Collotheca - Mutant or Mating?

[Baley]

I spotted this strange Collotheca tonight. It/they were swimming around together as one. Is this some mutation or is it a couple in some sort of tender embrace? I also got a video but I don't think I can upload that here. Cropped, bumped contrast, brightened, sharpened a bit. 40x Leitz APO & 10x Periplan imaged direct to Canon 5DII full-frame sensor - no relay lens.
I'm not happy with the sharpness; but it is an interesting critter.

[jc maccagno]

Hello

Your picture is that of a Vorticellid reproducing by budding

All the best

John

[Charles Krebs]

I'm not happy with the sharpness;

Something you might want to check... this looks somewhat like an image where the condenser was severely closed down (or the light source does not come close to "filling" the rear aperture of the objective).

[Baley]

I'm not happy with the sharpness;

Something you might want to check... this looks somewhat like an image where the condenser was severely closed down (or the light source does not come close to "filling" the rear aperture of the objective).

Thanks for that Charles. I knew something was wrong because I've gotten better images before.

And thanks John for the ID - I had no idea these things budded like flowers.

[Baley]

I'm not happy with the sharpness;

Something you might want to check... this looks somewhat like an image where the condenser was severely closed down (or the light source does not come close to "filling" the rear aperture of the objective).

You were right. My condenser was way out of alignment. Thanks again.