Amphileptus hunting Vorticella
Amphileptus hunting Vorticella
In this video we observe how the ciliate Amphileptus captures and "absorbs" a sessile ciliate, possibly Vorticella.
Last edited by Francisco on Sun Mar 03, 2024 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Hemiophrys Pleurosigma hunting Vorticella
This is an amazing sequence. The aggressor searches and finds its victim. It's so systematic and purposive.
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Re: Hemiophrys Pleurosigma hunting Vorticella
Fabulous video!
Most species of "Hemiophrys" have been transferred to Amphileptus, and this includes A. pleurosigma. The genus is still considered valid, but has only a few species left, and I don't think this is one of them. Your ciliate is surely an Amphileptus, but there are about 60 species in that genus now, and many are known predators of sessile peritrichs. Several have two macronuclear nodules and a similar distribution of contractile vacuoles and extrusomes (A. procerus, A. pleurosigma, A. parapleurosigma, etc.), so I would not attempt to identify this to species.
Most species of "Hemiophrys" have been transferred to Amphileptus, and this includes A. pleurosigma. The genus is still considered valid, but has only a few species left, and I don't think this is one of them. Your ciliate is surely an Amphileptus, but there are about 60 species in that genus now, and many are known predators of sessile peritrichs. Several have two macronuclear nodules and a similar distribution of contractile vacuoles and extrusomes (A. procerus, A. pleurosigma, A. parapleurosigma, etc.), so I would not attempt to identify this to species.
Re: Hemiophrys Pleurosigma hunting Vorticella
Thanks for your comment.DonSchaeffer wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 3:15 pmThis is an amazing sequence. The aggressor searches and finds its victim. It's so systematic and purposive.
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Re: Hemiophrys Pleurosigma hunting Vorticella
Thanks for the interesting information.Bruce Taylor wrote: ↑Sat Mar 02, 2024 4:34 pmFabulous video!
Most species of "Hemiophrys" have been transferred to Amphileptus, and this includes A. pleurosigma. The genus is still considered valid, but has only a few species left, and I don't think this is one of them. Your ciliate is surely an Amphileptus, but there are about 60 species in that genus now, and many are known predators of sessile peritrichs. Several have two macronuclear nodules and a similar distribution of contractile vacuoles and extrusomes (A. procerus, A. pleurosigma, A. parapleurosigma, etc.), so I would not attempt to identify this to species.
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Re: Amphileptus hunting Vorticella
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Re: Amphileptus hunting Vorticella
Wow, great footage! It’s not a huge jump to imagine some sort of intelligent behavior at play here. Does anyone know what sort of sensory apparatus would allow this quick identification of dinner?
Re: Amphileptus hunting Vorticella
LouiseScot - Free2Fish Thanks.