strange morphing protist

fonakta · Post by **fonakta** » Mon Jan 04, 2016 12:23 am

Hello, i found a very unusual shape-shifter...
It can not be compared to anything I've ever seen.
Full lenght of the creature approx 250 microns, movement was very slow.

JH · Post by JH » Wed Jan 06, 2016 2:41 am

Hi
Interesting set of pictures. Not my field of knowledge, but could it be a loose Stentor?
Regards Jörgen

Bruce Taylor · Post by **Bruce Taylor** » Wed Jan 06, 2016 5:23 am

I can see why Jörgen is thinking of a heterotrich, but I suspect it is a dileptid ciliate. The oral bulge is visible in the second and last pictures, and strikes me as suggestive of that group. The extreme "floppiness" of the cell is not unusual. If it is a dileptid, the proboscis is either naturally short & fat, or damaged...neither condition is unusual. To identify to genus level (assuming it is a dileptid) you'd need a clear view of the macronucleus.

Of course, I could be misreading the images. Video, or more pictures, might be helpful.

fonakta · Post by **fonakta** » Thu Jan 07, 2016 12:08 am

Thanks Jorgen and Bruce. Sorry, i have no more images.