somatic cilia

Description:

Detail of somatic ciliary row of the oligotrich ciliate, Rimostrombidium hyalinum. This genus is distinguished from the similar Strombidium by the small size and the termination of the spiral somatic ciliary rows before they reach the posterior pole of the cell (in Strombidium they form a terminal spiral). R. hyalinum is colorless. The cell body is transversely truncate anteriorly and bluntly conical posteriorly. The cytostome is at the anterior end. A circular adoral zone of membranelles is present (seen well here). There are six indistinct, slightly spiraling rows of short somatic cilia that extend nearly the length of the body. It is seldom possible to keep more than one row in the focal plane in the lateral view (part of one row is seen here on viewer's left). The C- shaped macronucleus is anterior and transversely oriented (not seen here). The peripheral contractile vacuole is located in the posterior of the cell (not seen here). Collected from freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho September 2003. DIC optics.