portrait

Description:

Bodo caudatus (beau-dough), bodonids are common and widespread in many habitats. In the olden days (more than 20 years ago) any small heterotrophic flagellate was referred to as a bodonid - such was the state of ignorance. This species glides along the ground, picking up individual bacteria with the mouth - located in the slightly prominent region to the left of the point of flagellar insertion. The anterior flagellum can be seen to insert into a small subapical depression. Phase contrast.