MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Hi. My name is David Seamer and I am interested in freshwater protists (algae and protozoa) and I currently live in Australia. I first discovered microscopic pond life life when in high school (New Zealand -1963) and for me it has been a fascination ever since. I take delight in collecting, identify...

Great photo. Both sharp and clear and fabulous colour. Don’t know that this is a Difflugia, though. One would have to see the oral aperture to confirm but perhaps Centropyxis, Cyclopyxis kahli or even Phryganella may be more likely.

Mougeotia as apposed to Ulothrix.

I have my doubts about identification of your green filament. I believe it is not Mougeotia as this algae has a chloroplast that is ribbon-like with many pyrenoids. Ulothrix how ever has chloroplast that takes the form of complete or incomplete rings and has one large pyrenoid per cell.

I think I can answer your identification enquiry. The yellow ball is The colonial flagellate Synura while the colourless spiky one is a Trachelomonas (not the same but similar to the one in the drawing).

Absolutely right. Opercularia it is.

This is the empty testate amoeba shell of Arcella with Oscillatoria and a few diatoms inside.

The redish colour makes it confusing but i believe it is a dying Hyalotheca.

This is Hyalotheca and it belongs to the family of Desmidiaceae, so yes it should be green.

Yes, this is the flagellated algae Pandorina.

I'm not sure about the identification of Loxophyllum as there is neither a band of trichocysts or trichocyst 'warts' along the dorsal edge. I think that Litonotus is more likely. The drawing I have attached is similar but does not have the ridges like the species you have videoed. Great video by the...

Hi Richard. I must agree with Bruce Taylor. This is not Tokophrya (a suctorian ciliate). It is the rotifer named Collotheca and quite a fascinating animal in its own right.

I'm afraid I must agree with Bruce Taylor. The identification of any Hypotrich is reliant on clear details of the cirri and there just isn't enough to differentiate between likely Hypotrichs such as Urosoma, Uroleptus or Paruroleptus. I too think that it is not Spirostomum.

Hi Ectral. This is an amoeba that produces a test or shell in which it lives. It is called Arcella. The drawing I have attached is not necessarily this species but one very similar. Hope this has been of help.

Definitely Euglena.

Difficult to be absolutely sure because of lack of cytostome details but here are two options. Both look similar but my guess would be Blepharisma. Only because the location and shape of the contractile vacuole and a brief glimpse of what appears to be the typical prominent Adoral Zone of Membranell...

Sorry guys but I have a different theory concerning the ID of this ciliate. I don't believe it is Cyrtolophosis but is in fact a Hypotrich called Strongylidium. I have observed both of these ciliates and while Cyrtolophosis is an active feeder, the actions of this ciliate is too 'frantic' and remind...

Some of my drawings can be seen in the online Micscape Magazine and on my Facebook account.

I doubt it is Tetrahymena. I believe it is more likely to be Trachelius because the 'snout' at the anterior end is quite noticeable. I have never seen one attack a rotifer but they are quite aggressively carnivorous.

Yes, it is Euplotes.

Pseudocohnilembus is another option but less likely. As you see there are a few that look similar to you photo and detail is the only way of being sure of ID.

2. Ctedoctema is another that looks very similar and the one that I fancy most to be your ciliate.

There are quite a few small ciliates that have the same profile as your picture.

Yes, i would say this is definitely Trachelophylum.