The colonial monad Dinobyron

[tlansing]

Here are a couple of photos of the colonial monad Dinobyron. These monads form colonies of vase-shaped lorica with a monad inside. The first photo shows a colony of this organism. They are beautiful to see, but they seem to disappear rather quickly from collections. If I suspect that Dinobyron might be present in a collection I have made (or have seen them from the same source), I try to examine the sample as soon after I have collected them as possible. I often see empty lorica and empty colonies some days after seeing them live.

Dinobryon colony.jpg (82.61 KiB) Viewed 1661 times

40x Neofluar, 1.25x optovar, DIC, flash
The second photo shows a higher power view of individual monads. The daughter cell forms its lorica at the end of the mother cell's lorica. The red eyespot and a bit of the flagellum can be seen.

Dinobryon individuals.jpg (39.7 KiB) Viewed 1661 times

40x Neofluar, 2x optovar, DIC, flash

[KurtM]

Dinobryan is one of my favorite specimens, thanks for posting!

[tlansing]

Hi Kurt! Dinobryon is a beautiful organism to see. Some day I will get a shot where more or the individual monads will be in focus.

[Wes]

Nice! Is the brown organelle a chloroplast?

[tlansing]

Hi Wes. Yes, the brown organelle is a chloroplast.

[KurtM]

Hi Kurt! Dinobryon is a beautiful organism to see. Some day I will get a shot where more or the individual monads will be in focus.

Dynobryan is one of those organisms that's super seriously tough to get good pictures of. Next time I get one I won't hesitate to try shooting a million frames in the hopes that one of them comes out decent!