Chilodonella (kai-low-don-ella) is a hypostome ciliate with a mouth stiffened by a palisade of microtubular rods protruding from the ventral surface of the cell. The mouth is used to pick up bacteria and small pieces of detritus and manipulate them into the body. The support rods for the mouth can be seen narrowing and forming a curving channel as they pass towards the posterior. The granular structure towards the back of the cell is the macronucleus, with the micronucleus at five o clock. Common in freshwater and marine habitats. Differential Interference contrast.