Peritrichia identification required.

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D0c
Posts: 267
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:13 pm
Location: England

Peritrichia identification required.

#1 Post by D0c » Fri Apr 02, 2021 3:13 pm

Struggling identifying these peritrichia.

While looking through a sample from my local pond I saw these critters. I can't decide between thuricola, vaginicola, & corthurnia.

I've read it depends on if the lorica has a lid, but I cannot detect a lid. In sample two lorica there are two peritrich in one lorica. The quality isn't great as the magnification was high and the critters were small.

Thanks.

Sample 1

Video 1 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/154534235 ... datetaken/
Video2 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/154534235 ... datetaken/

Sample 2

Video 3 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/154534235 ... datetaken/

Sample 3

Video 4 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/154534235 ... datetaken/
Leitz SM-Lux

Bruce Taylor
Posts: 986
Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 11:34 am

Re: Peritrichia identification required.

#2 Post by Bruce Taylor » Fri Apr 02, 2021 3:49 pm

The first two are Cothurnia (lorica with stalk, no valve, no operculum on zooid).

The others don't have a conspicuous stalk on the lorica. However, it is possible that one is present, but concealed by detritus and/or viewing angle. If they're from the same water, that is likely. If the lorica truly has no stalk, then these would be Vaginicola (lorica without stalk, no valve, no operculum on zooid). Given the uncertainty, I would just call these ones "vaginicolids" (family Vaginicolidae).

The "lid" you're looking for takes a variety of forms. In Thuricola and Pseudothuricola it usually appears as a diagonal line across the lorica, near the opening. In Pyxicola, the cell itself has a little "hat" attached to one side (an operculum), which serves as a lid when the organism is contracted.

D0c
Posts: 267
Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:13 pm
Location: England

Re: Peritrichia identification required.

#3 Post by D0c » Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:29 pm

Thanks Bruce you have been very helpful. I have read the Foissner Berger book and can see what you mean now, makes really good sense.
Leitz SM-Lux

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