Is this a ciliate? ID please?

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DrTheo
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2023 10:25 am

Is this a ciliate? ID please?

#1 Post by DrTheo » Sun Jan 21, 2024 4:04 pm

Hi,

This I found is seawater in the Netherlands. I think is is a ciliate. And what is de dop/eye in the "head". A vacuole, a nucleus?
Thanks for the help.

Link to video: https://youtu.be/3LrvORj8d5o

A videoshot below

Theo

Microscope Olympus BX40 lens 10x 0,25. Camera Nikon Z6ii
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Bruce Taylor
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Joined: Fri Sep 04, 2015 11:34 am

Re: Is this a ciliate? ID please?

#2 Post by Bruce Taylor » Mon Jan 22, 2024 1:33 am

It is not a ciliate, but a flatworm of some kind. The round structure appears to be a gravity-sensitive organ called a "statocyst," used for orientation (they are found in marine acoelomorphs, but I'm not sure what other groups might have them). I don't know much about animals, so I can't help with identification.

DrTheo
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2023 10:25 am

Re: Is this a ciliate? ID please?

#3 Post by DrTheo » Mon Jan 22, 2024 9:37 am

Thanks Bruce.
I never heard of acoelomorphia although I read the book The ancestor's tale written by Richard Dawkins. He wrote chapter about it. I will read that again. ;)
I'm sure you are right : this is a acoelomorphs with a statocyst. Thank you very much. I just looked at a lecture about it on YouTube.

Theo

macnmotion
Posts: 549
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2022 3:13 am

Re: Is this a ciliate? ID please?

#4 Post by macnmotion » Mon Jan 22, 2024 12:17 pm

Pond snails have statocysts :-)

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