Hypotrich (possible Urostyloid) releases a Diatom

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Javier
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Hypotrich (possible Urostyloid) releases a Diatom

#1 Post by Javier » Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:44 am

I'm very happy to finally find a Blepharisma (I'm almost sure it is a Blehparisma) and to catch the moment when it releases a Diatom. I'm also happy with the quality of the video, given my current equipment, although I made the mistake to use a blue filter for dark field that ended up adding a weird hue. It's too bad that the old phone I'm using does not allow me to avoid auto-brightness, it's a nightmare when shooting dark field. But all in all, I think this is a nice outcome.

Video details:

200 x Bright field
100 x dark field
100 x oblique light

Amscope 120 b and iPhone 5s.


Last edited by Javier on Wed Aug 11, 2021 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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75RR
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#2 Post by 75RR » Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:07 am

Very nice video, catch and Oblique!
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
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Hobbyst46
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#3 Post by Hobbyst46 » Wed Aug 04, 2021 10:10 am

75RR wrote:
Wed Aug 04, 2021 8:07 am
Very nice video, catch and Oblique!
+1

Javier
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#4 Post by Javier » Wed Aug 04, 2021 2:30 pm

Thanks, guys!

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Luis Carlos
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#5 Post by Luis Carlos » Wed Aug 04, 2021 3:37 pm

Very nice video

charlie g
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#6 Post by charlie g » Wed Aug 04, 2021 5:56 pm

Beautiful video, thanks Javier. I'm pretty sure the splendid beast you share with us is not a specimen of Blepharisma.. I will try and look up what this protist is...but it's not Blepharisma. Great image cature, thanks again. charlie guevara

Javier
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#7 Post by Javier » Wed Aug 04, 2021 6:50 pm

Thanks, Carlos and Charlie.

It's good to know it's not a Blepharisma. I did notice some differences in the structure of this ciliate compared with the real Blepharisma, but I thought it might have been another species from the famous pink ciliate. Please, Charlie, let me know if you find out what it is.

Stay safe,
Javier.

Bruce Taylor
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#8 Post by Bruce Taylor » Thu Aug 05, 2021 7:15 am

Very nice video! As Charlie pointed out, it's not a Blepharisma. This is a pigmented hypotrich, and probably a urostyloid. Species with pink cortical pigments occur in a number of hypotrich genera, including Pseudokeronopsis, Diaxonella, Anteholosticha, Urostyla, and Rubrioxytricha. Identification of your ciliate to genus would require a clear view of its somatic cirri, measurements, and information about its habitat.

DonSchaeffer
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#9 Post by DonSchaeffer » Thu Aug 05, 2021 7:53 am

Was the diatom just mot digestibe?

Javier
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#10 Post by Javier » Thu Aug 05, 2021 8:41 pm

Thanks, Bruce. That is very useful information.

Don, I recall something about not being an easy dinner for protists because of their silica wall... but I might be of course wrong.

Bruce Taylor
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#11 Post by Bruce Taylor » Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:05 am

For many ciliates, diatoms are a dietary staple. If they're hard to digest, certain ciliate groups (e.g. cyrtophorians, Frontonia, hypotrichs like this one) don't seem to mind. :) For some protists, such as Jenningsia diatomophaga, diatoms are the preferred food.

Javier
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Re: Blepharisma releases a Diatom

#12 Post by Javier » Tue Aug 10, 2021 8:37 pm

Bruce Taylor wrote:
Fri Aug 06, 2021 2:05 am
For many ciliates, diatoms are a dietary staple. If they're hard to digest, certain ciliate groups (e.g. cyrtophorians, Frontonia, hypotrichs like this one) don't seem to mind. :) For some protists, such as Jenningsia diatomophaga, diatoms are the preferred food.
I captured a few days ago this Frontonia engulfing a small Diatom. Seems like it can't have enough of them.


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