The front of this slendar ciliate is like a long bottle-neck and its rear end is like a needle. Both ends are denbsly covered with cilia. The organism forages for food by repeatedly inserting its head into a particle and quickly withdrawing it. The enlarged view shows food being transferred from its mouth to the inside of the body.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University This organism belongs to genus Uroleptus.
It might be Uroleptus limnetis, but we can’t be sure.
A large ciliate whose whole surface is densely covered with cilia is darting around. It pauses for an instant and then dashes into a group of particles. This violent activity disturbs the peaceful habitat occupied by small algae and flagellates.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University This organism belongs to genus Frontonia. From its long, flat body, it may be Frontonia leucas.
In the first part of this video (0:06~), the organism is opening its mouth toward a glass surface, probably because it found some kind of food there. Later it gives up and swims away. In fact Frontonia swallows similar-sized diatoms, which can be seen in the following link.
This ciliate has a very long and narrow neck with a mouth at the bent tip. Twisting its body allows it to move through the narrow openings of aggregates. When it changes directions, its thin body flutters like a ribbon in the wind.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University This organism belongs to the genus Litonotus which includes numerous species.
Without identifying cell size and the number of macronuclei, etc.,
it is difficult to determine what species it is.
Hunting technique The shape of this ciliate called Strobilidium reminds us of a bell or strawberry. Although the body shape is similar to Vorticella, it does not have a stalk, yet like Vorticella, it rotates in a continuous arc. The whirlpool created by the rapid waving of the cilia surrounding its mouth pulls food into the organism.
Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University This organism is Strobilidium.
The Protozoological Monograph, vol.3, 134, 2006 (Kreutz & Foissner), depicts the figure of Strobilidium with a narrow string at its rear end, and describes the organism as exhibiting rotatory movement while attaching itself to a surface by its string.
