Vorticella sp., ciliated protozoan, scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Shown is the stalk and main cell region of this stalked (attached) protozoan.

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Vorticella sp., ciliated protozoan, scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Shown is the stalk and main cell region of this stalked (attached) protozoan. The mouth is partially open with cilia protruding. Vorticella species are stalked, inverted bell-shaped ciliates, placed among the peritrichs (peritrichous ciliates). Each cell has a separate stalk anchored onto the substrate, which contains a contractile fibril called a myoneme. When stimulated, this shortens, causing the stalk to coil like a spring. Vorticella species mainly live in freshwater ponds and streams. Magnification: x340 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.

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Size: 3302px × 2646px
Photo credit: © DENNIS KUNKEL MICROSCOPY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 99112c, aquatic, black, cilia, ciliate, ciliates, ciliophora, cilium, coloured, contractile, electron, eukaryote, false-coloured, fibril, fresh, freshwater, micrograph, monochrome, mouth, mouthpart, myoneme, myonemes, oligohymenophorea, peritrich, peritrichous, peritrichs, protozoa, protozoan, scanning, sem, sessilida, stalk, stalked, vorticella, vorticellidae, water, white