An oval green organism

The sample was observed immediately after being collected from a paddy field.

An organism suddenly appears and gets stuck to a large aggregate. It struggles to break free, but the aggregate seems to be too sticky to allow the organism to escape.

Commentary by Prof. Yuji Tsukii, Hosei University
As the oval shape does not change even during the struggle, a shell probably surrounds this organism. The green color inside the cell is from chloroplasts and the reddish part is the eye-spot (stigma). This organism may belong to genus Trachelomonas.

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

The shell (lorica) is about 25μm long and its nearly round shape is only slightly oval. The surface of the shell is smooth and without a protrusion (collar). From these features, the organism may be Trachelomonas dybowskii.

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

Sampling Date : 17 August 2006

Sampling Site : KASHIMADAI paddy field  Google Map