Amphileptus hunting Vorticella

[Francisco]

In this video we observe how the ciliate Amphileptus captures and "absorbs" a sessile ciliate, possibly Vorticella.



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[DonSchaeffer]

This is an amazing sequence. The aggressor searches and finds its victim. It's so systematic and purposive.

[Bruce Taylor]

Fabulous video!

Most species of "Hemiophrys" have been transferred to Amphileptus, and this includes A. pleurosigma. The genus is still considered valid, but has only a few species left, and I don't think this is one of them. Your ciliate is surely an Amphileptus, but there are about 60 species in that genus now, and many are known predators of sessile peritrichs. Several have two macronuclear nodules and a similar distribution of contractile vacuoles and extrusomes (A. procerus, A. pleurosigma, A. parapleurosigma, etc.), so I would not attempt to identify this to species.

[Francisco]

This is an amazing sequence. The aggressor searches and finds its victim. It's so systematic and purposive.

Thanks for your comment.
Greetings

[Francisco]

Fabulous video!

Most species of "Hemiophrys" have been transferred to Amphileptus, and this includes A. pleurosigma. The genus is still considered valid, but has only a few species left, and I don't think this is one of them. Your ciliate is surely an Amphileptus, but there are about 60 species in that genus now, and many are known predators of sessile peritrichs. Several have two macronuclear nodules and a similar distribution of contractile vacuoles and extrusomes (A. procerus, A. pleurosigma, A. parapleurosigma, etc.), so I would not attempt to identify this to species.

Thanks for the interesting information.
Greetings

[LouiseScot]

Remarkable!

[Free2Fish]

Wow, great footage! It’s not a huge jump to imagine some sort of intelligent behavior at play here. Does anyone know what sort of sensory apparatus would allow this quick identification of dinner?

[Francisco]

LouiseScot - Free2Fish Thanks.