the marine ciliate Myrionecta rubra (ed.:it is'nt M.rubra)

[Franz Neidl]

I believe that this time has gone into my trap (=plankton net) the famous marine ciliate Myrionecta rubra (Mesodinium rubrum).

2 pictures in DIC, Objectiv 40x

Franz

[René]

Hmm, doesn't really look like it, it is more of an oligotrichid ciliate. The cilia of Myrionecta is more in a whirl and it has bristles like Halteria. Also, the plastids of myrionecta are brown and far more uniform.

This is how Myrionecta looks like if you're lucky to catch them not moving (or have a flash light in your system :-):






Olympus 20x/0.75, DIC, IMT-2 inverted

Best wishes, René

[BJ]

hi Franz and René,

Franz: I am afraid once more I think not. René´s photos show Myrionecta rubra as i know it - although rather more brown than I remember.

I wonder if you have any marine lagoons or other semi-enclosed bays near you ? In my experience these are often good locations for it.

Please keep hunting...I want to see the photos!

René: thank you for your excellent photos of a very difficult subject - so fast - gone in a blink. I am glad that Franz induced you to post.

with my best wishes to you both,

Brian