Ciliates foraging in the same particle

This particle – an aggregate of sand, organic debris and microorganisms – is probably a rich food source, so three different kinds of ciliates busily go in and out of the particle. They do not not collide or interfere with each other, as they seem to be completely absorbed in looking for food.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
We can see three kinds of ciliates in this video. The one that is present from the beginning to the end may be identified as Holosticha polystylata from its reddish body with well-developed cirri.

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

Identification of the other two ciliates is more difficult because they appear for only a brief moment.

The ciliate that appears first may belong to class Spirotrichea, but the last ciliate may be something else because it has a different type of cytoplasm. Although its cytoplasm is similar to that of Frontonia, Loxocephalus and Dexiotrica, we cannot say to which group the latter ciliate belongs without checking the shape and position of the cytostome (mouth).

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 : 27 May 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River A  Google Map