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Left side view of Saprodinium dentatum (Lauterborn,1901) Lauterborn,1908. Odontostome ciliate with laterally compressed complex rigid pellicle. 8 posterior spines with needle-thin tips. Curved anterior spine projecting to left. Spinous projection adjacent to cytostome. Anterior ciliature and sharp posterior spines respectively distinguish this genus from Atopodinium and Epalxella. Polysaprobic. Macronucleus in three rounded parts. From stagnant freshwater pond with decaying leaves near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield.
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Portrait (left side) of the small Odontostome ciliate, Mylestoma pusillum (Kahl,1932). M. pusillum has a rigid armored pellicle typical of the Odontostomes. The cell is laterally compressed. The truncate posterior lacks spines, distinguishing Mylestoma pusillum from Epalxa, Saprodinium and Atopodinium. The dorsum is broadly convex and the ventral surface flattened. There is a deep longitudinal pellicular groove on the left side (seen well in this image). The tooth-like projections anterior and posterior to the cytostome are seen in this image. The adoral zone of membranelles is seen in this image as an area of transverse striation. The somatic ciliature is strongly reduced to a few perizonal kineties anterior to the cytostome and two sparse groups of long cirri posteriorly, one on either side of the longitudinal pellicular groove. There is a single elliptical macronucleus. There is a single posterior contractile vacuole. Yellow-brown refractile granules are seen in the cytoplasm. Like other Odontostomes, Mylestoma is sapropelic. Collected from bottom sediment of a freshwater aquaculture tank at a Koi farm near Boise, Idaho December 2003. DIC optics.
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Right side view of the odontostome ciliate, Saprodinium putrinium (Lackey, 1925).Collected from the bottom sediments of an organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC.
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Portrait (right side) of the small Odontostome ciliate, Mylestoma anatinum. The cell is colorless with a laterally compressed rigid transparent pellicle typical of Odontostomes. The outline is roughly discoid with the dorsal convexity ending in a sharp anterior beak. The posterior is broadly rounded without spinous projections. The cytostome is located in a posterior depression (not seen in this image). Somatic ciliature is strongly reduced to two long posterior cirri, an adoral zone of membranelles and a small perizonal complex anterior to the cytostome. There is a single posterior contractile vacuole and a single macronucleus. Refractile brownish granules are seen scattered through the cytoplasm. Collected from bottom sediments of a freshwater aquaculture tank near Boise, Idaho December 2003. DIC optics.
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Plagiopyla (play-gee-owe-pile-a) is usually found in the upper reaches of the thiobios - the anoxic region found some distance under the surface of sediments. It consumes sulphur bacteria such as Beggiatoa, the remnants of some are seen in three large food vacuoles near the centre of the cell. the large homogenous region bottom right is the macronucleus. The body is evenly ciliated, but cilia are densely packed within the mouth. With extrusomes under the cell surface. Differential interference contrast.
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Left side view of Saprodinium dentatum (Lauterborn,1901) Lauterborn,1908. Odontostome ciliate with laterally compressed complex rigid pellicle. 8 posterior spines with needle-thin tips. Curved anterior spine projecting to left. Spinous projection adjacent to cytostome. Anterior ciliature and sharp posterior spines respectively distinguish this genus from Atopodinium and Epalxella. Polysaprobic. Macronucleus in three rounded parts (third part slightly out of focus here). From stagnant freshwater pond with decaying leaves near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield.
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Portrait (right side) of the small Odontostome ciliate, Mylestoma pusillum (Kahl,1932). M. pusillum has a rigid armored pellicle typical of the Odontostomes. The cell is laterally compressed. The truncate posterior lacks spines, distinguishing Mylestoma pusillum from Epalxa, Saprodinium and Atopodinium. The dorsum is broadly convex and the ventral surface flattened. There is a deep longitudinal pellicular groove on the left side (seen well in this image). The tooth-like projections anterior and posterior to the cytostome are seen in this image. The adoral zone of membranelles is seen in this image as an area of transverse striation. The somatic ciliature is strongly reduced to a few perizonal kineties anterior to the cytostome (seen in this image) and two sparse groups of long cirri posteriorly, one on either side of the longitudinal pellicular groove. There is a single elliptical macronucleus. There is a single posterior contractile vacuole (seen well in this image). Yellow-brown refractile granules are seen in the cytoplasm. Like other Odontostomes, Mylestoma is sapropelic. Collected from bottom sediment of a freshwater aquaculture tank at a Koi farm near Boise, Idaho December 2003. DIC optics.
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Left side view of the odontostome ciliate, Saprodinium putrinium (Lackey, 1925).Collected from the bottom sediments of an organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC.
