Light micrograph of a group of Vorticella, a sessile, ciliate protozoan of the order Peritricha. Each single-celled individual has a head or zooid and

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Light micrograph of a group of Vorticella, a sessile, ciliate protozoan of the order Peritricha. Each single-celled individual has a head or zooid and a retractable stalk which anchors it to the substrate. A retracted, helical stalk is seen at right. The flattened top of the head bears the mouth and a complicated wreath of hair-like cilia just visible in this image. The beating of the cilia creates tiny vortices in the water which wash bacteria into the organism's mouth. Many tiny bacteria are visible suspended in the water. Magnification: x70 at 35mm size.

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Size: 5303px × 3486px
Photo credit: © CLAUDE NURIDSANY & MARIE PERENNOU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, ciliate, invertebrate, invertebrates, light, micrograph, nature, peritricha, protozoa, protozoan, sp., vorticella, wildlife, zoology