adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) winds from right anterior clockwise around the left margin of the peristome. Strips of yellowish cortical granules or pigmentocysts separate uniform longitudinal somatic kineties. Pigmentocysts are extrusomes containing toxic substances. They play a role in cell defense against predators and may also function in photoreception. Pigmentocysts are found in other heterotrichs (e.g. Blepharisma and Stentor species). Several cirri are located at the right-most end of the AZM. The long moniliform macronucleus extends along the right cell margin (faintly visible here). No contractile vacuole. Brownish food vacuoles throughout the cytoplasm in this individual contain ingested dinoflagellates (Amphidinium). Collected from a seawater aquarium in Boise, Idaho January 2004. DIC optics.

Cortical detail of the marine heterotrich ciliate, Condylostoma arenarium (Spiegel, 1926). The dorsoventrally flattened elongate cell body is very contractile. Contraction is probably mediated by calcium dependent subcortical myonemes and cell extension by interaction of cortical postciliary microtubular ribbons. The broad anterior V-shaped peristome is bordered on the right by a large undulating membrane. An adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) winds from right anterior clockwise around the left margin of the peristome (not visible in this image). Strips of yellowish cortical granules or pigmentocysts separate uniform longitudinal somatic kineties. Pigmentocysts are extrusomes containing toxic substances. They play a role in cell defense against predators and may also function in photoreception. Pigmentocysts are found in other heterotrichs (e.g. Blepharisma and Stentor species). Several cirri are located at the right-most end of the AZM. The long moniliform macronucleus extends along the right cell margin (not visible in this image). No contractile vacuole. Brownish food vacuoles throughout the cytoplasm in this individual contain ingested dinoflagellates (Amphidinium). Collected from a seawater aquarium in Boise, Idaho January 2004. DIC optics.

Ventral view of the marine spirotrich ciliate, Condylostoma psammophilum (Bock,1952) showing slightly spiraling longitudinal somatic kineties.Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho.March 2006.DIC.

Ventral view of the marine spirotrich ciliate, Condylostoma psammophilum (Bock,1952).Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho.March 2006.DIC.

Ventral view of the marine spirotrich ciliate, Condylostoma psammophilum (Bock,1952).Collected from a commercial saltwater aquarium in Boise, Idaho.March 2006.DIC.

Ventral view of Condylostomides tardus (Penard,1922) Foissner,2002.DIC.

Ventral view of Condylostomides tardus (Penard,1922) Foissner, 2002. DIC.

Oral infraciliature of Condylostomides tardus (PENARD,1922). The yellow arrowhead indicates the frontal membranelles along the anterior portion of the paraoral membrane (light blue arrowhead). There is a prominent adoral zone of membranelles on the left side of the buccal cavity (pink arrowhead).A system of fibrils arises from the basal bodies of the paraoral membrane (dark blue arrowhead). The green arrowhead indicates a somatic kinety.From non-flooded Petri dish culture of soil from the intermittently flooded grass lawn of a park in Boise,Idaho. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Ventral view of the infraciliature of Condylostomides tardus (PENARD,1922). From non-flooded Petri dish culture of soil from the intermittently flooded grass lawn of a park in Boise,Idaho. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Ventral view of the infraciliature of Condylostomides tardus (PENARD,1922). The yellow arrowhead indicates the frontal membranelles along the anterior portion of the paraoral membrane (light blue arrowhead). There is a prominent adoral zone of membranelles on the left side of the buccal cavity (pink arrowhead).A system of fibrils arises from the basal bodies of the paraoral membrane (dark blue arrowhead). The green arrowhead indicates a somatic kinety.The three macronuclear nodules are indicated by yellow asterisks.From non-flooded Petri dish culture of soil from the intermittently flooded grass lawn of a park in Boise,Idaho. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Oral infraciliature of Condylostomides tardus (PENARD,1922).From non-flooded Petri dish culture of soil from the intermittently flooded grass lawn of a park in Boise,Idaho. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Oral infraciliature of Condylostomides tardus (PENARD,1922). The yellow arrowhead indicates the frontal membranelles along the anterior portion of the paraoral membrane (light blue arrowhead). There is a prominent adoral zone of membranelles on the left side of the buccal cavity.A system of fibrils arises from the basal bodies of the paraoral membrane. The dark blue arrowhead indicates the longer cilia comprising the frontal membranelles.From non-flooded Petri dish culture of soil from the intermittently flooded grass lawn of a park in Boise,Idaho. Stained by the silver carbonate technique (Foissner,W. Europ. J. Protistol.27:313-330;1991).Brightfield.

Condylostoma (con-dee-lost-oh-ma) is a medium to large ciliate (usually over 100 microns long). Commonly associated with surfaces, and slightly enriched habitats. The large anterior mouth can pick up relatively large particles of food. It is a heterotrich ciliate, with conventional cilia over most of the body and used to propel the cell, but with larger cilia around the mouth. This cell has obviously been consuming a variety of algae. This Differential Interference Contrast (DIC = Nomarski) image shows the cilia of the Adoral Zone of Membranelles (AZM) around the front of the cell and leading to the mouth at the end of the groove slightly to the right of centre near the bottom of the picture.

Condylostoma (con-dee-lost-oh-ma) is a medium to large ciliate (usually over 100 microns long). Commonly associated with surfaces, and slightly enriched habitats. The large anterior mouth can pick up relatively large particles of food . It is a heterotrich ciliate, with conventional cilia over most of the body and used to propel the cell, but with larger cilia around the mouth. This cell has obviously been consuming a variety of algae. Phase contrast.

Condylostoma (con-dee-lost-oh-ma) is a medium to large ciliate (usually over 100 microns long). Commonly associated with surfaces, and slightly enriched habitats. The large anterior mouth can pick up relatively large particles of food . It is a heterotrich ciliate, with conventional cilia over most of the body and used to propel the cell, but with larger cilia around the mouth. This cell has obviously been consuming lots of diatoms. Differential interference contrast.

Condylostoma (con-dee-lost-oh-ma) is a medium to large ciliate (usually over 100 microns long). The large anterior mouth can pick up relatively large particles of food. It is a heterotrich ciliate, with conventional cilia over most of the body and used to propel the cell, but with larger cilia around the mouth. Phase contrast.

Condylostoma (con-dee-lost-oh-ma) is a medium to large ciliate (usually over 100 microns long). Commonly associated with surfaces, and slightly enriched habitats. The large anterior mouth can pick up relatively large particles of food . It is a heterotrich ciliate, with conventional cilia over most of the body and used to propel the cell, but with larger cilia around the mouth. Phase contrast.

Condylostoma vastum. Brightfield portrait of Condylostoma, a large heterotrich ciliate. The anterior is truncate, and the cell is tapered posteriorly. The posterior contractile vacuole is served by fine collecting canals which are difficult to visualize by light microscopy. There is a well-developed adoral zone of membranelles on the left margin of the V-shaped peristomal region and a large undulating membrane on the right margin, well seen here. This individual is consuming Trachelomonas. From a freshwater aquaculture pond near Boise, Idaho.