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Portrait (left side) of the small Odontostome ciliate, Mylestoma anatinum. The cell is colorless with a laterally compressed rigid transparent pellicle typical of Odontostomes. The outline is roughly discoid with the dorsal convexity ending in a sharp anterior beak. The posterior is broadly rounded without spinous projections. The cytostome is located in a posterior depression (viewer's left). Somatic ciliature is strongly reduced to two long posterior cirri, an adoral zone of membranelles and a small perizonal complex anterior to the cytostome. There is a single posterior contractile vacuole and a single macronucleus. A prominent micronucleus is seen in this image at the posterior edge of the macronucleus. Refractile brownish cytoplasmic granules are seen posteriorly. Collected from bottom sediments of a freshwater aquaculture tank near Boise, Idaho December 2003. DIC optics.
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Silver stains reveal elements of the cortical cytoskeleton. Bright field micrograph.
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Right side view of Saprodinium dentatum (Lauterborn,1901) Lauterborn,1908. Odontostome ciliate with laterally compressed complex rigid pellicle. 8 posterior spines with needle-thin tips. Curved anterior spine projecting to left. Spinous projection adjacent to cytostome. Anterior ciliature and sharp posterior spines respectively distinguish this genus from Atopodinium and Epalxella. Polysaprobic. Macronucleus in three rounded parts (not seen in this view). From stagnant freshwater pond with decaying leaves near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield.
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Epalxella (ee-palk-sell-a) is an odontostome ciliate. This is a small group of small flattened and sparsely ciliated ciliates which are most usually found in anoxic habitats. They have a small group of ciliary organelles associated with the mouth - the clear area at about 4 o clock. Differential interference contrast.
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Left side view of the odontostome ciliate, Saprodinium putrinium (Lackey, 1925).Collected from the bottom sediments of an organically enriched freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho. DIC.
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Portrait of the intramacronucleate ciliate, Plagiopyla nasuta (Stein, 1860). The distinctive vestibular region appears as a transverse ciliated furrow leading to a tubular oral cavity. The single ovoid macronucleus lies just posterior to the vestibular area. There is a single posterior contractile vacuole. Plagiopyla is amitochondriate, instead possessing cytoplasmic hydrogenosomes in close association with endobiotic methanogenic bacteria. From bottom sediment of organically enriched standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. Brightfield.
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Portrait (right side) of the sapropelic odontostome ciliate, Epalxella antiquorum (Penard, 1922) Corliss, 1960 (synonymous with the preoccupied Epalxis). The cell has a clear rigid pellicle with a broad lenticular outline. The body is strongly laterally compressed. The dorsum is broadly rounded. The right side is broadly truncate posteriorly with a blunt spine on the ventral margin. The posterior side on the left terminates in 5-7 blunt spines. The spines do not terminate in needle-like processes seen in the similar genus, Saprodinium. The right and left surfaces of the pellicle bear longitudinal folds and ridges. A perizonal ciliary complex with 5 kineties and two shorter kineties runs across the ventral surface for a short distance onto the left and a longer distance onto the right surface anterior to the cytostome. The cytostome and adoral zone of membranelles is in the middle of the ventral surface. There is a prominent tooth-like spine at the anterior edge of the cytostome. The longitudinal somatic kineties are located on the pellicular ridges of the left surface and the dorsal and ventral edge of the right side. They do not extend more than 1/3 body length. The single contractile vacuole is located posteriorly. There are either two or four macronuclei. The cytoplasm contains methanogenic bacteria. Refractile brown cytoplasmic granules accumulate anteriorly. Collected from hydrogen sulfide- rich bottom sediments of slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho March 2004. DIC.
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Portrait of right (dorsal) surface of Plagiopyla nasuta (Stein, 1860), a sapropelic plagiopylid ciliate. The body is reniform. Distinctive vestibular region appears as a transverse ciliated furrow leading to a tubular oral cavity (seen here). The somatic ciliature is dense and uniform. On the right (dorsal) surface a distinctive transversely striated pellicular channel bows anteriorly from the peristome then turns posteriorly (seen well here). Single ovoid macronucleus lies just posterior to the vestibular area. Single posterior contractile vacuole (not seen here). Plagiopyla is amitochondriate, instead possessing cytoplasmic hydrogenosomes in close association with endosymbiotic methanogenic bacteria. From bottom sediment of organically enriched standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. DIC.
