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Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 8:13 am
by hkv
I found a rather big Simocephalus Vetulus in a recently collected water sample. She turned out to have small females under her carapace. In females, there is a large space between the back and the dorsal side of the carapace that functions as a brood pouch. I can spot at least 10 small females. Simocephalus Vetulus reproduces parthenogenetically most of the year (producing females).

Polarized light with 4X objective, size of the animal is just below 3 mm:

Image


Fluorescent light with 4X objective:

Image

Close-up with the 10X objective. Fluorescent light. Showing the small females (which were moving around)

Image

The last image is a smaller female, just below 1 mm. In "poor man's" darkfield. I did not use a proper darkfield stop because I did not have one mounted in the condenser turret, but I instead set the condenser between two DIC positions having the metal frames of the DIC prisms act as a darkfield stop. Not very sophisticated, but I was somewhat surprised how well it worked.

Image

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 9:34 am
by vasselle
Bonjour.
Superbes photos clair et nette.
Merci pour le partage.
Cordialement seb

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 10:19 am
by 75RR
Yet more wonderful images ...

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 10:46 am
by mrsonchus
Stunning images! I've never seen better old chap. Not my area, but WOW - these are simply sublime! :)

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 12:13 pm
by rabitt
Wonderful photos, another excellent subject / critter to study.

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 6:36 pm
by charlie g
Fantastic life cycle encounter, hkv. A few weeks ago (with the lamb still in the oven), we had candy decorations just like that your cladocerans happy brood...we call these candies: "Peeps", Easter season confections!

Your 'peeps' come in similar colors,hkv! charlie guevara

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 6:55 pm
by Manfred
Outstanding images Hakan

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Thu May 25, 2017 10:53 pm
by JimT
I can only echo all of the above. Well done.

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Fri May 26, 2017 8:04 am
by hkv
Thanks all for looking and for your kind comments!

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2017 10:25 pm
by Cyclops
Fantastic imaged!

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2017 1:29 am
by KurtM
Your "poor man's darkfield" worked out very well indeed, that's a superb image. Maybe not "orthodox", but superb all the same. I'd remember the "recipe" if I were you! 8-)

Re: Simocephalus Vetulus

Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:45 pm
by hkv
Thanks Cyclops and Kurt! Yes, I was surprised myself how the condenser could be "misused" and still getting decent DF.