A jumping ciliate

A tiny ciliate with a indentation in the middle of its body is completely still. Its cilia are extended but unmoving, as if it were in a coma. For some reason, it suddenly jumps to another location. How is such a quick reaction possible from a state of immobility?

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This organism belongs to genus Uronema.

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

There is similar organism called Cyclidium.

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

Cyclidium is characterized by a fringe of long cilia called velum surrounding its mouth, which is located on the side of the cell. Cyclidium can also be identified by long cilia at the rear end. Unlike Cyclidium, the organism in this video does not have velum or long cilia at the rear end. The front of its body is flat lacks cilia. Therefore this organism is probably in the genus Uronema. Also appearing in the video is a long filamentous alga which may be Tribonema.

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

Sampling Date : 02 July 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River A  Google Map