An amoeba hunting for food II

When a ciliate or flagellate accidently runs into the amoebas body, two pseudopodia tightly grasp the unlucky prey and transfer it to the central part. At first the prey struggles to get free, but soon stops moving. Finally the prey loses its shape and becomes unrecognizable.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This organism resembles Vanella in its radial shape, but unlike Vanella, it catches food while floating freely. The organism may be Vexillifera or it may belong to a related family.

http://protist.i.hosei.ac.jp/PDB/Im.....

It sometimes moves on a solid surface, while at other times it proceeds while swaying its long pseudopodium in front.

An important criterion for classifying amoeba is their method of locomotion. Since amoeba appear similar when they are floating, it is difficult to determine what species this organism is.

Sampling Date : 09 August 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River B  Google Map