Pyxicola ciliate...video

fpelectronica · Post by **fpelectronica** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 11:17 am

Pyxicola is a small sessile ciliate about 20um
It is curious to observe the "cap" that is closed when the animal contracts.
Nikon Fluophot microscope
Objective 10x 20X 40X
Francisco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uhGWz33Z4Q

john sp. · Post by **john sp.** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 12:30 pm

Thanks for posting another interesting video, Francisco. Your creature does indeed look much like the drawing for Pyxicola annulata in The Illustrated Guide to the Protozoa. I see that they refer to the "lid" as the operculum, in case that is of interest to anyone.

John

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 1:30 pm

Very interesting little guy. Is he a type of Vorticella?

john sp. · Post by **john sp.** » Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:19 pm

The similarities are certainly there, but they might better be thought of as cousins, Mitch. They represent different families of Pertrichia (Subclass), Sessilida (Order). Pyxicola is a genus of the Vaginicolidae family and Vorticella is a genus of the Vorticellidae family.

At least that is how the book I'm looking at has them sorted out. I get the impression that the taxonomy of protozoa is very much a work in progress.

John