Dileptus

Phylum:Ciliophora

Class:Litostomatea

Order:Dileptida

Family:Dileptidae

Genus:Dileptus

 

This could be Dileptus margaritifer

 

Dileptus is a genus of unicellular ciliates in the class Litostomatea. Species of Dileptus occur in fresh and salt water, as well as mosses and soils. Most are aggressive predators equipped with long, mobile proboscides lined with toxic extrusomes, with which they stun smaller organisms before consuming them. Thirteen species and subspecies of Dileptus are recognized.

 

Dileptus bodies are typically narrow or cylindrical, and have a macronucleus made up of more than a hundred scattered nodules. During cell division, these nodules divide individually. At the front end of the cell is a mobile proboscis. The cytostome is at the base of this organ and is well fortified with stiff microtubular rods (nematodesmata). The surface of the cell is uniformly covered with cilia arranged in longitudinal rows. The body may taper at the back end, forming something like a tail. Multiple contractile vacuoles lie in a row along the dorsal surface. Most Dileptus are colourless, but two nominal species carry symbiotic green algae in their cytoplasm.

 

 

 

Done