Sir Lancelot Paramecium - Video

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Wed Nov 23, 2011 12:49 pm

This Paramecium has tried to swallow a diatom as long as he is, and it's coming back out. You should watch this video and on Thanksgiving Day, remember this picture when you get that urge to eat just one more piece of pie.

The video link.

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 2:38 am

Good fun. I'm amazed at the way the ciliate dislodged the 'sword'. Perhaps you should christen him Arthur rather than Lancelot. Wasn't it Arthur who pulled the sword from the stone?

I have seen a Stentor regurgitating one of these long thin diatoms in a rather similar way.

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 2:49 am

Thanks for looking Dave. I thought the way he finally got rid of the lance, or sword was almost thought out. It's like he used the edge of the coverslip as a tool. Tool using single celled animals? What's next.

RogelioMoreno · Post by **RogelioMoreno** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:14 am

Nice vdeo!

Rogelio

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 4:30 am

Thanks for looking Rogelio. I almost deleted the file because it was so hard to keep him in focus and track him at the same time. But the diatoms inside and outside him were unique and I wanted to show it.

Planapo · Post by **Planapo** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:16 am

Interesting footage, good decision that you didn't delete it!
The protoslow slows 'em down really nicely for filming.

Enjoyed the spoken accompanying commentary as well!
And like your way of pronouncing "odd" as aaahhhd.

--Betty

edit typo done --> down

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 5:31 am

Thanks for looking Betty. This footage was just too... "odd" to delete.

I had never seen a paramecium with diatoms inside it. This was a new sample from the Mississippi River to restock my microbe aquarium for the long winter ahead.

Chris_M · Post by **Chris_M** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 7:42 am

Very interesting, thanks for posting!

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:31 am

Thanks Chris. I hope to find more of them in the future, but for me, parameciums don't seem to last long in the tank.