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Portrait (left side) of the sapropelic odontostome ciliate, Epalxella antiquorum (Penard, 1922) Corliss, 1960 (synonymous with the preoccupied Epalxis). The cell has a clear rigid pellicle with a broad lenticular outline. The body is strongly laterally compressed. The dorsum is broadly rounded. The right side is broadly truncate posteriorly with a blunt spine on the ventral margin. The posterior side on the left terminates in 5-7 blunt spines. The spines do not terminate in needle-like processes seen in the similar genus, Saprodinium. The right and left surfaces of the pellicle bear longitudinal folds and ridges. A perizonal ciliary complex with 5 kineties and two shorter kineties runs across the ventral surface for a short distance onto the left and a longer distance onto the right surface anterior to the cytostome. The cytostome and adoral zone of membranelles is in the middle of the ventral surface. There is a prominent tooth-like spine at the anterior edge of the cytostome. The longitudinal somatic kineties are located on the pellicular ridges of the left surface and the dorsal and ventral edge of the right side. They do not extend more than 1/3 body length. The single contractile vacuole is located posteriorly. There are either two or four macronuclei. The cytoplasm contains methanogenic bacteria. Refractile brown cytoplasmic granules accumulate anteriorly. Collected from hydrogen sulfide- rich bottom sediments of slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho March 2004. DIC.
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Coronal optical section through Plagiopyla nasuta (Stein, 1860), a sapropelic plagiopylid ciliate. The body is reniform. Distinctive vestibular region appears as a transverse ciliated furrow leading to a tubular oral cavity (not seen here). The somatic ciliature is dense and uniform. On the right (dorsal) surface a distinctive transversely striated pellicular channel bows anteriorly from the peristome then turns posteriorly (seen well here). Single ovoid macronucleus lies just posterior to the vestibular area . Single posterior contractile vacuole (seen here overlaid by a food vacuole). Four food vacuoles contain ingested bacteria Plagiopyla is amitochondriate, instead possessing cytoplasmic hydrogenosomes in close association with endosymbiotic methanogenic bacteria. From bottom sediment of organically enriched standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Portrait (right side) of the sapropelic odontostome ciliate, Epalxella antiquorum (Penard, 1922) Corliss, 1960 (synonymous with the preoccupied Epalxis). The cell has a clear rigid pellicle with a broad lenticular outline. The body is strongly laterally compressed. The dorsum is broadly rounded. The right side is broadly truncate posteriorly with a blunt spine on the ventral margin. The posterior side on the left terminates in 5-7 blunt spines. The spines do not terminate in needle-like processes seen in the similar genus, Saprodinium. The right and left surfaces of the pellicle bear longitudinal folds and ridges. A perizonal ciliary complex with 5 kineties and two shorter kineties runs across the ventral surface for a short distance onto the left and a longer distance onto the right surface anterior to the cytostome. The cytostome and adoral zone of membranelles is in the middle of the ventral surface. There is a prominent tooth-like spine at the anterior edge of the cytostome. The longitudinal somatic kineties are located on the pellicular ridges of the left surface and the dorsal and ventral edge of the right side. They do not extend more than 1/3 body length. The single contractile vacuole is located posteriorly. There are either two (as seen in this image) or four macronuclei. The cytoplasm contains methanogenic bacteria. Refractile brown cytoplasmic granules accumulate anteriorly. Collected from hydrogen sulfide- rich bottom sediments of slow-flowing freshwater stream near Boise, Idaho March 2004. DIC.
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Portrait of left (ventral) surface of Plagiopyla nasuta (Stein, 1860), a sapropelic plagiopylid ciliate. The body is reniform. Distinctive vestibular region appears as a transverse ciliated furrow leading to a tubular oral cavity (seen well here). The somatic ciliature is dense and uniform. On the right (dorsal) surface a distinctive transversely striated pellicular channel bows anteriorly from the peristome then turns posteriorly (not seen in this left view). Single ovoid macronucleus lies just posterior to the vestibular area (seen here overlaid by a food vacuole). Single posterior contractile vacuole (not seen here). Plagiopyla is amitochondriate, instead possessing cytoplasmic hydrogenosomes in close association with endosymbiotic methanogenic bacteria. From bottom sediment of organically enriched standing freshwater near Boise, Idaho. DIC optics.
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Portrait (left side) of the sapropelic odontostome ciliate, Epalxella exigua (Penard, 1922) Corliss, 1960. Synonymous with the preoccupied Epalxis. Collected from bottom sediments of a rain barrel; Boise, Idaho. DIC. This image was taken by William Bourland. He now uses a Zeiss Axioskop 2 with a Spot Insight CCD camera (Diagnostic Instruments).
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Portrait (right side) of the sapropelic odontostome ciliate, Epalxella exigua (Penard, 1922) Corliss, 1960. Synonymous with the preoccupied Epalxis. Collected from bottom sediments of a rain barrel; Boise, Idaho. DIC. This image was taken by William Bourland. He now uses a Zeiss Axioskop 2 with a Spot Insight CCD camera (Diagnostic Instruments).
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