a marine tintinnid Ciliat with a "stone house"

Franz Neidl · Post by **Franz Neidl** » Sat Dec 01, 2012 12:24 pm

Some tindinnids collect various particles on the outer surface of their lorica. As I have a strong imagination I see the ciliate like a bricklayer who is choosing the right bricks.

Certainly I am wrong with my imagination, but they must have some "intelligence", because there are also tindinnids they collect only diatoms or only biger stones.
The tintinnids with stones are generally near the coast i.e. in the neritic plankton.
The lorica of this tintinnid was 350 µm long.

Franz

Wim van Egmond · Post by **Wim van Egmond** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 2:00 am

Gorgeous images, Franz! I am not sure if it is a matter of intelligence but they are certainly picky.

Wim

Ecki · Post by **Ecki** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 2:32 am

Very interesting and great images!

Regards
Ecki

René · Post by **René** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 2:47 am

Nice work Franz. Our part of the North Sea is poor for tintinnids, so for ID I'm not too sure. We do see Tintinnopsis cylindrica overhere, but the tip generally is far more robust, compared to your spec. My guess this is Tintinnopsis radix.

The accompanying Chaetoceros is C. pseudocurvisetus, the apertures (openings between the cells) are very typical and it is just about visible in the top of the first pic to separate it from C curvisetus and C debilis.

Best wishes, René