Shape-shifting flagellate
Shape-shifting flagellate
Found it in a few weeks-old pond culture that I recently fed with milk and oats. The populations of Paramecium and rotifers exploded but this critter is also regularly present on my slides. Some specimens have long flagella, some have a short one (maybe different species).
At some point the slide started drying out and it rounded up before dying (the cytoplasmic contents spilled out; flagella not visible in this shot). The nuclear structure is clearly visible and so are the cytoplasmic granules.
Regrettably I still haven't bothered to install Magic lantern on my Canon 50D so instead of a video I made a gif to give you an idea of its shape-shifting ablities (images taken approximately 3 seconds apart from each other).
BR
Wes
At some point the slide started drying out and it rounded up before dying (the cytoplasmic contents spilled out; flagella not visible in this shot). The nuclear structure is clearly visible and so are the cytoplasmic granules.
Regrettably I still haven't bothered to install Magic lantern on my Canon 50D so instead of a video I made a gif to give you an idea of its shape-shifting ablities (images taken approximately 3 seconds apart from each other).
BR
Wes
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
Youtube channel
Youtube channel
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Could not find any record of a dancing flagellate - with those moves you would think there would be!
What is this about Magic Lantern, can you not take a video without it?
What is this about Magic Lantern, can you not take a video without it?
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Its a firmware add-on that would enable my camera to shoot raw video.
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
Youtube channel
Youtube channel
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Hopefully this should help some: https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... _Organisms
You may want to concentrate your search among the heterotrophic euglenoids. They are well known shape shifters.
You may want to concentrate your search among the heterotrophic euglenoids. They are well known shape shifters.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Thanks for the guide, looks very useful!
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
Youtube channel
Youtube channel
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Here is some characteristic shape shifting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAa3h2aBR3E
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Cool, another example below. I didn't know about the existence of Euglenid metaboly until now, fascinating stuff!
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
Youtube channel
Youtube channel
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Great shots Wes and a fascinating subject !
Dan
Dan
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Thanks Dan
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
Youtube channel
Youtube channel
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Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
This is Peranema. If you observe the cell for a while, you'll see it glide through the water with its flagellum rigidly extended in front. As it progresses, it periodically pauses, contracts and sort of squirms in place. It can also wriggle through narrow apertures in clumps of debris. When squirming along like that, Peranema can look almost amoeboid.
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Many thanks for the ID Bruce, its well appreciated.Bruce Taylor wrote:This is Peranema.
Zeiss Photomicroscope III BF/DF/Pol/Ph/DIC/FL/Jamin-Lebedeff
Youtube channel
Youtube channel
Re: Shape-shifting flagellate
Hi Wes,
the animated GIF is a really nice way to show the shape shifting as the individual steps are more obvious than a video running at 25 fps.
For people with a lousy or expensive internet connection it is also easier to access.
Bob
the animated GIF is a really nice way to show the shape shifting as the individual steps are more obvious than a video running at 25 fps.
For people with a lousy or expensive internet connection it is also easier to access.
Bob