Polarised light micrograph of a Vorticella sp. peritrich ciliate protozoan. Rows of cilia (microscopic hairs) and an undulating membrane create a curr

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Polarised light micrograph of a Vorticella sp. peritrich ciliate protozoan. Rows of cilia (microscopic hairs) and an undulating membrane create a current of water which directs food towards the buccal cavity (mouth opening, upper left). Vorticella are sessile, meaning they attach to a surface and cannot move around on their own. When disturbed, they contract their stalk into a tight coil. This contraction is one of the fastest known actions in the animal kingdom. Magnification: x670 when printed 10 centimetres tall.

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Size: 2426px × 3624px
Photo credit: © MAREK MIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, animal, aquatic, background, biology, cilia, ciliate, fauna, grey, invertebrate, life, light, microbiological, microbiology, micrograph, microorganism, microscope, microscopic, microscopy, nature, organism, peritrich, polarised, pond, protist, protozoan, single-celled, unicellular, vorticella, wildlife, zoological, zoology