an interesting ciliate: Zoothamnium pelagicum

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 6:43 am

This is Zoothamnium pelagicum.
Although Zoothamnium is a sessil genus of protozoa, Z. pelagicum is adapted for pelagic live: it is living in a colony and it is moving with rhytmic contractions to prevent sinking. It has also two kind of cells (macrozooids and microzooids). The small yellow dots are bacteria wich are living with the ciliate.

Obj. 10x DIC, Gif

Franz

Ernst Hippe · Post by **Ernst Hippe** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 8:17 am

Hallo Franz,
fantastico!! Thank you for this real life view! Does it live in sweet water, or even in the Mediterranian?
Viele Gruesse
Ernst Hippe

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:00 am

Thank you, Ernst!
Sorry - I forgott to write that Zoothamnium pelagicum is a marine ciliate, but there are other species of Zoothamnium living in freshwater.
About Zoothamnium peligicum exists an interesting article:
Klaus HAUSMANN and Bernd WALZ: Zoothamnium pelagicum: Ein sessiler, kolonialer Ciliat lebt vereint in Gruppen, in: Mikrokosmos, Heft 4, 2007, S. 217-222.

Franz

Ernst Hippe · Post by **Ernst Hippe** » Mon Jan 10, 2011 10:14 am

Thanks for the tip! Now I know why I remembered this species anyhow.
Regards Ernst