Mystery Protozoan

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Harold
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2021 6:45 pm

Mystery Protozoan

#1 Post by Harold » Sun Sep 26, 2021 1:24 am

This turned up in an infusion of some moss and dirt I scraped up from my back yard. It's been "cooking" for about 10 days now. Although it is an extremely pretty bug (my humble photographic skills don't do it justice), I have no clue what it might be. It's big, about 2-3 times the size of your average paramecium.

https://imgur.com/zqcnX5o

https://imgur.com/ih0wAWE

Javier
Posts: 806
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 11:19 am
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Re: Mystery Protozoan

#2 Post by Javier » Sun Sep 26, 2021 3:36 am

That looks a lot like a magnificent Stentor.

Harold
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2021 6:45 pm

Re: Mystery Protozoan

#3 Post by Harold » Sun Sep 26, 2021 4:08 am

Javier wrote:
Sun Sep 26, 2021 3:36 am
That looks a lot like a magnificent Stentor.
The only other Stentor I've see was a horn shaped thing. The ones I observer were capable of retracting into a potato shape and swim freely. These guys were not at all sessile and didn't seem to be able to assume the classic trumpet shape. The mouth-like structure at one end did have a easily visible circle of cilia surrounding what appeared to a sort an inverted cone of a gullet.

Whatever species it may be, it was visually magnificent. Lost track of time while trying to keep it in view.

smollerthings
Posts: 457
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2021 12:10 pm

Re: Mystery Protozoan

#4 Post by smollerthings » Sun Sep 26, 2021 8:22 am

Nice pics.

I think it is indeed a stentor. They are unicellular and have an organelle that anchors them when they find a good enough habitat (then they go into bell mode).

Fascinating organisms


Harold
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2021 6:45 pm

Re: Mystery Protozoan

#5 Post by Harold » Sun Sep 26, 2021 3:53 pm

You folks are absolutely correct. It is, indeed, a Stentor. That last video you linked showed a view that is exactly what I'm seeing. Truly an incredible critter. Many thanks.

smollerthings
Posts: 457
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2021 12:10 pm

Re: Mystery Protozoan

#6 Post by smollerthings » Sun Sep 26, 2021 4:15 pm

To me, they look like tiny smiling whales :D

By the way, if you want to embed Imgur images, you can add

Code: Select all

[media]https://imgur.com/zqcnX5o[/media]
around the link (shortcut is the screen button left of easyzoom). Gives this result:

Harold
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2021 6:45 pm

Re: Mystery Protozoan

#7 Post by Harold » Sun Sep 26, 2021 6:11 pm

Thanks for the tip. Still learning my way around here. :)

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