anterior detail

Description:

Portrait of the discophryid suctorian, Periacineta buckei (Kent,1882).This periphytonic species has a laterally compressed tectinous lorica which is snug against the cell body.The truncate anterior end of the cell protrudes from the slit-like aperture of the lorica.The lorica tapers posteriorly to a narrow attachment with the substarte. A true stalk is absent. Capitate tentacles occur in two fasicles on either side of the anterior end. There are three contractile vacuoles at the anterior end.The macronucleus is ellipsoid.Swarmers are elongate and flattened.Collected from a freshwater pond near Boise, Idaho.DIC.