Oligohymenophoran ciliates, body in 3 major areas: (1) oral, with prominent peristome bordered by a dikinetid file (haplokinety) and an oral polykinetid that originate in an oral cavity (infundibulum) at base of which is the cytostome; (2) aboral, including kinetosomes as part of the scopula, which secretes the stalk of sessile species; and (3) telotroch band, permanently ciliated on mobile species, temporarily so during dispersal of sessile species; oral region may contract and withdraw; some species are loricate.