Mayorella, Anisonema and Bicosoeca

[Walter Piorkowski]

Mayorella


Anisonema


Bicosoeca

Mayorella, Anisonema and Bicosoeca

Leitz Ortholux
Phase contrast
Nikon 40X BM, DM or DLL phase objective
3X projection eyepiece plus 32.1 Leitz relay lens
Strobe illumination
Canon 10D
Photoshop

I have been lax in posting recently as I put time into a tinkering project. I cobbled together a phase contrast set up for my Leitz Ortholux. I used a Leitz Zernike condenser which was fitted with phase annuli from a old Series R, Bausch and Lomb phase unit and finally added Nikon S series phase objectives to the Leitz objective nosepiece. I then modified a 3X projection eyepiece from an old unknown manufacturer to install into the Leitz reflex unit.

None of this stuff should work together, especially the phase annuli and 160mm body tube objectives on a 170mm microscope but the results have been rewarding. My first tests picked up a half dozen protozoa with great ease due to the phase affect.

The image of Anisonema does not show the second weaker anterior flagellum that is under the body in this view. Mayorella and Anisonema are seen in the hard bright contrast of the BM objective. This is also the case with the right hand image of Bicosoeca which has a deeper background color cast due to a weakening strobe discharge capacitor. The left hand image is either through a DM or DLL objective. My records failed to keep up with objective changes.

Identifications provided by my new reference book. Free-Living Freshwater Protozoa by D.J. Patterson.

Walt

[bernhardinho]

[quote="Walter


The image of Anisonema does not show the second weaker anterior flagellum that is under the body in this view.

Walt[/quote]

Hi Walt,

I was just about to ask about this: you're sure you saw the second flagellum?
'cause also the shape should look a bit more oval. Could it not rather be a Peranemum?


Bernhard

[Ken Ramos]

I have been looking at the two, Anisonema and Peranema. In the image the pharyngeal rod is slightly visibe and resembles more to that of the Peranema, as does the reservior. In that of the Anisonema, the reservior is more rounded than oval from what I can tell and the pharyngeal rod much longer and having more of a "spiked" shape. As for the cell itself, Peranema has more of a plastic type cell membrane, changing in shape and size at times, though not continuously from what little I have observed of them. Another possiblity is that it migh be Heteronema ascus, it too has a trailing flagellum. A great set of images just the same.

[Walter Piorkowski]

Peranema


Anisonema

Bernhard
It is possible that I am mistaken in my identification but during the period I was observing, Anisonema were positively identified. Entosiphon and Peranema were also present.

I include with this reply two more images of what I believe to be Anisonema. Neither image show a flagellum. I also have a rejected image of what I believe is Peranema that I add to help in my identifications. If the extreme length of the primary flagellum is a defining feature of this protozoan, then this is clearly a Peranema.

Walt