Ciliate with a very long neck

This ciliate has a very long and narrow neck with a mouth at the bent tip. Twisting its body allows it to move through the narrow openings of aggregates. When it changes directions, its thin body flutters like a ribbon in the wind.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
This organism belongs to the genus Litonotus which includes numerous species.

Without identifying cell size and the number of macronuclei, etc., it is difficult to determine what species it is.

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

Sampling Date : 03 July 2009

Sampling Site : Hirose River B  Google Map