A Spirotrich ciliate "hatching" from its cyst

Bruce Taylor · Post by **Bruce Taylor** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 8:29 pm

This is something I haven't seen before. The ditch this sample was taken from was on the verge of freezing. After 24 hours in a warm house, this encysted ciliate seems to have decided it was spring.

It's interesting to see how the cyst wall softens. Presumably, the creature emits a chemical trigger of some sort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kon-aP2DSyg

I believe it to be a Stylonychia of some kind. The caudal cirri are not very prominent in this footage, but I caught sight of them after turning off the camera.

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Fri Dec 02, 2011 9:58 pm

This is also a new one for me. I have seen nematode and rotifer eggs ready to hatch, but the process seems to be long and involved and I have never caught the act of breaking out. Breaking out of a cyst must be much the same.

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Sat Dec 03, 2011 1:12 am

Fascinating. I have never seen this before.