Giant Ciliate

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 10:35 am

This giant Ciliate I found today in a pondwater sample. The length is about 350 micron !!!

arturoag75 · Post by **arturoag75** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:24 am

Hi,
i think this is an ostracod shell and not a ciliate

best
arturo

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:38 am

An ostracod with this kind of hairs all over ?

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 2:13 pm

Hello Jan,

I agree with Arturo: this is an Ostracod shell. The cilia from the ciliates are looking differently.
In your case it would be also good do not make only darkfield pictures, but also some brightfield pictures. If the shell is empty it would not be a ciliate...

Franz

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 3:39 pm

I have seen a few of these in my pondwater samples Jan. They were empty, and I thought they were shells, but was not sure. Nice images. Mine seemed to be more worn than this one.

Litonotus · Post by **Litonotus** » Tue Nov 22, 2011 11:42 pm

it is an empty shell, but you could have taken a photo of the surface of it and after that there should be no doubt about that.

Jan l'Amie · Post by **Jan l'Amie** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 1:35 am

On second thought I think you're right. There was nothing to see inside.
I saw only hairs all over. Thanks.