A pencil-shaped ciliate

This ciliate, with its long, straight body, looks like a pencil that is slightly thicker in the front. There are straight lines running the length of its body. The organism continuously moves forward and backward, always along the same straight path. Sometimes it rotates along its axis.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This organism is probably Spirostomum filum. However, it might have been torn at the rear by sand particles when it was collected.

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