Active foraging among particles

A large oval ciliate is actively foraging around particles. The brownish-black body is covered by dense cilia. The organisms greedy behavior reminds us of a hungry bear in early spring.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
From the shape of the body, this organism may be Disematostoma butschilii.

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

It is characterized by a flat cell with a broad rounded front end and narrow tapered rear end. The mouth is located off center, on one side of the cell. Disematostoma and Frontonia are related, and both swallow diatoms that are larger than their bodies.

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

Sampling Date : 08 August 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River A  Google Map