A flagellate surrounded by a brown shell

A round, dark brown flagellate with a long flagellum swims around for a while, then stops beside a particle, still waving its flagellum vigorously. A hard lorica surrounds the body, so this organism may belong to the group Trachelomonas.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This organism Trachelomonas belongs to the Euglenid group and is surrounded by a shell.

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

The features of the cell surface determine the organism’s species.

An organism with a smooth surface is probably Trachelomonas oblonga, while one with a rough surface may be Trachelomonas granulose or Trachelomonas intermedia.

The organism in this picture appears to be Trachelomonas oblonga.

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

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

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

Sampling Date : 18 October 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River A  Google Map