A flatworm?
Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 11:48 pm
Having trouble identifying this myself - i first thought it was a large rotifer but immediately realised it lacked almost every feature - including the 'wheels' - then i though it might be a cilliate but it seems too large again, plus it has an extremely fluid shape and once the water on the slide started to dry up and coverslip tightened it transformed itself into a circular blob of jelly that seemed to swirl. Staying in the blob shape indefinitely, until i refreshed the slide's water, in which case it resumed its longer 'flatworm' shape and went about its business.
https://youtu.be/U80WV_wQjpU
It attracted my attention just by its strange shape and movements, at times almost as though it was warped by one of those fairground mirrors. I thought at first my eyes had gone funny.
Until the water starts to run out it is a very fast swimmer.
From my web searches i am inclined to think it might be a turbellarian flatworm, although it doesn't seem to have eyeholes - so it's back to the drawing board. :p
I found three of them in a moss and rainwater sample - the rainwater supply had midge larva and other insects in it, as well as dead leaves and mud. https://youtu.be/jvxNWCNJOEw
Part of my problem is not knowing where to start, or how to narrow down the possibilities when searching online.
Thanks for any info.
https://youtu.be/U80WV_wQjpU
It attracted my attention just by its strange shape and movements, at times almost as though it was warped by one of those fairground mirrors. I thought at first my eyes had gone funny.
Until the water starts to run out it is a very fast swimmer.
From my web searches i am inclined to think it might be a turbellarian flatworm, although it doesn't seem to have eyeholes - so it's back to the drawing board. :p
I found three of them in a moss and rainwater sample - the rainwater supply had midge larva and other insects in it, as well as dead leaves and mud. https://youtu.be/jvxNWCNJOEw
Part of my problem is not knowing where to start, or how to narrow down the possibilities when searching online.
Thanks for any info.